Keep It Real, Lah.

What counts as Singlish?

Singlish is the creole spoken in Singapore — a living blend of English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil, and more. We accept:

• — Words and phrases borrowed from Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, or Tamil that are used in everyday Singaporean speech
• — English words given a uniquely Singaporean meaning (e.g. "action" meaning arrogant)
• — Discourse particles and fillers used in a distinctly Singaporean way (lah, lor, leh, meh…)
• — NS, school, hawker, and HDB slang that locals would immediately recognise

Writing a good definition

Definitions should help someone who has never heard the word understand it fully — including when and how it's used, not just what it means.

• — Write in plain English. Avoid jargon or circular definitions ("it means…" followed by the word itself)
• — Capture the tone — is it affectionate? Sarcastic? Casual? Rude? That context matters
• — Mention who typically uses it (aunties at the market vs. NSF boys in camp)
• — Keep it concise — two to four sentences is usually enough

Writing good examples

Examples are often the most useful part of an entry. A great example sounds like something an actual person would say.

• — Use natural, conversational speech — not textbook sentences
• — Show the word in a real situation: a hawker stall, MRT, group chat, kopitiam, camp bunk
• — If you heard it somewhere specific, note the context
• — Avoid clearly made-up or overly formal examples — they stick out immediately

What we don't accept

We want this to be a place everyone can use. Some things don't belong here:

• — Slurs submitted with the intent to demean or target any community
• — Made-up words with no real usage — if no Singaporean actually says it, it doesn't belong
• — Duplicate entries — search first before submitting
• — Definitions that are clearly wrong, misleading, or submitted to troll
• — Spam, advertising, or self-promotion

How the review process works

Every submission goes through a lightweight review before it appears publicly:

1. 1 You submit a word through the contribute form
2. 2 It enters a moderation queue and is checked against these guidelines
3. 3 Approved entries go live and the community can vote and add examples
4. 4 Words with strong community support may be featured or marked as trending