The national language of Singapore is Malay while English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil are the four official languages in Singapore. English is the most widely spoken language (primarily by the population below the age of 50), and the medium of instructions in school. English is also the language of business and government in Singapore, based on British English. A unique and widely spoken language in Singapore is the Singlish. It is primarily the colloquial form of English, having a distinct accent, and ignoring the basic standards of English grammar. Having a jumble of local slang and expressions of various languages and dialects of Singapore, speaking in Singlish is seen as a mark of being truly local! Interestingly, all the schools in the city teach the language of the child's parentage, along with English, to ensure the child stay in touch with the traditional roots.
Official Language of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese Mandarin and Tamil
National Language of Singapore: Malay
De Facto Language of Singapore: English
Minority Languages in Singapore: Hokkien, Hainanese, Cantonese, Indonesian, Javanese, Japanese, Korean, Punjabi
Language | Percentage |
English | 37% |
Mandarin | 35% |
Chinese Dialects | 13% |
Malay | 10% |
Tamil | 3% |
Others | 2% |
1. Malay - National Language of Singapore

Malay Translation Guide
Hello - apakabar
Thank you - terimakasih
Good bye - se la mat jalan
Do you speak English? - Ta-hoo-kah ber -da ha sa Ingris?
Same - samasama
I don't understand - Sa-ya tee dak fa-ham
Help! - To-long!
2. English - Main Language of Singapore

3. Singlish in Singapore
Now Singlish sounds new to your ears, doesn't it? Singlish is Singaporean's very unique take on English with words borrowed from Hokkien, Tamil, and Malay. Do not expect the standardized grammar or a decent accent - it is more like a colloquial form of English with a vast vocabulary contributed by all the local dialects spoken. This fun Singapore language is mostly broken words. Hence, do not even get the idea of drafting a formal mail to your boss in Singlish. The language has distinct phonology with which the true Singaporeans associate themselves as their unique identity.
Singlish Translation Guide
One chicken rice to take away - One Chicken Rice da bao.
Don't need a camera tomorrow - Tomorrow dun need camera
Don't be so difficult/hard/aggressive - Don't be so kiasu lah.
Not good - not good one lah
Oh, my gosh!/What - Alamak!
Good grief this is expensive - Wah liao so expensive lah
Where is the bus stop - Where bas?
Ok - Ok lah
Correct - Corright
Black Coffee - Kopi Oh
Don't be like that - dun lai dat lah
He doesn't know what he is doing - He so blur lah
I am flying Singapore Airlines - I fly SQ lah
Iced Coffee - Kopi Ais
I can't hear you, can you repeat - repeat again or Ha?
How is that possible - How can lah?
I want to go to Orchard Station - I wan go Orchard MRT
4. Mandarin in Singapore

Mandarin Translation Guide
Hello - Ni hao (Nee how)How are you? - Ni hao ma? (Nee how ma)
Very good - Hen hao (hun hao)
My name is. . . - Wo demingzi shi. . . (Wuo duh mingzuhshih ...)
Excuse me - Duì bú qi (dweì bú chi)
Please - qing (ching)
Thank you - Xiè xiè (shièh shièh)
Do you speak English - Ni huì jiang Yingyu ma? (Nee hueijeeang Ying you ma.)
I don't understand - Wo ting bù dong.
Friends - péngyou (pung yo)
Danger - weí xiàn (way shien)
Good-bye - Zaìjiàn (dsaì jiàn)
5. Tamil in Singapore

Tamil Translation Guide
Good morning! - Kaalai Vanakkam
Good evening! - Maalai Vanakkam
Thanks- Romba Nandri
One moment please! - Oru nimidam!
Excuse me! ( to pass by) - Mannikanum (or) Alo!
Can you help me? - Enakku udhavi seivienkala?
How are you? -Eppadi irukkinga? (or) Nalamaa?
Welcome! (to greet someone) -Vaazhga!
I'm fine, thanks! Nallaa irukéan! (or) Nalam! , Nandri!
And you? - Nienga?
Good/ So-So -Sari
You're welcome! (for "thank you") - Paravaa illa
Good night! - Iravu vanakkam
Goodbye! - Poittu varén!
Linguistic Landscape of Singapore - Need to Know
- Brown sign with white words - Sign pointing to attractions
- Green sign with white words - road signs and street names