Language

English is Singapore’s de facto business and educational language so your lectures, assignments and exams will all be in English. Try some Singlish with your friends if you get the hang of it!

Pro Tip: Majority of Singaporeans know how to code-switch when

they’re speaking English, so if you can’t seem to follow the

conversation, just ask your peers to slow down and explain

- they’ll be more than happy to!

Some Simple Singlish Terms Used In Everyday Life:

“Can anot?” – Is it possible?

“Bojio!” – Why didn’t you invite me?

“Where got time?” – I’m too busy for that.

“Alamak.” – Oh my goodness!

“Sian...” – That’s unfortunate.

"Shiok" – Very enjoyable.

"Wah damn shag sia." – I’m very tired.

"Walao eh!" – I can’t believe it!

(Usually used to complain about something)

Spoken by the native Malay community and officially recognised as Singapore’s national language, Malay is central to the island's heritage and national identity.

Useful Malay Phrases:

“Apa khabar?” – How are you?

“Terima kasih!” – Thank you

“Tandas di mana?” – Where is the toilet

With around 74% of Singaporeans being of Chinese descent,

Mandarin is widely spoken in homes and communities. Dialects like Hokkien is also sometimes used on a daily basis.

Useful Mandarin Phrases:

“你好” (Nǐ hǎo) – Hello

“谢谢” (Xièxie) – Thank you

“这多少钱？” (Zhè duō shǎo qián?) – How much is this?

Tamil is the most widely spoken Indian language in Singapore,

reflecting the city’s vibrant Indian community. Some Singaporeans

who are of Indian descent also speak other Indian languages, such as Hindi or Punjabi.

Useful Tamil Phrases:

“Vanakkam” – Hello

“Nandri” – Thank you