siew dai (English)

Where does "siew dai" come from?

The term 'siew dai' originates from a Cantonese phrase meaning 'less base,' referencing the condensed milk that settles at the bottom of a drink. By requesting 'less base,' a customer is asking for a reduced amount of the sweetening sediment at the bottom of their coffee or tea. This colorful expression has traveled from Cantonese usage into common English parlance in Southeast Asia as a shorthand for ordering a less sweet beverage.

Full etymology tree

• siew dai (English), 'Less sweet (as a preference when ordering coffee or tea).'
  • compound 少 (Cantonese)
  • compound 底 (Cantonese)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris