{"id":518,"date":"2023-03-05T12:13:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-05T12:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singapore-hotline.com\/?p=518"},"modified":"2023-03-05T12:13:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T12:13:06","slug":"essential-singlish-terms-and-phrases-youll-need-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singapore-hotline.com\/lifestyle\/essential-singlish-terms-and-phrases-youll-need-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Singlish Terms and Phrases You’ll Need in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
As you gear up for your exciting adventure in Singapore, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the local lingo: Singlish. This unique language fuses English, Malay, Hokkien, and Tamil, resulting in a linguistic tapestry that’s both fascinating and challenging to master. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But fear not, as learning some Singlish phrases and words can help you immerse yourself in the local culture and make meaningful connections with the people you meet. Our blog is your guide to the essential Singlish terms that you simply can’t do without during your stay in Singapore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
From quirky phrases that locals love to use, to tantalizing food terms that will make your taste buds sing, we’ve got you covered. So, get ready to explore the rich linguistic landscape of Singlish and dive into the cultural melting pot that is Singapore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, Before jumping into the crash Course in Singlish, let me explain a Singlish term that many foreigners might hear while visiting Singapore, especially Caucasian tourists. You may have heard people using the term “Ang Moh<\/em><\/strong>” to refer to people of European descent and wondered what it means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But don’t worry, the term is derived from the Hokkien dialect and means “red-haired” or “red-skin.” It’s not meant to be offensive (at least not in most cases), but it’s important to understand the context in which it’s being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, “Ang Moh” is a friendly and neutral term to refer to people of European descent or foreigners with lighter skin. You might even hear it used in a lighthearted and joking way, so don’t be surprised if someone calls you “Ang Moh” with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it’s also important to understand that some foreigners might find the term offensive. That’s why many young Singaporeans try to avoid using the word altogether and prefer to use the term “Westerners” to refer to people from Europe, North America, or Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, it’s all about understanding the cultural context and respecting each other’s differences. So, don’t get too worked up about the term “Ang Moh” and enjoy your time in Singapore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The usage of the word “Lah” in Singaporean English is ubiquitous, serving various functions at the end of a sentence such as emphasizing a point, confirming an idea or soliciting a request. The word’s versatility is evident in the range of emotions it conveys, from the exasperation of frustration to the urgency of necessity and even the fervor of enthusiasm. Furthermore, in the context of communication in Singapore and Malaysia, “Lah” carries an undertone of casualness and familiarity, often employed to add a gentle touch to a request or soften the impact of a forceful statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples: <\/strong>Here are some examples of how “lah” is used in Singaporean English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Don’t be late, lah!” (Emphasis<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m so tired, lah. (Emphasis<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “So we’re meeting at 7 pm at the hawker center, lah?” (Seeking confirmation<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let’s go for dinner, lah.” (Suggestion<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can you pass me the salt, lah?” (Softening a Request<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Help me carry this box, lah?” (Casual Request<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I told you to finish your homework already, why are you still playing games lah!” (Conveying frustration<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Hurry up and finish your breakfast, lah! We’re already late for the meeting.” (Conveying urgency<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let’s go shopping, lah! I heard there’s a big sale at the mall.” (Conveying enthusiasm<\/em>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Oh sure, you can just show up two hours late, no problem lah.” (Conveying Sarcasm<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Shiok” is a vibrant and expressive Singaporean term that conveys a deep sense of pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment. The word finds its origin in the Malay language, where it means “delicious” or “pleasurable.” In the context of Singaporean English, “shiok” is often employed to describe a variety of positive experiences or sensations, such as the sheer joy of savoring a delectable meal or the relaxing feeling of receiving a soothing massage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond that, the term can also be used as an expression of admiration or approval for something remarkable or exciting, such as a captivating performance or event. As an exclamation, “shiok” serves as a vivid way to convey surprise, amazement, or appreciation for something truly exceptional. Interestingly, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) recognized the significance of “shiok” in March 2016, adding it to their lexicon as an adjective that describes delicious or superb food and as an interjection used to express admiration or approval, similar to “cool!” or “great!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong> Here are some examples of how “Shiok” is used in Singaporean English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This laksa is so shiok! The spiciness and richness of the broth is just perfect.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Wow, you just did a triple backflip off the diving board? That was shiok!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I went to a concert last night and it was so shiok! The music was amazing and the energy in the crowd was electric.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “After a long week at work, it’s so shiok to just kick back and relax on the couch with a good movie.