Singapore is home to four official languages; Tamil, Mandarin, Malay, and English. But really, the English spoken here is the Singaporean dialect of English, known as Singlish. A lot of the Singlish words are taken from Chinese or Malay, while others are foreign words with a local twist.
Enjoy these 10 Common Singlish Words to Know Before You Go!
1. lah
Lah is a common filler word in Singlish. It really doesn’t mean anything, but is commonly used when asking and answering questions, as well as elsewhere. So if and when you hear lah, it is just the way of life in Singapore, lah.
2. can can
Can can is a way to say yes. You will as hear no can, which is a no. This is often used in reply to a yes or no question.
3. Ang Mo
Ang Mo is a Chinese term meaning “red hair”, but is contextually used to refer to a white foreigner. It is often used in Singapore as well as Malaysia. Ang Mo Kio is a neighborhood on eastern-central Singapore that features beautiful town parks.
4. Kampong
Kampong is the Malaysian word for village, but refers to the humble country living of Malaysia and Singaporeans past. Kampong Glam is the popular photo spot in the heart of Singapore. Home to the Sultan Mosque, Arab Street, Haji Lane, the Malay Heritage Centre, and more Kampong Glam does not reflect traditional Kampong living.
For this simple living experience, you can see people living off the land in Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Singapore’s last remaining Kampong) and Pulau Ubin. Though not really Singlish, Kampong is a common word in Singapore.
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5. Kopi and Teh
Want to get your morning fix of coffee or tea…I mean, Kopi and Teh? There is a way to order these goodies in Singlish…take a look.
Also, if you are not a coffee drinker, other popular beverages in Singapore include an Iced Milo, a Milo Dinosaur, Milk and/or Boba Tea, a freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, a lychee juice/ lychee water, a Bandung (a creamy rose syrup drink), barely water, a limeade, or a Tiger Beer (Singapore’s only local beer).
6. Chope
To chope, or chope-ing in Singlish is when you place a personal item onto a table at a hawker centre to reserve it. Items like this include anything from phones, purses, bags, umbrellas, hats…even wallets and packs of tissues or water bottles. If you are at a Hawker Centre in Singapore, you can practice your choping skills to reserve your table.
7. Auntie or Uncle
While this is a common practice in other parts of the world as well, in Singapore and in the Singlish Dialect, the terms of respect and endearment auntie and uncle are used to address the elderly. This is almost like saying sir, ma’am, mister, or miss/madam.
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8. Alamak
This common Singlish word – Alamak – is an exclamation similar to “oh my god” or “oops” to express frustration or shock.
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9. Shiok
Unlike Alamak, Shiok in Singlish is said to express that something is good. This is usually used when describing a meal or an experience.
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10. Tapao
Although the term take-away is likewise common, Tapao is a Cantonese word for to-go meals.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to educate yourself on common Singlish terms that you will encounter while in Singapore! Check out the 29 Singapore Tips for Tourist blog post listed below.
