Singlish Vocabulary: Singapore English Language

Introduction

Local Singaporean English Language, commonly known as Singlish, is a fascinating blend of English, Malay, Tamil, and Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, and Cantonese. Here we shall start with learning Singlish Vocabulary. Singlish is a unique creole that serves as a testament to Singapore’s multicultural and multilingual society. Understanding Singlish is not just about getting the hang of a new language – it’s a window into the soul of Singapore, its culture, its people, and their way of life.

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The Genesis of Singlish

Singlish was born out of the need for a common language among the diverse ethnic groups in Singapore. Its roots can be traced back to the British colonial era when English was introduced to the locals. As the locals started to learn English, they naturally incorporated words, phrases, and sentence structures from their mother tongues, giving birth to a new language that came to be known as Singlish, a whole new Singlish Vocabulary that has turned into a way of life.

Over the years, Singlish has evolved and matured, absorbing new words and phrases from various sources, and adapting to the changing linguistic needs of the Singaporean society. Today, it is a living, breathing entity, a language that is dynamic, vibrant, and full of character. So let’s start with Singlish Vocabulary, and get into what makes Singlish unique.

The Structure of Singlish

Singlish is not just English spoken with a Singaporean accent. It has its own unique syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The word order in Singlish can be quite different from standard English. For instance, instead of asking, “Where did you go?” a Singaporean would ask, “You go where?” Similarly, the plural form of nouns and the past tense of verbs are often dropped in Singlish, leading to sentences like “Got many car!” and “What happen yesterday?”

Singlish vocabulary is a delightful mishmash of English words and phrases borrowed from various other languages spoken in Singapore. For instance, ‘makan’ is a Malay word meaning ‘to eat’, and ‘kiasu’ is a Hokkien term that roughly translates to ‘fear of losing out’.

Singlish also has its own set of unique particles, such as ‘lah’, ‘leh’, ‘lor’, ‘mah’, and ‘meh’, which are used at the end of sentences to express different attitudes and emotions. For instance, “Don’t like that lah” is a Singlish phrase that means “Don’t be like that” in standard English.

If these are just madness, and for standard English Vocabulary, kindly click here to get back to normalcy.

Singlish Vocabulary in Everyday Life

Singlish is an integral part of everyday life in Singapore. It is the language of the streets, the markets, the hawker centers, and the heartlands. It is the language that Singaporeans use to communicate with each other in their daily interactions. Here are some examples of common Singlish phrases:

• “Long time no see” – It has been a while since we last met.
• “Can or not?” – Is it possible?
• “Don’t play play” – Don’t mess around.
• “Why you so like that?” – Why are you behaving in such a manner?
• “So expensive, don’t want lah” – It’s too expensive, I don’t want it.
• “Makan already?” – Have you eaten? ‘Makan’ is a Malay word that means ‘eat’, and it is widely used in Singlish.
• “Jialat!” – Oh no! / This is bad! ‘Jialat’ is a Hokkien term that is often used to express dismay or trouble.
• “Blur like sotong” – Being clueless or confused. ‘Sotong’ is the Malay word for squid, and this phrase is akin to the English phrase ‘as lost as a sheep’.
• “Kopi gao” – Strong coffee. ‘Kopi’ is the Malay term for coffee, and ‘gao’ is Hokkien for ‘thick’. So, ‘kopi gao’ refers to a strong, thick brew of coffee.
• “Shiok!” – Fantastic! / Delicious! ‘Shiok’ is a term used to express extreme delight or pleasure, usually in relation to food or a good experience.
• “Paiseh” – Embarrassed or shy. Derived from the Hokkien dialect, ‘paiseh’ is used when someone feels embarrassed or owes someone a favor.
• “Chope” – To reserve something. A widely used term in hawker centres or food courts where you reserve a seat by placing a packet of tissues on the table.
• “Alamak!” – Oh dear! / Oh no! ‘Alamak’ is an exclamation of surprise or dismay, similar to ‘Oh no!’.
• “Bojio!” – Not inviting. Used when you’re not invited to an outing or event. It’s derived from the Hokkien phrase ‘bo jio’, which means ‘didn’t invite’.
• “Kena” – Got / affected by. A Malay term used when someone has been affected by something, often used in a negative context like “kena scolded” means “got scolded”.
• “Walao eh!” – An expression of disbelief or shock. This is a Hokkien phrase that is often used to express surprise or frustration. It’s akin to saying “Oh my gosh!” in English.
• “Lepak” – To hang out or chill. This is a Malay word that’s often used when someone wants to relax or hang out with friends. For example, “Let’s lepak at the coffee shop” means “Let’s hang out at the coffee shop”.
• “Ang moh” – A term for Westerners. Derived from Hokkien, ‘ang moh’ literally means ‘red hair’ and is used colloquially to refer to Westerners.
• “Pang chance” – Give me a chance / Let it go. This term is often used in schools or between friends to ask for forgiveness or a second chance.
• “Kiasu” – Afraid to lose out. This is a Hokkien term that describes the Singaporean cultural concept of fearing losing out or being left behind. It’s used to describe someone who is competitive or overly anxious.
• “Sabo” – To play a prank on or sabotage. This term is derived from the word ‘sabotage’. It’s often used when someone plays a prank or makes things difficult for others.
• “Die die must try” – Highly recommended. This phrase is used to recommend something that one must try, no matter what. It’s often used in relation to food.
• “Can meh?” – Is it possible? This phrase is used to question the possibility or feasibility of something.
• “Blur like sotong” – Being clueless or confused. The phrase uses ‘sotong’, the Malay word for ‘squid’, to represent a person who is clueless or confused, similar to the English phrase ‘head in the clouds’.
• “Atas” – High class or posh. This Malay word is used to describe something or someone that is considered high class, sophisticated or posh.
• “Shiok” – Fantastic, amazing. This term is used to express extreme delight or satisfaction. It’s often used in reference to delicious food or a relaxing experience, as in, “That massage was really shiok!”
• “Sian” – Bored or tired. This word is used to express feelings of boredom, fatigue or frustration. For instance, “I’m so sian of this homework” means “I’m so bored/tired of this homework”.
• “Bojio” – Didn’t invite. Derived from Hokkien, this phrase is used when someone feels left out because they weren’t invited to an event or outing.
• “Chope” – To reserve. This term is used to express the act of reserving a seat, especially in a hawker centre, often by placing a packet of tissue paper on the table.
• “Makan” – To eat. This Malay word is commonly used in everyday Singlish vocabulary. For instance, “Let’s go makan” means “Let’s go eat”.
• “Paiseh” – Embarrassed or shy. A Hokkien term used when someone feels shy or embarrassed, similar to the English term ‘bashful’.
• “Alamak” – Oh no. This is an expression of surprise or dismay, similar to “Oh no” or “Oops” in English.
• “Aiyoh” / “Aiyah” – Oh dear, oh no. Both terms are expressions of disappointment, frustration or surprise. They are interchangeable and used depending on the speaker’s preference.
• “Kopi Gao” – Strong coffee. This phrase is used to order a strong coffee at hawker centres or coffee shops, ‘gao’ meaning ‘thick’ in Hokkien.
• “Tapao” – Takeaway. Derived from Cantonese, it’s used when one wants to take food away from a food stall or restaurant.
