話咾

Likely a semantic development from the literal quotative usages of the compound.

Compare urban Shanghainese 伊講／伊讲.

話咾 (Northern Wu)

1. though; apparently; unexpectedly (used to indicate that the reported fact is one differing from the speaker's opinions or expectations)
   • 1995, “做人難 [Hard to be Alive]”, 傅子明 (lyrics)‎^[1]performed by 傅子明:

     伊話咾面孔一板搭我哀歇會 [Shanghainese, trad.]
     伊话咾面孔一板搭我哀歇会 [Shanghainese, simp.]

     ⁶yi ⁶gho-lau ⁶mi-khon ⁷iq-pe ⁷teq-ngu ⁵e-shiq-we [Wugniu]

     But her face just kind of toughened and she was like smell ya later then

   • 2023, 饭瓜子, “我愛你-上海浦东蟹！ [I Love you — from a Pudong Shanghainese Crab]”, カニ研究会 [CANI CLUB] (music)‎^[2]performed by 摇铃鸟, cover of 我愛你-上海蟹-:

     搿拉話時季到拉哉，話咾 [Northern Wu, trad.]
     搿拉话时季到拉哉，话咾 [Northern Wu, simp.]

     They say now apparently it's the right season to hit