Singlish is built on English, so you can follow a lot of it from the start. The new part is a set of sentence endings and borrowed words, like lah and lor. A word list says what they mean but not when people use them. You pick that up after hearing them in many sentences you already understand, which is what comprehensible input means: Singlish you mostly follow, where the words you know explain the new one.
About one new word in each sentence, while you still follow the meaning.
Take the question "Can or not?" Wikipedia glosses it as "Can you do that?", and the answer "Can!" as "Sure!" Hear it once in a scene where someone asks for a favour, and the meaning is clear. Read a few sentences. If most have about one new word, keep reading. If you can't tell what's happening, pick something easier.
Bubblegum has six levels, and each starts with a sentence in a learner's own words. Pick the one closest to you. The shows and sites in the rows don't use these levels, so treat each row as a first guess.
- Level 1
I'm still learning basic English.
The easiest way to start is Bubblegum, where Poppy, your AI tutor, writes short lessons at your level about your interests and goals. The other way is a tutor who teaches English from zero. We found no beginner textbook for Singlish, so a tutor can take you through basic dialogues one lesson at a time. Plan on a few weeks of hard study before you start using apps.
- Level 2
I can read simple English, and Singlish is new to me.
If you use Bubblegum, read its Level 2 lessons with the translation hidden. BBC Learning English has a free beginner series called The London to Edinburgh Challenge, where three people race across Britain. It uses British English, which is a good base for the English underneath Singlish.
The London to Edinburgh Challenge - Level 3
I'm fluent or native in English, but Singlish is new to me.
At this level you need words and endings, so read and listen a lot. Bubblegum reuses the words you saved in new Level 3 lessons. Wikipedia's Singlish vocabulary page lists terms with examples, so read a few entries before you start a lesson.
Singlish vocabulary on Wikipedia - Level 4
I know a little Singlish and can follow simple chats.
Open mewatch, which has free channels from Singapore, and listen for lah, leh, and lor in a show in English. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 4 about things you're into, since Level 4 lessons use the endings regularly.
mewatch - Level 5
I follow everyday Singlish and want longer talks where people disagree.
Browse the English comedies on mewatch for scenes where friends disagree, and replay one scene to hear how a reply sounds doubtful or resigned. Poppy can write your Level 5 lessons about anything you're into.
mewatch - Level 6
I use Singlish every day and want to catch its jokes and hints.
Watch a CNA report on Singapore, then a comedy scene, and notice where the speakers' English changes. Read Bubblegum lessons at Level 6 about the things you care about too.
CNA
Try the next row once this one feels easy. If most sentences need the dictionary, go back one row.
Wikipedia gives this Singlish sentence: My handwriting no good lah. If you know every word, the scene teaches you the ending. The sentence has no between the words, and lah is a particle tagged on at the end as an exclamation.
Bubblegum is a language app where your AI tutor, Poppy, writes Singlish lessons for your level about topics you choose. You can look up words and ask her about grammar, and words you save come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Singlish. You learn from Singlish you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
- Lessons are in Singlish, the English people speak in Singapore day to day.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- The read-aloud voices have no confirmed Singapore accent yet, so listen to people from Singapore to hear how Singlish sounds.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Do Bubblegum's Singlish voices have a Singapore accent?
Not a confirmed one. The voices are set to British English, so use TV and radio from Singapore to hear how Singlish sounds.
Should I Also Learn Standard Singapore English?
It helps if you will write emails or speak at work in Singapore. Singlish is the casual speech, and the English used at school and work is Standard Singapore English. Our app guide to it shows what teaches it.
How Much Time Should I Set Aside?
Between 3 and 5 hours a week works well, in sittings of 15 minutes to half an hour or more. Use most of it to read and listen, and save some to talk with a friend from Singapore.
Which App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Singlish, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our Singlish comparison also lists word lists, partners, and tutors.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
