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Sure anot? Yes sure\u2026\u00a0 In Singapore, Singlish is often used when people feel at ease speaking to one another.\u00a0 Most people in Singapore would agree that Singlish plays an integral part in their daily communication. Hence it doesn\u2019t come as a surprise, Singlish is responsible for many Singaporeans getting hitched. \u00a0A popular online blog in Singapore quoted Singlish as: \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s objectively one of the best and most romantic and lyrical languages in the whole wide world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singapore is a melting pot of different races and cultures. Singlish first emerged when Singapore gained independence some half a century ago, and English was decided to be the common language for all its different races. Singlish came about out of the necessity to communicate with different cultures in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Unlike other pidgin or creole English, Singlish has evolved from a confluence of very diverse languages. The language has grown from a predominantly mix of Malay, Hokkien (Chinese dialect) and English languages\u00a0 to now, Tamil, Teochew, Cantonese and Mandarin and it continues to evolve.<\/p>\n
Some say, Singlish is the most efficient language in the world. Singaporean have a way of condensing really long sentences into short ones that every Singaporean understands but with nuances that are difficult to explain to anyone else.<\/p>\n
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Why do Singaporean use Singlish?<\/strong><\/p>\n Singlish is spoken when you are in a familiar and comfortable situation and you need to express yourself very little to get your message across. That\u2019s what language is all about.<\/p>\n Singlish also offer another dimension to not just putting across a message but emotion too. Just like how emojis are being used so widely today. Instead of an \u2018image\u2019 emoji, \u00a0Singlish offers several layers of tonality to project the different stage of emotions when the message is communicated without having to say it in another thousand words. Tonality is a crucial aspect of communication as it portrays a person’s emotion when expressing the words.<\/p>\n An example would be the word \u2018can\u2019. Just like the English term, \u201ccan\u201d means to be able to. However, in Singlish it is used more efficiently and effectively in different tonality to mean different expressions:<\/p>\n – \u201dCan.\u201d Means yes! Instead of answering \u201cyes, I can do that\u201d you just reply with \u201ccan\u201d<\/p>\n – \u201cDo this for me, Can?\u201d \u00a0means pleading to someone to do this (task) for you<\/p>\n – \u201cCan not lah\u201d \u2013means it cannot be done.<\/p>\n – \u201cCannnn..\u201d means it can be done with pleasure or with little or no effort.<\/p>\n – \u201cSure can\u201d or \u2018\u201dSure can lah\u201d \u2013 means saying \u2018able to\u2019 confidently or unequivocally able to.<\/p>\n – \u201cCan anot?\u201d means are you sure you can do it?<\/p>\n – \u201cCan meh?\u201d or \u201cCan bo?\u201d means asking if is doable or feasible?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another very versatile word is “OK lah”.<\/p>\n – “How are you? Are you ok?” means how are you doing?<\/p>\n – \u201cOk lah\u201d means \u00a0I’m fine or to agree hastily or reluctantly<\/p>\n – \u201cOk lor\u201d means I’m fine, I guess (generally I am fine but not great)<\/p>\n – \u201cOk lah!\u201d means I’m definitely fine<\/p>\n – \u201cOk meh?\u201d means Am I ok? Not sure if I am ok.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Singlish words are also known for their adaptability.\u00a0 A word such as \u2018Shiok\u2019 can be used in several situations. It can mean an exclamation that expresses great satisfaction and pleasure. It can also used alone or as an adjective, and can describe good weather, delicious food or even feelings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Singlish word \u2018Paiseh\u2019 \u2014 a Hokkien term that verbalized embarrassment or shyness and is also used as an alternative to \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d. Examples are:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When is Singlish use?<\/strong><\/p>\n These days, most Singaporeans are able to comfortably switch between Singlish and standard English. Singlish is not used in every conversation and Singaporeans often toggles between Standard English and Singlish depending on situation and who they talk to. That is why, many foreigners find it rather fascinating to hear their Singaporean colleagues speaking much appreciated Standard English during meetings in the office and switched to an incomprehensible Singlish when they are in a less formal setting like in the hawker centres.