Walk through a wet market, sit at a coffee shop in an older estate or chat with an elderly neighbour, and you will hear Hokkien. It is the largest of the Chinese dialect groups in Singapore, and many of its words have slipped into Singlish and everyday speech. Learning a few Hokkien phrases Singapore elders and hawkers use is a warm way to connect with people, especially those who are more comfortable in dialect than in English or Mandarin.
This guide covers the essentials for everyday situations. If you are interested in where Hokkien comes from and the community behind it, read about the Hokkien community heritage.
A Quick Note on Hokkien in Singapore
Hokkien, also known as Minnan or Southern Min, came to Singapore with migrants from southern Fujian province. For newcomers from mainland China, it is closely related to the speech of Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou, and also to Taiwanese. Singapore Hokkien has its own flavour, though, with borrowed words from Malay and English.
From the late 1970s, the Speak Mandarin Campaign encouraged Chinese Singaporeans to use Mandarin over dialects, so many younger people speak only a little Hokkien. Older Singaporeans, however, often still use it as their most comfortable language. That is why a few words go a long way at markets and with seniors.
About spelling: Hokkien has no single standard spelling in Singapore. The romanisations below follow common local usage. You may see the same word spelt in several ways, such as “kamsia” or “kam sia”. Tones matter in Hokkien, so listening to native speakers is the best way to get the sounds right.
Greetings and Polite Phrases
These are the phrases you will use most often, particularly with older people.
- Lu ho (你好): Hello. A simple, friendly greeting.
- Lu ho bo?: How are you? Literally “Are you well?”
- Jiak pa buay? (食饱未): Have you eaten? A very common greeting among older Singaporeans. It shows care rather than a literal question about food. Reply with jiak pa liao (I have eaten).
- Kam sia (感谢): Thank you. Elders will appreciate hearing this.
- Paiseh (歹势): Sorry or excuse me, with a sense of embarrassment. Widely used in Singlish too.
- Bo pian: No choice, it cannot be helped.
- Ho, ho: Good, okay. Often said to agree.
When speaking to elders, it is polite to address them by relationship terms rather than names:
- Ah Ma: grandmother.
- Ah Kong: grandfather.
- Ah Peh: uncle, often used for an older man.
- Ah Soh or Ah Sim: auntie, for an older woman.
In everyday Singapore life, the English “uncle” and “auntie” are also respectful and widely used, so do not worry if you mix them in.
Numbers and Market Phrases
Numbers are especially useful at markets and hawker centres. Hokkien numbers from one to ten are commonly romanised as:
- 1: chit (when counting items), or it (in larger numbers and dates)
- 2: nng (items) or ji
- 3: sa
- 4: si
- 5: go
- 6: lak
- 7: chit, which sounds like the word for one in spelling but uses a different tone
- 8: peh or puay
- 9: kau
- 10: tsap or chap
Market phrases that help:
- Gua beh bue…: I want to buy…
- Gua chi lui?: How much (money)?
- Ai: want. Bo ai or m ai: do not want.
- Tua: big. Se: small.
- Siok or ho siok: cheap or good value.
- Kui: expensive.
The table below gives a quick comparison of phrases you might hear and how to respond.
| Situation | What you might hear | A simple reply |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting an elder neighbour | Jiak pa buay? (Eaten yet?) | Jiak pa liao, kam sia (I have eaten, thank you) |
| Buying at the market | Ai jiwa? (Want how much?) | Point and say the number, such as “nng” (two) |
| Being thanked | Kam sia | Bo tai ji (No problem) |
| Bumping into someone | Paiseh | Bo tai ji or ho, ho (It’s fine) |
Food and Coffee Shop Words
Coffee shop orders in Singapore mix Hokkien with Malay and English. A few useful terms:
- Kopi: coffee with condensed milk (from Malay).
- Kopi O: black coffee with sugar. The “O” comes from Hokkien for black.
- Kosong: no sugar (Malay, used alongside Hokkien terms).
- Peng: iced. For example, “kopi O peng”.
- Ho jiak: delicious. A compliment hawkers love to hear.
- Jiak: eat. Lim: drink.
- Tapau or da bao: takeaway. This one comes from Cantonese and Mandarin but is understood everywhere.
- Sio: hot. Leng: cold.
If you enjoy the food side of the culture, our guide to Hokkien cuisine in Singapore introduces dishes such as Hokkien mee, popiah and ngoh hiang.
Everyday Words Borrowed into Singlish
Many Hokkien words are now part of everyday Singlish, used by Singaporeans of all backgrounds:
- Kiasu: afraid of losing out.
- Shiok: very satisfying or enjoyable (with roots in Malay usage, used widely).
- Sian: bored or fed up.
- Buay tahan: cannot stand it.
- Buay pai: not bad.
- Huat ah: may we prosper, shouted during lo hei at Chinese New Year.
- Ang pow: red packet.
- Bo jio: you did not invite me, said jokingly.
For a fuller list of local expressions, see our Singlish phrasebook.
Tips for Using Hokkien Respectfully
- Start small. A “kam sia” or “jiak pa buay” with a smile is often enough to start a friendly exchange.
- Be ready to switch. If someone replies quickly in Hokkien, it is fine to say you are still learning and continue in English or Mandarin.
- Avoid crude words. Some Hokkien words heard in films or on the street are vulgar. Stick to everyday phrases, especially with elders.
- Ask for help. Many seniors enjoy teaching a few words, and it can be a lovely way to build rapport with neighbours.
- Notice other dialects. Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka are also spoken here, and some words differ, so do not assume everyone speaks Hokkien.
Learning a few phrases in Singapore’s other languages helps too, and our guide to basic Malay phrases is a good next step.
Explore more: The Hokkien Community Heritage · Singlish 101 Phrasebook · Hokkien Cuisine in Singapore
Further reading: Chinese New Year Greetings in Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien