Singlish

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪŋɡlɪʃ/

Definitions of Singlish

noun a form of English spoken in Singapore, incorporating elements of English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, and other languages

Example Sentences

A1 Singlish is a blend of English and local Singaporean languages.

A2 Tourists visiting Singapore may encounter Singlish while interacting with locals.

B1 Singlish is often used in informal settings among friends and family.

B2 Some linguists argue that Singlish has its own unique grammar and vocabulary.

C1 Despite efforts to discourage its use, Singlish remains a widely spoken language in Singapore.

C2 There are ongoing debates about whether Singlish should be promoted as a part of Singapore's cultural identity.

Examples of Singlish in a Sentence

formal Singlish is a colloquial language that blends English with words and phrases from various Asian languages.

informal Let's chat in Singlish lah, it's more fun!

slang Singlish is so shiok to use when talking with friends.

figurative The use of Singlish in the movie added an authentic touch to the characters' dialogue.

Grammatical Forms of Singlish

• past tense: lah
• plural: uncles and aunties
• comparative: more better
• superlative: most best
• present tense: talk
• future tense: will go
• perfect tense: have gone
• continuous tense: is eating
• singular: lah
• positive degree: very good
• infinitive: to eat
• gerund: talking
• participle: singing

Origin and Evolution of Singlish

First Known Use: 1960 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: Singlish is a portmanteau of the words 'Singaporean' and 'English', coined to refer to the unique English-based creole language spoken in Singapore.

Evolution of the word: The term 'Singlish' was first used in the 1960s to describe the distinct blend of English, Malay, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Tamil, and other languages spoken in Singapore. Over time, Singlish has evolved to incorporate more loanwords from various languages spoken in the multicultural society of Singapore.