• “Kaypoh” – Nosy or busybody. This term is used to describe someone who is overly curious about other people’s affairs.
• “Pang chance” – Give chance. This is a plea for leniency or understanding, often used when someone is struggling with a task.
• “Blur like sotong” – Totally clueless. Literally means being as ‘blur’ as a squid, referring to someone who is totally clueless or not paying attention.
• “Kiasu” – Fear of losing out. A Hokkien term that describes a competitive nature and the fear of missing out or losing.
• “On the ball” – Alert or competent. This is a compliment for someone who is sharp, alert, or highly competent in their work.
• “Lah” – A particle with no specific meaning. This is often used at the end of a sentence for emphasis, and is one of the most recognizable features of Singlish.
• “Lor” – Indicates acceptance or resignation. This is another sentence-ending particle, expressing a sense of resignation or acceptance.
• “Sabo” – To sabotage. Derived from the word ‘sabotage’, this term is used when someone is set up for trouble, often in a playful or non-malicious context.
• “Shag” – Extremely tired. This term is used to describe a state of extreme fatigue or tiredness.
• “Walao” / “Wah lau” – An expression of disbelief or surprise. These phrases are used to express exasperation, disbelief, or surprise. They are similar to saying “Oh my gosh” in English.
• “Chiong” – To rush or go fast. This term is used when someone is rushing or going somewhere in a hurry. It can also refer to last-minute studying.
• “Jialat” – In a dire situation. This term is used to express that something is in a terrible state or situation.
• “Lepak” – Relax or hang out. This Malay word is used in Singlish to indicate chilling out or relaxing.
• “Ang moh” – Westerner or Caucasian. This term literally translates to “red hair” in Hokkien and is used to refer to Westerners or Caucasians.
• “Atas” – High class or sophisticated. This term is used to describe something or someone that is high class, sophisticated or expensive.
• “Boleh” – Can or able to. This Malay word is used in Singlish to show agreement or to indicate that something is possible.
• “Cheem” – Deep or profound. This term is used to describe something that is deep, profound or difficult to understand.
• “Die die” – Must, no matter what. This term is used to emphasize that something must be done, no matter what.
• “Gostan” – Go backwards. This term is used to mean reversing or going backwards, it’s a ‘backslang’ of the English term “go astern”.
• “Huat ah” – To prosper. This phrase is often used during Chinese New Year and it means to prosper. It’s also often used in a celebratory context.
• “Siao” – Crazy. This term is used to describe someone who is acting crazy or absurd.
• “Gahmen” – Government. This is a casual and somewhat irreverent term for the government.
• “Paiseh” – Embarrassed or shy. This term is used when someone feels embarrassed or shy.
• “Shiok” – Awesome, delicious. This term is used to describe an awesome experience or delicious food.
• “Kena” – Got or received. This term is used when someone gets or receives something, often in a negative context such as receiving a punishment.
• “Bojio” – Didn’t invite. This term is used to express disappointment at not being invited to an event or outing.
• “Leh” – A particle used for emphasis. This is another sentence-ending particle, often used to emphasize a point or question.
• “Makan” – To eat. This term is borrowed from Malay and is used to mean eating or food.
• “Alamak” – Oh no. This is an expression of surprise, similar to ‘oh no’ or ‘uh oh’ in English.
• “Aiyoh” / “Aiyah” – Oh dear. These expressions are used to express frustration, disappointment, or exasperation.
• “Tapao” / “Da bao” – Takeaway food. These terms are used to refer to takeaway food.
• “Pangseh” – To stand someone up. This term is used when someone fails to show up for an appointment, essentially leaving the other person hanging.
• “Chope” – To reserve. This term is used to indicate the act of reserving a seat, often by placing a packet of tissues on it.
• “Sian” – Bored or tired. This term is used to express feelings of boredom or tiredness.
• “Liao” – Already. This term is often used at the end of a sentence to mean ‘already’.
• “Kopi” – Coffee. This term is used to refer to the local style coffee, which is typically strong and served with condensed milk.
• “Teh” – Tea. Similar to ‘kopi’, this term is used to refer to the local style tea, often served with condensed milk.
• “Kaki” – Buddy or friend. This term is used to refer to a close friend or buddy.
• “Steady” – Reliable, capable. This term is used to describe someone who is reliable or capable.
• “Blur” – Confused or slow to understand. This term is used to describe someone who is confused or slow to catch on.

