Language & Culture

Having traded in its opium dens for cloud-shrouded skyscraps, Singapore might initially seem shockingly modern and anonymous. Yet, dscrape the surface and you will see that this is an undeniably Asian city with feng shui inspired shopping malls and mythological national animals.

What Is The Merlion?
Whether as a statue by the Esplanade or as a kitschy lighter sold to tourists, you are sure to come across frequent depictions of Singapore's fantastical mascot – the Merlion. Half lion, half fish, the Merlion is a reference to both the legend of Sang Nila Utama and Singapore's origins as a small fishing village. 

Cultural Diversity
Today, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city; and yet, a lot of Singapore's present day culture can be traced back to its culturally diverse immigrant history. With Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences intermingling, the results are truly unique to Singapore.

When Singapore was still under the British, various areas of the island were segmented for the different races. These areas – such as Little India, Chinatown, Geylang and Arab Street – still retain much of their unique character.

These areas are truly arresting to visit, with their pre-war architecture, cultural history and traditional industries intact.

Languages In Singapore
The four official languages of Singapore are English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin with English being the language-in-common for most people. Children are taught in English at school, but also learn their mother tongue to make sure they don't lose contact with their traditions.

Many Singaporeans use Singlish, a mix of English with local dialects and languages to communicate, and sometimes sentences end with terms like “lah”, “leh” and “mah”. While frowned upon by the government, Singlish has come to be a badge of identity for many Singaporeans.

Some Singlish Terms
• habis – finished
• makan – to eat
• chope – to reserve something
• cheem – difficult, complicated
• ang moh – a caucasian
• rojak – mixed, a mix of
• kiasu – afraid to lose mentality

Examples Of Singlish In Use
• OK lah – Alright
• Makan already or not? – Have you eaten?
• Got meh? – Really?
• Don't have what. – It's not here like you said.
• You very troublesome leh. – What you are asking me to do is very taxing.
• Don't like that lah! – Don't be angry/difficult/offended!