Loading...
Loading...
Singlish β Singapore's beloved creole β is one of the most fascinating linguistic phenomena in Southeast Asia. Born from the collision of English, Malay, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil, and other languages spoken across this multicultural city-state, Singlish is far more than "broken English." It is a fully formed contact language with its own grammar, particles, and pragmatic rules. Iconic expressions like "lah," "can," "shiok," and "kiasu" encode cultural attitudes about efficiency, food, and social harmony that are quintessentially Singaporean. Despite periodic government campaigns to promote Standard English, Singlish thrives as a marker of national identity and has gained global visibility through social media and film.
Key influences: Malay, Mandarin, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Tamil, and British colonial English
Slang from Singapore is more than just informal vocabulary β it is a window into the region's history, social dynamics, and creative spirit. Every slang term carries context: who uses it, when it emerged, what communities it belongs to, and how its meaning has shifted over time. Learning Singapore slang helps you understand not just words, but the people and cultures behind them.
Our dictionary below includes terms that have been submitted and verified by our community. Each entry provides the meaning, usage examples, and cultural context so you can understand not just what the word means but how and when to use it. Whether you're a language learner, a curious traveler, a parent trying to decode your teenager's messages, or a linguist tracking how language evolves, this collection offers an authentic look at Singapore's living vocabulary.
Browse community-verified slang from Singapore. Click any term for full details, examples, and cultural context.
Slang is deeply tied to community identity. When you learn and use slang from Singapore, keep these principles in mind:
Dive deeper into slang culture, regional differences, and how language evolves with these articles from the SlangWatch blog.
SlangWatch covers slang from dozens of regions worldwide. Each culture brings its own flavor β browse other regions to discover how communities across the globe play with language.
Something so good or important that one must try it (extreme recommendation).
To be afflicted by; to be hit by; to suffer an unfortunate event (from Malay).
A fearful attitude of losing out; competitive or greedy (from Hokkien).
Expresses certainty or resignation; implies the fact is obvious.
A simple, intimate confirmation that the relationship is secure and stable.