Examples of Singlish Sentences used in Singapore

Understanding these phrases and how they are used can go a long way in helping one navigate Singaporean society and culture. Here’s how you can use the Singlish Vocabulary you have learnt above, as like English Language, the secret is in the syntax. Keep it simple and what makes sense, the elegance is in its directness of use.

Phrase	Meaning	Usage Example
1. Chiong	To rush or go fast	“We need to chiong to finish this project on time.”
2. Sabo	Sabotage	“Don’t sabo me, I need to finish this report by today.”
3. Kiasu	Fear of missing out	“He is so kiasu, he always wants to be first in everything.”
4. Jialat	Terrible	“Jialat, the traffic is so bad today.”
5. Shiok	Awesome or delicious	“The laksa at that stall is shiok!”
6. Kaki	Buddy or friend	“He’s my kaki, we go way back.”
7. Atas	High class	“That restaurant is so atas, a meal there costs a bomb.”
8. Bojio	Didn’t invite	“You went for a movie and bojio?”
9. Lah	A particle for emphasis	“Don’t worry lah, everything will be fine.”
10. Shag	Tired	“I’m so shag after the long day at work.”
11. Ang moh	Westerner	“There were many ang mohs at the party.”
12. Siao	Crazy	“You must be siao to go bungee jumping.”
13. Paiseh	Embarrassed or shy	“Paiseh, I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
14. Blur like sotong	Clueless	“He’s always blur like sotong, never knows what’s going on.”
15. Makan	To eat or meal	“Let’s go makan at the hawker centre.”
16. Aiyoh	Exclamation of dismay	“Aiyoh, I forgot my wallet at home.”
17. Gostan	To go backwards	“Gostan, you’re about to hit the wall.”
18. Habis	Finished or done	“Habis, my phone battery is dead.”
19. Kopi	Coffee	“I need a cup of kopi to start my day.”
20. Alamak	Oh no	“Alamak, I left the stove on.”

More??? Sure, here are more examples:

Phrase	Meaning	Usage Example
21. Lepak	Relax or chill	“Let’s lepak at the coffee shop later.”
22. Kaypoh	Nosey	“Don’t be so kaypoh about my personal life.”
23. Gahmen	Government	“The gahmen has introduced new policies.”
24. Wah lau	Exclamation of surprise or disbelief	“Wah lau, how did he manage to do that?”
25. Ulu	Remote or rural	“His house is so ulu, it takes forever to get there.”
26. Yaya papaya	Arrogant or show-off	“He’s so yaya papaya since he got that promotion.”
27. Shopee	To shop	“I’m going to shopee for new clothes this weekend.”
28. Ownself check ownself	Self-review or self-check	“You have to ownself check ownself before submitting the report.”
29. Jio	Invite	“Jio me the next time you go for a movie.”
30. Stylo milo	Stylish	“You look so stylo milo in that dress!”
31. Tahan	Endure or tolerate	“I can’t tahan his nonsense anymore.”
32. Sian	Bored or frustrated	“I’m so sian of staying at home.”
33. Kena	To get hit or affected	“I kena scolded by the boss today.”
34. Walao	An exclamation, similar to ‘Oh my gosh’	“Walao, why is it so hot today?”
35. Cho bo lan	Doing nothing	“He’s just cho bo lan at home all day.”
36. Catch no ball	Don’t understand	“I catch no ball when he talks about his tech job.”
37. Swee	Good or perfect	“Your presentation was swee!”
38. Kan cheong	Anxious or nervous	“Don’t be so kan cheong, you’ll do well.”
39. Onz	Agree or confirm	“I’m onz for the plan!”
40. Paktor	To go on a date	“They’ve been paktor-ing for a few months now.”

Phrase	Meaning	Usage Example
41. Kiasu	Fear of losing out	“She’s so kiasu, she arrived three hours early for the sale.”
42. Shiok	Fantastic or enjoyable	“The meal was absolutely shiok!”
43. Bo jio	Didn’t invite	“You went to the concert, bo jio!”
44. Siao	Crazy or insane	“You want to walk in this heat? Siao ah!”
45. Heng	Lucky or fortunate	“Heng, I managed to catch the last bus.”
46. Aiyoh	Exclamation of disappointment or exasperation	“Aiyoh, I forgot to bring my wallet!”
47. Lah	A particle with no specific meaning, used for emphasis	“Don’t worry lah, I will do it.”
48. Blur	Confused or not knowing what’s going on	“He always has a blur look during our meetings.”
49. Chope	To reserve	“Can you help me chope a seat?”
50. Paiseh	Shy or embarrassed	“Paiseh, can you lend me some money?”
51. Alamak	Exclamation of surprise or frustration	“Alamak, I forgot my keys at home!”
52. Ang moh	Caucasian person	“There are many ang mohs in that bar.”
53. Atas	High class or posh	“The restaurant is too atas for my liking.”
54. Makan	To eat	“Let’s go makan at the hawker centre.”
55. Kena scold	Got scolded	“I kena scold by my boss today.”
56. Die die must try	Must try no matter what	“The durian here is die die must try.”
57. Sabo	Sabotage	“Don’t sabo me during the presentation.”
58. Jalan jalan	To go for a walk or to travel	“Let’s jalan jalan around the city.”
59. Liao	Already or then	“I’ve finished my work liao.”
60. Sotong	Clueless or oblivious	“He’s a real sotong when it comes to directions.”

