Tio Boh mascot character welcoming you to learn Hokkien, with Singapore skyline

Finally,aWaytoLearnour Dialects

Reconnect with your roots. Speak the language of your Ah Ma. Duolingo for Singapore's Chinese dialects. Tio Boh?

Learn Hokkien Learn Teochew

Available on Android & iOS

Built by Singaporean dialect enthusiasts

Spoken Chinese dialects in Singapore have declined significantly.

Hokkien · 福建话

1980

81.4%

2020

99.9%

Teochew · 潮州话

1980

17.0%

2020

20.0%

In just 40 years, languages that connected generations have nearly disappeared.

Source: Singapore Census of Population

Our Story

Illustration of a 1950s Singapore shophouse street with a Chinese immigrant family

Singapore’s Chinese dialects are more than everyday speech. They are records of our history and identity. Brought here by our forefathers from southern China, dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese took root and evolved within Singapore’s multicultural environment. Influenced by one another, as well as by Malay, English, and other languages, they developed into uniquely Singaporean forms found nowhere else in the world.

Illustration of a grandmother reaching out to her grandchild in an HDB living room

Yet many Chinese Singaporeans grow up believing that Mandarin is their “mother tongue.” While Mandarin undeniably has great value as a common language, its prominence often overshadows the dialects that came before it, the languages of our ancestors, families, traditions, and communities. When a dialect disappears, the cultural memory it carried goes with it. These languages carry everyday interactions, oral traditions, values, and histories that have shaped Singapore’s development over the past two centuries. Letting them disappear means losing a part of our heritage that nothing else can replace.

Illustration of a hawker centre uncle calling out in Hokkien

Despite their importance, Chinese dialects are under pressure. They receive little institutional recognition, and when taught, are often presented in standardised forms that differ from local usage. Learning resources are limited, especially for Singaporean varieties, making it difficult for beginners to engage meaningfully. At the same time, longstanding policies and social attitudes have discouraged their use, which has reinforced negative stereotypes and made it harder for older generations to pass them down.

However, our dialects have not disappeared in Singapore yet. They are still here, waiting to be spoken again by us and future generations. Relearning them is a way of reclaiming a part of who we are. By revitalising our dialects, Singapore’s story stays true to its roots.

About the Tio Boh? App

Tio Boh? is free, forever. Every lesson is written and checked by native speakers, not generated by AI.

Lessons

New words and grammar in small chunks.

Exercises

Practice questions that catch what hasn't stuck.

Review

Flashcards to bring back what's starting to fade.

Don’t let our dialects fade away…

Be part of the generation that brings them back. Download the app and start learning today.