We Singaporeans love Singlish. But just like how Singlish borrows words like chee ko pek from Hokkien and teruk from Malay, we also borrow from English and make these words our own. Here is a list of 20 English terms that have been affectionately made Singaporean!
Show your angmoh friends this list so they won’t get confused when someone says they have to fly aeroplane.
English: Closely associated with owls.
Singlish: Closely associated with ah bengs.
“Wah this pole must hoot liao”
English: Used with a bow, typically as a weapon of war.
Singlish: Used with authority, typically starting office wars.
“eh I kena arrow, must OT liao.”
English: Typically brought for picnics at Gardens by the Bay.
Singlish: Typically used when you see advertisements like these filmed at Gardens by the Bay.
“Basket who pay for this advert siah”
English: Something that cannot be seen clearly.
Singlish: Someone that cannot think clearly.
“Oi don’t be so blur can or not?”
English: A container.
Singlish: Another word for yes.
“Oi don’t be so blur can or not?”
“Can!”
English: A winner that people look up to.
Singlish: A winner that people “look up to”.
“Wah win bet again. Andy’s Dad champion liao”
English: To die.
Singlish: To die trying.
“Ok la next time I die die bet Germany too”
English: A bird.
Singlish: A birdbrain.
“Don’t be so cock can? Win one time don’t mean win all the time.”
English: The more you have it, the lesser your need for spectacles.
Singlish: The more you have it, the less need you have to do work.
“Eh you all standing there doing what? Eye power izzit?”
English: The adventure begins.
Singlish: The adventure does not start.
“She say wanna watch movie but she fly me aeroplane again”
English: Without one, would mean a heated date.
Singlish: With one, there would be no heat.
“When she finally came out her friend joined us. Damn lightbulb leh”
English: The opposite of off.
Singlish: The opposite of no.
“Wanna go Zouk before it closes forever?”
“On!”
English: Some water getting hot.
Singlish: Someone getting hot (and bothered).
“Wah steam liao.”
English: A creature found in the sea.
Singlish: A person always lost at sea.
“Don’t be so sotong plz.”
English: Considered and deliberate movements on the battlefield.
Singlish: Considered and deliberate movements to avoid saikang.
“eh bro, the way you siam the extra very tactical sia“
English: Sound from a horn.
Singlish: Thinks like a horn.
“Don’t be such a toot plz”
Singlish: No Action, Talk Only
“As usual la, he say only. Sure NATO.”
English: To boogie-woogie
Singlish: To siam all responsibility
“Eh I pay you to shake leg ah? Back to work!”
English: Most Singaporeans have never seen one
Singlish: Most Singaporeans know one.
“Wah this guy treated so special, sure White Horse.”
English: Produces thought.
Singlish: Disagrees with thought.
“Singapore so boring. There are no things to do in Singapore.”
“Your head la!”
Let us know in the comments below!
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