And here’s the fun stuff, Singaporean vs The World

Here is a conversion of Singlish phrases to Standard English:

Singlish Phrase	Standard English Translation
“Kena scolded by boss, so sian.”	“I was reprimanded by my boss, and now I’m feeling bored and listless.”
“You makan already or not?”	“Have you eaten yet?”
“Eh, you very blur leh.”	“Hey, you seem confused.”
“Wah, this one really shiok!”	“Wow, this is truly enjoyable or gratifying!”
“I jialat already, tomorrow got exam.”	“I’m in trouble, I have an exam tomorrow.”
“That uncle quite kiasu.”	“That man is rather competitive and selfish.”
“You better don’t kaypoh.”	“You should mind your own business.”
“She always kena tekan by her mother-in-law.”	“She always gets bullied or pressured by her mother-in-law.”
“He always muka tembok.”	“He’s always shameless or brazen.”
“Why you liddat?”	“Why are you like that?”
“Don’t make me marah you.”	“Don’t make me get angry at you.”
“You so pandai, help me solve this problem.”	“You’re so smart, help me solve this problem.”
“You don’t prasan too much.”	“Don’t be overly self-important.”
“You very rajin today, cleaned the whole house.”	“You’re very diligent today, you cleaned the whole house.”
“Wah, she really taukeh, own so many properties.”	“Wow, she’s really a boss, owning so many properties.”
“You think you very terror is it?”	“Do you think you’re very terrific or formidable?”
“I tahan until I cannot tahan.”	“I endured until I couldn’t endure any more.”
“You very the kiasi.”	“You are very afraid of dying or taking risks.”
“Don’t always wayang lah, we all know you’re not that hardworking.”	“Don’t always put on a show, we all know you’re not that hardworking.”
“He always yaya papaya, thinks he’s better than everyone else.”	“He’s always acting superior, thinks he’s better than everyone else.”

Singlish Phrase	Standard English Translation
“Her cooking very sedap.”	“Her cooking is very delicious.”
“This shop sell very cheap one.”	“This shop sells very cheap items.”
“Why you so like that one?”	“Why are you behaving like that?”
“I everyday eat here, very shiok!”	“I eat here every day, it’s very satisfying!”
“You see my face black, still want to disturb me.”	“You see that I’m upset, but you still want to bother me.”
“This one confirm plus chop yours one.”	“This one is definitely yours.”
“He very kayu, cannot dance.”	“He’s very awkward, he can’t dance.”
“You so garang, no fear.”	“You’re so courageous, you have no fear.”
“She always like to anyhowly park her car.”	“She always parks her car carelessly.”
“Don’t act blur, you know what I mean.”	“Don’t pretend to be clueless, you know what I mean.”
“Your story very long one, can cut short?”	“Your story is very long, can you shorten it?”
“He very gabra when speaking in public.”	“He gets very nervous when speaking in public.”
“She always lepak at that corner.”	“She’s always idling at that corner.”
“This movie very the geli, cannot watch.”	“This movie is very disgusting, I can’t watch it.”
“I tell you many times already, you very guailan.”	“I’ve told you many times, you’re very stubborn.”
“You so keng, do everything also can.”	“You’re so competent, you can do everything.”
“Why he so ngeow one?”	“Why is he so stingy?”
“This one saya punya, you cannot take.”	“This is mine, you can’t take it.”
“Your idea very the rojak.”	“Your idea is very mixed up.”