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I just got a really shiok massage at the spa. It was so relaxing and rejuvenating.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The view from the top of the mountain was simply shiok. The scenery was breathtaking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I can’t believe I just finished a 10K run. It was tough, but the feeling of accomplishment afterwards was so shiok.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I just tried this new restaurant and the food was so shiok. I’m definitely coming back here again.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Singapore, the word “chope” is commonly used to indicate the act of reserving a table or seat in a food court or hawker center by placing an object like a tissue packet, bag pack or umbrella on it. This term has its roots in the Malay language, where the word “cap” means to stamp or mark. Over time, the word was adopted into Singaporean English and transformed into “chope,” which now signifies the act of reserving or claiming a spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chope culture is common in Singapore’s food scene. It helps diners secure tables, especially during peak hours. It is pronounced as “chohp” with a short “o” sound, similar to the word “hop” with a “ch” sound at the beginning. The stress is on the first syllable, so it is pronounced as “CHOHP”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong> Here are some examples of how Singlish word “Chope” is used in IRL:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The hawker center is so crowded, I need to chope a table fast!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m going to chope the table with my umbrella so no one takes it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can you chope the seat next to you for me?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We need to chope a table quickly before the lunchtime rush.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Don’t forget to chope our spot in line for the food stall.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “She chope-d the best seat in the house with her book.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I saw someone chope the table with their phone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another commonly used Singlish word among family, and friends in Singapore, is “jio”, which basically means to invite someone to do something together. You can say “Jio me out!” to invite your friends to hang out with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, if someone leaves you out and didn’t invite you to join them, that’s called “bo-jio”. It’s like saying “Wow, I see how it is. You didn’t invite me? Bo-jio lah.” The word “jio” actually comes from Hokkien, a Chinese dialect commonly spoken here in Singapore. In Hokkien, “jio” means “to call” or “to invite”, while the word “bo” in “bo-jio” is Hokkien dialect for “no” or “not”. So, if you want to use it like a local, try saying “Eh, come jio me watch movie lah!” or “Next time jio me lah, don’t bo-jio!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong> Here are some examples of how Singlish word “Jio” and “Bo-Jio” is used in IRL:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Don’t forget to jio me if you’re going to the concert.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “If you’re planning to go shopping this weekend, jio me also ah!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Don’t jio me anymore, I’m tired of going out every weekend.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Why didn’t you jio me to the party last night?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Let’s jio John and his girlfriend for dinner tonight.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I can’t believe you guys went bungee jumping last weekend and didn’t tell me. Bo jio!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I can’t believe they all went to the beach without me, bo-jio lah.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Everyone’s going to the club tonight, but nobody jioed me. Bo-jio again.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can” is a versatile word that has a variety of uses in Singaporean English. At its most basic, “can” means “yes” or “okay”, as in “Can lah, let’s go to the hawker centre.” but this can also be used with various Singlish modifiers. Here are some examples of its other uses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can lor<\/em><\/strong>” – This is used to agree to something or to say “okay”. For example, “You want to meet at 2 pm?” “Can lor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can or not?<\/em><\/strong>” – This is a question asking for confirmation or agreement, similar to “is that okay?”. For example, “Can we meet at 7 pm?” “Can or not?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Sure can<\/em><\/strong>” – This means “definitely yes” or “for sure”. For example, “Can you come to my birthday party?” “Sure can!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can meh?<\/em><\/strong>” – This is a question asking for confirmation or expressing doubt like “How sure are you”. For example, “You finished all your homework already?” “Can meh?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can liao<\/em><\/strong>” – This means “it’s done” or “it’s ready”. For example, “Is the food ready?” “Can liao.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can already<\/em><\/strong>” – This means “it’s already done” or “it’s already okay”. For example, “Can you pass me the salt?” “Can already.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can one la<\/em><\/strong>” – This means “it’s Easy” or “it’s possible”. For example, “Can we go to the beach tomorrow?” “Can one la.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can ah?<\/em><\/strong>” – This is a question asking for agreement or confirmation like “can this be done”. For example, “Let’s go to the mall?” “Can ah?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Can hor<\/em><\/strong>” – This is a question asking for confirmation or agreement, similar to “You Sure?” For example, “Can we meet at 8 pm?” “Can hor?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s an example of these 5 Essential Singlish Words in an informal conversation between two friends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n1)<\/strong> Lah – Origin: Malay<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2) Shiok – Origin: Malay<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3) Chope – Origin: Malay<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n4) Jio and Bo-Jio – Origin: Hokkien<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5) Can – Origin: English<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n