Brand names turned Singaporean vocabulary 

Growing up in Singapore, we’ve probably heard our parents say “Pampers,” and we would associate it with diapers. Little did we know then that Pampers is, in fact, not what all diapers are called, but a popular diaper brand instead.

That’s not the only brand name we’ve snuck into our niche vocabulary – here’s a list of well-known brands that we use as umbrella terms in our day-to-day conversations.

1. Maggi

Image credit: @tradewinds_shop via Instagram

First on the list, we have our favourite instant noodle brand, Maggi – the holy grail for satisfying late-night cravings when we think there’s nothing to eat at home.

If you haven’t realised by now, we’ve all subconsciously asked ourselves, “Should I eat Maggi for supper, or sleep the hunger away?” And on many of these occasions,  we don’t specifically mean we want to eat Maggi brand noodles; it’s just the first word that pops up when we think of instant noodles.

2. Tupperware

Image credits: Tupperware Malaysia

Another staple in many of our households is Tupperware products, especially their durable, vibrant-coloured water bottles and containers that are the solution to all of our food storage-related problems.

“Pass me the Tupperware” is a phrase that may be familiar to more than just a few of us – otherwise rephrased as “pass me any kind of air-tight, reusable food container to store the kimchi”.

3. Grab

Image credit: Grab

Unless you’re looking for specific deals elsewhere like on Gojek or Geolah, the first app we probably think of using to book our rides is none other than Grab, which comes in clutch in times of emergency, AKA running late for work.

Aside from zooming to the office in a Grab vehicle, we’re also guilty of splurging on taxis whenever we stay out past midnight  – the first thing we say when our friend asks how we’re getting home is: “take Grab lor”, when we really mean any ride-hailing car that’ll transport us back to our beds.

4. WhatsApp

Image credits: WhatsApp Messenger via Google Play

WhatsApp might just be our parents’ favourite messenger app, with the way they spam us with copypaste chain messages. Jokes aside, WhatsApp has evolved to become our default form of communication, be it for personal use or work.

Instead of calling on Facetime or sending an SMS via iMessage, it’s simply: “Later you can just WhatsApp me the details ah”.

5. NTUC

Image credit: FairPrice Group

There’s no doubt that FairPrice is one of our most frequented supermarkets in Singapore as there always seems to be one around the corner, and the goods sold there are affordable.

Even though the right term is FairPrice because it’s the name of NTUC’s supermarket arm – we still call it NTUC anyway, because it just sounds catchier and it’s become ingrained in our minds – especially when we’re in need of a quick grocery run.

6. Kopitiam

Image credit: Kopitiam

When you’re just craving something cheap and simple, the Kopitiam is where you go to satisfy your belly without much thought.

To most of us, Kopitiam essentially means any type of food court, hawker centre, or coffee shop. Perhaps saying Kopitiam rolls off the tongue better, so when push comes to shove, we adapted to say: “let’s just go Kopitiam” when we can’t decide where to go for lunch and more often than not, we’re not referring to the food court chain.

7. GV

“Catching a movie at GV?” Golden Village, or GV for short, is what we usually call affordable cinemas with student discounts in Singapore, and it was our favourite pastime because a trip to the cinema was what came to mind when we had nothing to do after school or during the weekends back then.

If not for the open jios by friends to go to GV together, we’d be stuck in Timezone instead, as our hands filled up with dozens of tickets from playing arcade games.

8. Pampers

Image credit: @the.charlie.dood via Instagram 

Back when we were still soiling our pants as kids, Pampers always came to the rescue, so much so they became our parents’ most trusted diaper brand. It’s catchy and easy enough for non-English speakers to say too, as a catch-all phrase that just means diapers.

At least when I was a kid, I genuinely believed that upon hearing the word Pampers, I thought it was time for a change of nappies.

9. Google / ChatGPT

This one is pretty much global – Google. When we’re unsure of any topic, Google’s our know-it-all bestie that always has the answers, and it’s become our favourite replacement word for “surfing the net” because it’s more convenient to say.

Run out of new cafes and restaurants to take your friends out for a meal? Simply Google for the answer.

Although nowadays, we might have slowly started to replace Google with ChatGPT to find our answers to anything and everything, including using ChatGPT for therapy.

10. Ziploc

Image credit: The WEBstaurant Store

Ziploc is our travel buddy when we need to pack daily essentials in our luggage for a short getaway out of Singapore. These hardy, waterproof plastic bags show up for our toiletries, fresh vegetables, and even snacks, so it’s no surprise that Ziploc’s the first thing that comes to mind when we want to store something in a resealable bag.

11. Hypebeast

Image credit: Hypebeast

When streetwear fashion was at its peak from 2015 to 2019, we couldn’t help but catch glimpses of people covered with trendy outfits from head to toe, and we called them Hypebeasts.

The term arose from a brand called Hypebeast going way back to 2005 – garnering popularity because of their limited-edition sneakers or apparel up for grabs. So whenever you see someone dripped out in hip-hop inspired outfits along Orchard Road, they were probably Hypebeasts at heart.

Everyday words in the Singaporean vocabulary inspired by brands

Out of all the brand names used as part of our everyday vocabulary on this list, you’re probably guilty of using at least one or two. These were the core of our childhood memories that became a part of our native tongue. Suffice it to say, this is one of the many things we can appreciate about what truly connects us as fellow Singaporeans.

For more nostalgic reads about life on the Little Red Dot:

• Secret facts of Singapore
• Closed arts & cultural spaces in Singapore
• Most memorable National Day Parade moments

Cover image adapted from: Grab, @tradewinds_shop via Instagram