Singlish Phrase	Standard English Translation
“I never say like that one!”	“I didn’t say it like that!”
“You so clever, help me solve this lah.”	“Since you’re so clever, help me solve this.”
“This one so atas, I cannot afford.”	“This is so high-class, I can’t afford it.”
“Why he so blur like sotong?”	“Why is he so clueless?”
“She got many pattern, cannot trust.”	“She’s unpredictable, you can’t trust her.”
“You always makan without me, bad lah you.”	“You always eat without me, that’s not nice of you.”
“He never jio me go party.”	“He didn’t invite me to the party.”
“Her dress very the pow chiak!”	“Her dress is very flashy!”
“You wait long long lah!”	“You’ll have to wait for a very long time!”
“I tomorrow not free, got something on.”	“I’m not free tomorrow, I have something going on.”
“You so wayang, everyone also know.”	“You’re such a show-off, everyone knows it.”
“This one so yaya papaya, I don’t like.”	“This is too pretentious, I don’t like it.”
“You so zhun, always right.”	“You’re so accurate, always right.”
“The food here very the shiok!”	“The food here is very satisfying!”
“I tell you many times already, don’t be so kiasu.”	“I’ve told you many times, don’t be so afraid to lose.”

Note: The translations provided here are loose approximations, as Singlish phrases often carry nuanced cultural meanings that can’t be directly translated into Standard English.

Conclusion: Embracing Singlish

Singlish is an essential part of Singapore’s cultural identity. It is a language that has evolved organically, reflecting the country’s multicultural heritage, its history, and its unique Singaporean character. For anyone seeking to understand and embrace Singapore and its people, Singlish 101 by eduKate Singapore serves as the perfect starting point.

Singlish, or Singaporean English, is a unique creole language native to Singapore. It is characterized by its distinctive pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Singlish vocabulary is a blend of various languages spoken in Singapore, including English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Tamil.

For international students in Singapore, understanding Singlish and its vocabulary is crucial for effective communication with locals. Singlish is used in everyday communication, involving specific words and phrases that are unique to the language. Singlish differs from Standard English in Singapore, making it important for international students to master its nuances.

To improve Singlish proficiency, international students can use strategies such as navigating cultural differences through Singlish and understanding its grammar and sentence structure. Singlish vocabulary includes special words to deal with local institutions such as MRT, the local light rail system, and HDB, the government-managed housing system. Additionally, Singlish humor and idioms are essential for better communication.

Pronunciation drills for difficult Singlish sounds and developing Singlish communication skills are necessary for international students to use Singlish effectively. Singlish represents the linguistic dynamism and multiculturalism of Singapore, reflecting the country’s history, complex cultural landscape, and the adaptability of its people.

Singlish is a unique language that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Singapore. Its vocabulary is a blend of various languages, reflecting the multiculturalism of the country. As an international student in Singapore, understanding Singlish and its vocabulary is crucial for effective communication with locals.

Singlish differs from Standard English, making it important for international students to learn its nuances. In everyday communication, Singlish involves using specific words and phrases that are unique to the language. For instance, the word “lah” is often used at the end of sentences to emphasize a point, while “makan” is a Malay word for “to eat” that has been adopted into Singlish.

To improve Singlish proficiency, international students can use strategies such as navigating cultural differences through Singlish and understanding its grammar and sentence structure. Singlish grammar is distinctive, with many grammatical endings that are required in Standard English being optional in Singlish. Singlish also makes frequent use of particles like “lah”, “ah”, and “what” that add emphasis or emotion to a sentence.

Singlish vocabulary includes special words to deal with local institutions, like MRT and HDB. These words reflect the unique features of Singaporean society and culture, and understanding them is essential for effective communication. Additionally, Singlish humor and idioms are essential for better communication, and international students should take the time to learn them.

Developing Singlish communication skills involves mastering its pronunciation and understanding its grammar and sentence structure. Pronunciation drills for difficult Singlish sounds and developing Singlish communication skills are necessary for international students to use Singlish effectively.

The future of Singlish lies in the ability of Singaporeans to master code-switching between Singlish and Standard English, maintaining their unique linguistic heritage while meeting the demands of global communication. Singlish represents the linguistic dynamism and multiculturalism of Singapore, reflecting the country’s history, complex cultural landscape, and the adaptability of its people.

In conclusion, Singlish is a unique language that is an important part of Singaporean culture and heritage. International students in Singapore should take the time to learn Singlish and its vocabulary to effectively communicate with locals. Strategies such as navigating cultural differences through Singlish and understanding its grammar and sentence structure can be helpful. Pronunciation drills for difficult Singlish sounds and developing Singlish communication skills are also necessary for international students to use Singlish effectively. Singlish represents the linguistic dynamism and multiculturalism of Singapore, reflecting the country’s history, complex cultural landscape, and the adaptability of its people.