Angmo

I remember my first week at work (yes, this Angmo works)... I was struggling with the English language in Singapore, famously known as "Singlish". Words in English are mixed with Hokkien, Malay, verbs and nouns are all cut and I have absolutely no idea what people are talking about! But I constantly hear the word "Ang Mo".

Travelling sounds are... "naka-naka-naka-tooay-tooay-hmm-hmm-cannot-lah-so-how" and then Ang Mo. It then echoes back "naka-xie-xie-ni-tsao-how-can" and again Ang Mo. (By the way, I don't think that a soundtrack is necessary here) Ang Mo, what does that mean?

At the underground station (called MRT here), I found out that there is a stop called Ang Mo Kio. So people must be talking about the neighbourhood they live in or are thinking of moving to. Ok isn't it???

Some time later, I made a discovery...

Singapore, a cosmopolitan and multi-cultural place where you meet three ethnic groups: Chinese, Indian and Malays.

And there is fourth ethnic group called: Angmo!

According to various definitions from Urban Dictionary, Angmo means:

• A term to call Caucasians in Singapore.
• A term literally meaning "Red Haired" in the Hokkien Dialect of Chinese. Colloquially used in reference to any person of western descent. In other words; white people. Often used in Singapore, the term is not considered a term of endearment, but is not considered rude either.
• The term is regarded by many non-Chinese as derogatory term used increasingly as a racial slur to describe Caucasians in Singapore and Malaysia.

What do I think about it?

Not sure if it is totally wrong, but also it does not sound so politically correct... Well, I think I'd rather stick to my original thought, Angmo is indeed a stop on the MRT.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss!

Leaning a new language

Say YES to CAN!

Say NO to CANNOT!

And if you want to add some drama or enthusiasm to your phrases, just go with AH, LAH, HOR, MAH! You can't go wrong.

Once you start picking up some words from the Singaporean vocabulary, just mix it up with your English. You will be fluent in no time!

I recommend that you pick some words from the not so politically correct name of the website called "Talking Cock" .

Where are you staying?

For my first blog post, I chose to ask the very first question many asked me after a week of living in Singapore:

Where are you staying?

The question isn't that simple. You also need to hear the curious intonation that ends with "ah", to add a bit of drama. So I rephrased it:

Where are you staying, AH?

Ok! Now we are good to go!

If you are just arriving in Singapore or still settling in, get ready to answer this question. This has nothing to do with your visa status, whether you will live here or not or if you will be standing still on the same spot of the shopping mall, whatever! People here are curious and right after "Hello-ah", it is not followed by "nice to meet you-ah" either; they just want to know WHERE YOU LIVE.

Translation:

Where are you staying = Where do you live?

+-%*

Means how much you have $$$$$