capek: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Upper Intermediate / Advanced)Informal / Colloquial. Used in casual conversation, digital communication (chat, social media), and some creative writing. Avoid in formal or technical reports.
Quick answer
What does “capek” mean?
A state of physical and/or mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged activity, stress, or lack of recovery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of physical and/or mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged activity, stress, or lack of recovery.
Can describe weariness, depletion of energy or patience, or the feeling of being 'burnt out'. It often implies a need for rest or a change of activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is borrowed from Indonesian/Malay and is not a standard English word. Its use is primarily found in informal Singaporean English (Singlish) and, to a lesser extent, Malaysian English.
Connotations
In its regional contexts, it's a common, emotionally resonant word for expressing a deep sense of fatigue. To speakers of other English varieties, it will be unfamiliar and perceived as a foreign term.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in British or American English corpora. Its frequency is confined to specific Southeast Asian linguistic communities.
Grammar
How to Use “capek” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be/feel + capek[Subject] + be/feel + capek + from + [activity/noun][Activity] + make + [object] + capekVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capek” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- After the long-haul flight and jet lag, I was absolutely capek for two days.
- The relentless project deadlines left the entire team feeling capek and demotivated.
American English
- Hiking that trail in the midday sun made us all completely capek.
- She was mentally capek after helping the kids with their remote schooling all week.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Avoid in formal contexts. Might be used in very informal internal chats: 'After that 3-hour budget meeting, I'm so capek.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Primary context. 'Don't ask me to go out tonight, I'm really capek from studying all day.'
Technical
Not used. 'Fatigue' or 'exhaustion' are the technical terms.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capek”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Assuming it is understood by all English speakers.
- Spelling it as 'capet' or 'capeck'.
- Using it without contextual cues for non-SE Asian listeners.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not part of Standard English (British/American). It is a loanword from Malay/Indonesian used primarily in informal Singaporean English (Singlish) and Malaysian English.
"Exhausted" or "drained" are very close synonyms. "Burnt out" captures the prolonged, mental aspect well.
It is not recommended. Examiners may not know the word. It's safer to use standard vocabulary like 'extremely tired', 'exhausted', or 'fatigued' to ensure clarity and scoring.
It is typically pronounced /ˈtʃɑːpeɪk/ ('CHAH-payk'), with the stress on the first syllable. The 'c' is pronounced like 'ch' in 'chair'.
A state of physical and/or mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged activity, stress, or lack of recovery.
Capek is usually informal / colloquial. used in casual conversation, digital communication (chat, social media), and some creative writing. avoid in formal or technical reports. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “At the end of one's tether (similar emotional exhaustion)”
- “Running on fumes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAPE (a cloak) that is so heavy it makes you exhausted to wear it. "This CAP mEKs me so tired" -> CAPEK.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENERGY IS A LIQUID / RESOURCE: 'Drained', 'spent', 'running on empty'. CAPEK is the state of having depleted this resource.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the use of 'capek' be MOST appropriate?