I Have To Cut My What?

KokoD just started Std.1 this year. First day of school was no problem. Afterall, he has been attending preschool there. So, he is familiar with the environment and no problem with the language too. BUT there are still Bahasa Malaysia words that he doesn't know. Here is an account of a hilarious misunderstanding:

KokoD: Mommy, my friends at school say they have to cut their "kuku".
Mommy: (Thinking he was referring to circumcision because at home, we call the thing between boys legs "kuku". My children also know it's called a penis but we are used to using the hokkien term for it). Ya, the Malays do that.
KokoD: My teacher say if your "kuku" is too long, she will cut it.
Mommy: (Huh? What in the world? After some thinking... finally dawned on me that she was talking about fingernails. Bahasa Malaysia "kuku" = fingernails) OooOooh, "kuku" means your fingernails dear.

I believed I saw a sigh of relief from KokoD.

Another kid starting school. 2 down, 2 to go.