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be so Gundu leh, , I go paktor with my gf need to jio you for what? You very buay tahan lah.<\/p>\n This is an example of how a mixed of 5 different words from 5 different languages (or dialects) are formed into a Singlish sentence. Goondu (goon-doo) comes from the Tamil word for ‘fat’ and is used to describe an idiot. Paktor originates from the Cantonese word \u00a0\u62cd\u62d6<\/a>\u00a0 which means \u2018to date\u2019. Jio is a Hokkien word meaning invite, same as the word \u2018buay\u2019 means \u2018cannot\u2019 . Where as\u00a0 \u2018tahan\u2019 is a Malay word mean tolerate or endure. The phrases \u201cbuay tahan\u201d is a combination of Hokkien (buay) and Malay (tahan) which means \u2018cannot\u2019 and \u2018tolerate\u2019 respectively.\u00a0 Often used to express frustration over a situation. It is how you would say in English \u201cI can\u2019t stand this anymore\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How Singlish is Used Romantically?<\/strong><\/p>\n The art of Singlish romance is rooted at the heart of being comfortable and easy to speak freely with one another. Being comfortable, people instinctively lower their guard down and able to speak freely and more importantly from their hearts.\u00a0 Here are some examples of Singlish words and phrases: Singlish Terms You Need to Know if You’re Dating a Singaporean<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chiobu<\/strong><\/p>\n Guy sees a beautiful girl and he is attracted to her. Instead of saying \u201cShe looks very beautiful and attractive.\u201d , in Singlish \u2013 \u201cThat girl very Chiobu\u201d . Chio-bu a Hokkien phrase that describes a female who is especially beautiful and hot like a babe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where Got La<\/strong><\/p>\n It can also be used to coyly refuse compliments. When you compliment a girl on her looks by saying \u201cYou look very pretty today\u201d , a typical English response would be \u2018Thank you\u2019. But when a person replies \u201cWhere got la\u201d in Singlish, is an outwardly shy and modest way to say thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paktor<\/strong><\/p>\n Paktor means to go out on a date with someone whom one is romantically involved with. It is well defined as a valid English word. The word originates from the Cantonese meaning \u201chitched together\u201d.\u00a0 When someone asks \u201cWhy are you not free to join us for a drink ?\u201d and the Singlish reply comes as \u201cSorry, I have to go paktor tonight.\u201d It also mean that person has already a boyfriend or girlfriend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Steady<\/strong><\/p>\n “Steady\u201d implies that a boy and a girl are in a serious relationship. The guy may ask the girl if she wants to be his girl friend by saying in Singlish – “Want to go steady?” or “Ai Stead Mai?” \u2013 which means \u201cDo you want to be my girl friend?\u201d<\/p>\n “Steady” is also used as a way to express “approval” or in response to a good suggestion or idea. When someone announces he or she got promoted. A typical Singlish response would be \u201cWah steady la\u2026\u201d or \u201csteady man\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Another addon to the word \u2018Steady\u2019 that is uniquely Singaporean is \u201cSteady pom pi pi\u201d. This phrase refers to someone who is able to hold their composure in competitive or intense situations to overcome challenges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yaya papaya <\/strong><\/p>\n Yaya papaya describes someone who is proud and looks down on others. The word \u2018Yaya\u2019 is a Malay word meaning an arrogant person. So, when a girl describes you as \u2018Yaya papaya\u2019 means she probably regards you as arrogant and someone who like to show off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Siao<\/strong><\/p>\n Siao literally means ‘crazy” in Hokkien. Like the English word, is used to describe ‘disbelief’. For example, “You gotta be crazy to even think of this!” In a Singlish context, this is how a guy may say to a girl – “I know you for very long liao, I actually want to tell you .. I love you.. ” The girl retorts “Siao Ah? HeHe..” \u2013 a reaction in disbelief but secretly hoping to hear him say it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bo jio<\/strong><\/p>\n Arguably the most overused words in Singapore, \u201cBo jio\u201d is a Hokkien phrase that is surprisingly applicable to almost every situation in life. \u2018Bo\u2019 means no and \u201cJio\u201d means invite. \u201cBo jio\u201d literally means \u2018 didn\u2019t invite\u2019. So when a girl tells you \u201cBo jio\u201d \u2013 means why you didn\u2019t ask her? Or She had expected you to invite her. This would generally mean she wants to go out with you and perhaps get to know you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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