新加坡
Singapore in Cantonese is 新加坡. Wiktionary also lists 星加坡.
Meaning: an island and city-state in Southeast Asia (name)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese |
|---|
| 新加坡 |
| 星加坡 |
The phrase refers to the island and city-state located in Southeast Asia.
Which one should you use?
新加坡 is the standard and most common way to say Singapore in Cantonese. 星加坡 is an alternative transliteration that is much less common in modern Cantonese.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the term 星加坡 is used for Singapore.
Did you know?
- Cantonese speakers in Singapore often use a distinct variety called Singapore Cantonese, which blends traditional Cantonese with English and Malay loanwords.
- The character 星 in the Hong Kong version 星加坡 means 'star', whereas the 新 in the standard version means 'new'.
- The character 加 used in 新加坡 is a phonetic building block seen in many country names, such as Canada, which is 加拿大.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意喺假期時去新加坡。I love visiting Singapore during my holidays.
- 你去過新加坡未呀？Have you been to Singapore before?
- 我下年想去新加坡。ngo5 haa6 nin4 soeng2 heoi3 san1 gaa1 po3.I want to go to Singapore next year.
- 新加坡好熱呀。san1 gaa1 po3 hou2 jit6 aa3.Singapore is very hot.
- 佢喺新加坡做嘢。keoi5 hai2 san1 gaa1 po3 zou6 je5.He works in Singapore.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about travel plans at a cafe.
- 美玲 Mei Ling家明，你想唔想去新加坡玩？gaa1 ming4, nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 heoi3 san1 gaa1 po3 waan2?Ka Ming, do you want to go to Singapore for fun?
- 家明 Ka Ming我想呀，新加坡好靚。ngo5 soeng2 aa3, san1 gaa1 po3 hou2 leng3.I do, Singapore is very beautiful.
- 美玲 Mei Ling我聽講嗰度好熱。ngo5 ting1 gong2 go2 dou6 hou2 jit6.I heard it's very hot there.
- 家明 Ka Ming係呀，不過景好靚。hai6 aa3, bat1 gwo3 ging2 hou2 leng3.Yes, but the scenery is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “singapore” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
