Finally, a Way to Learn SG Hokkien
Reconnect with your roots. Speak the language of your Ah Ma. Duolingo for Singaporean Hokkien — Tio Boh?
Join the WaitlistAndroid & iOS app coming Q2 2026
The Decline of Hokkien in Singapore
1980
81.4%
of Chinese Singaporeans spoke Hokkien at home
2020
99.9%
of Chinese Singaporeans speak Hokkien at home
In just 40 years, a language that connected generations has nearly disappeared.
Source: Singapore Census of Population
Our Story
Singapore’s Chinese dialects are more than everyday speech. They are living 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.
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 obscures a deeper linguistic heritage rooted in dialects, the languages of our ancestors, families, traditions, and communities. The loss of dialects is not just a shift in language. It is a loss of cultural memory. These languages carry everyday interactions, oral traditions, values, and histories that have shaped Singapore’s development over the past two centuries. To let them disappear would be to erase an essential part of our shared heritage and to let our connection to our cultural roots become increasingly distant and abstract.
Despite their importance, Chinese dialects face significant challenges. 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, reinforcing negative stereotypes and weakening intergenerational transmission.
However, Hokkien has not disappeared in Singapore yet. It is still here, waiting to be spoken again by us and future generations. Relearning and speaking Hokkien is not just about preservation. It is about reclaiming a part of who we are. By valuing and revitalising our dialects, we ensure that Singapore’s story remains rich, diverse, and true to its roots.
The Tio Boh? Curriculum
A structured approach to learning Hokkien — from grammar to fluency.
Grammar
Build a strong foundation with structured grammar lessons that draw comparisons with Mandarin and Singlish, making complex linguistic concepts intuitive and accessible.
Grammar
Build a strong foundation with structured grammar lessons that draw comparisons with Mandarin and Singlish, making complex linguistic concepts intuitive and accessible.
Vocabulary
Learn practical words and expressions organised around everyday themes, paired with context and usage so you can use them naturally and confidently in speech.
Vocabulary
Learn practical words and expressions organised around everyday themes, paired with context and usage so you can use them naturally and confidently in speech.
Fluency
Form and adapt sentences intuitively rather than relying on memorised phrases, gradually internalising patterns of speech so using Hokkien becomes instinctive.
Fluency
Form and adapt sentences intuitively rather than relying on memorised phrases, gradually internalising patterns of speech so using Hokkien becomes instinctive.
That’s just the overview.
See the full lesson-by-lesson curriculum →Don’t let Hokkien fade away...
Be part of the generation that brings it back. Sign up and we’ll let you know when Tio Boh? is ready.
Join the WaitlistAndroid & iOS app coming Q2 2026
Join us to keep Hokkien alive in Singapore