There are four accepted languages in Singapore: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. The traditional language is rightfully known as Bahasa Melayu, or Malay Language. The official language is the British English or affectionately known as the Queens' English by older generations of Singaporeans. Tamil is more commonly known as a language in Singapore, because of the large, dominant immigrants of Indians from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. As it was a common means of communication, it was taken as one of the languages after independence. In India, Tamil is more commonly known as a dialect fo India. The official name of the Chinese Language is known internationally as Mandarin.

In general, English tends to be the language spoken widely in the business, education and government sector of Singapore. But colloquially, the Singaporean also speaks a diverse and mixed language that can involve English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, depending on the circle one is associated with, the age group, the race and the location. Touge in cheek, this is known as murdering the English Language.

The English used is primarily British English, with some American English influences. The local colloquial dialect of English is known formally as Singapore Colloquial English (though it is more commonly called "Singlish"), and has many creole-like characteristics, having incorporated much vocabulary and grammar from various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Indian languages. Singlish is basically identical to Manglish (the English dialect of Malaysia), and is the usual language on the streets, but is frowned upon in official contexts, and this matter has been brought up in recent years in the Parliament and the ruling party. English used among the population generally became more widespread after the implementation of English as a first language medium in the Singapore education system in 1980. Mandarin Chinese is the second most commonly-spoken language among the Singaporean Chinese population. It became widespread after the start of the Speak Mandarin campaign during 1980, which aims to make Mandarin the common speech tongue among the Chinese in Singapore. In 1990s, effort was taken to target the English-educated Chinese. Colloquially (on street), the Mandarin in Singapore is spoken in a mixed way similar to Singlish, in which Mandarin is often mixed with other Chinese dialects, English or Malay words. Such colloquial Dialect is known as Singdarin.