The short answer
You can do the whole trip in English: the Singapore Tourism Board says you can communicate in English with Singaporeans, who are mostly fluent in it. Many also speak Mandarin Chinese, Malay or Tamil. The few words below are worth knowing for hawker centres, markets and smiles - not for survival.
The five phrases that matter most
你好
Nǐ hǎo (nee-hao) - Mandarin
Hello
नमस्ते
谢谢
Xièxie (shyeah-shyeah) - Mandarin
Thank you
धन्यवाद
多少钱
Duōshǎo qián (dwoh-shaow chyen) - Mandarin
How much is this?
यह कितने का है?
好吃
Hǎo chī (haow-chih) - Mandarin, handy at hawker stalls
Delicious
स्वादिष्ट
999 / 995
Numbers published by the Singapore Tourism Board (checked 24 October 2026)
Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance & Fire 995
पुलिस 999, एम्बुलेंस और फ़ायर 995
All the phrases
Greetings and thanks
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | 你好 | Nǐ hǎo (nee-hao) - Mandarin | नमस्ते |
| Yes | 对 | Duì (dway) - Mandarin | हाँ |
| No | 不 | Bù (boo) - Mandarin | नहीं |
| How are you? | 你好吗 | Nǐ hǎo ma (nee-hao-mah) - Mandarin | आप कैसे हैं? |
| Goodbye | 再见 | Zàijiàn (zai-jyen) - Mandarin | फिर मिलेंगे |
| Thank you | 谢谢 | Xièxie (shyeah-shyeah) - Mandarin | धन्यवाद |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | teh-REE-mah KAH-sih - Malay | धन्यवाद |
| Good morning | Selamat pagi | suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee - Malay | सुप्रभात |
| Hello (Tamil) | வணக்கம் | Vanakkam (vah-NAH-kahm) - Tamil, heard in Little India | नमस्ते |
| Lah | lah | lah - Singlish, as the Singapore Tourism Board puts it: "Try Singlish la!" | बात पर ज़ोर देने या दोस्ताना अंदाज़ के लिए अंत में जुड़ने वाला शब्द |
Getting help
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excuse me / sorry | 不好意思 | Bù hǎoyìsi (boo haow-yee-suh) - Mandarin | माफ़ कीजिए |
Food (vegetarian, Jain, allergies)
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 水 | Shuǐ (shway) - Mandarin, handy at hawker centres | पानी |
| Delicious | 好吃 | Hǎo chī (haow-chih) - Mandarin, handy at hawker stalls | स्वादिष्ट |
| I am vegetarian (no meat) | 我吃素 | Wǒ chī sù (woh chih soo) - Mandarin; say it at hawker stalls | मैं शाकाहारी हूँ (मांस नहीं) |
Directions and transport
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | 洗手间在哪里 | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ (shee-show-jyen zai nah-lee) - Mandarin | शौचालय कहाँ है? |
Shopping and numbers
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | 多少钱 | Duōshǎo qián (dwoh-shaow chyen) - Mandarin | यह कितने का है? |
Emergency
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance & Fire 995 | 999 / 995 | Numbers published by the Singapore Tourism Board (checked 24 October 2026) | पुलिस 999, एम्बुलेंस और फ़ायर 995 |
Save or print
Save the top phrases as a picture to send to your parents, or print the whole sheet.
The five phrases that matter most
- Hello / नमस्ते
- 你好 (Nǐ hǎo (nee-hao) - Mandarin)
- Thank you / धन्यवाद
- 谢谢 (Xièxie (shyeah-shyeah) - Mandarin)
- How much is this? / यह कितने का है?
- 多少钱 (Duōshǎo qián (dwoh-shaow chyen) - Mandarin)
- Delicious / स्वादिष्ट
- 好吃 (Hǎo chī (haow-chih) - Mandarin, handy at hawker stalls)
- Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance & Fire 995 / पुलिस 999, एम्बुलेंस और फ़ायर 995
- 999 / 995 (Numbers published by the Singapore Tourism Board (checked 24 October 2026))
Trips to Singapore
Quick questions
Sources
- Singapore Tourism Board: Essential travel information (Visit Singapore) · checked 22 Oct 2026