Singlish
Singlish is the dialect of the the English language as spoken in Singapore. In Malaysia it is called Manglish.
It is influenced by both British and increasingly American English, and also uses words borrowed from Hokkien, the most important dialect of the Chinese language in Singapore, and from Malay.
Examples:
- ah - eh? huh?
- Ah Beng - uneducated Chinese man, butt of jokes
- aiyah! (Hokkien) or ayoh! - (Malay oh, no!
- ang moh - white person, Caucasian (from 'red man' Hokkien)
- boleh - can (Malay)
- COE (Certificate of Entitlement) - (very expensive) permit for car ownership
- CPF (Central Provident Fund) - government savings scheme
- chop - rubber stamp (from Malay cap) - "Immigration will chop your passport."
- hawker centre - outdoor food court
- kiah su - somebody who fears losing out (Hokkien)
- makan - eat (from Malay)
- HDB (Housing Development Board) - public housing estate
- ISA - Internal Security Act
- Mindef - Ministry of Defence
- MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) - metro system
- NS - National Service
- PAP - ''People's Action Party - governing party since 1959.
- SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
- shiok - cool! (Hokkien)
- ulu - rural, remote
- wah! - wow! (Hokkien)
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2 English words with different meanings in Singlish 3 External Links |
The ubiquitous word 'lah' is used at the end of a sentence, for emphasis. In Malay it is used in to make a verb into a command. To drink is minuman, but 'drink!' is minumlah. Hence a Singaporean would say 'drink, lah!' In common with other non-native forms of English, is it? or isn't it? are generic, like the French n'est-ce pas?:
Grammar
The order of the verb and the subject can also vary when asking a question.
The word one is used with an adjective:
When asking if you want something, it is common to drop the subject, and end the sentence with or not?English words with different meanings in Singlish
Other idioms include:External Links
