Singaporean accent labelled 'endearing' and 'grating' on Reddit

A Reddit user recently asked a question on the r/askSingapore subreddit that has sparked a lively discussion online: "Do people not like the Singaporean accent?"

The user found the accent "really attractive" and "cute", but had been told by a friend that it was disliked by many.

While some commenters agreed, others leapt to its defence.

"Our neutral Singlish accents are ok. The exaggerated ones grate on my nerves," wrote one user. Others described it as "perfect for casual conversation" and even "endearing".

One commenter described the Singaporean accent as comforting; the sound of home. But several added that it can be jarring in media or online content, especially when it is overdone.

"I love the Singaporean accent in conversation… but I absolutely cannot stand it when consuming online content," said one. "Even as a kid, I couldn't enjoy watching Jian Hao Tan with my friends."

Others shared personal experiences abroad. One Singaporean recalled chatting with a Caucasian at a bar in Bangkok who, after a friendly conversation, advised them to drop the "lah", "leh" and "lor" as it made them sound "low class".

Another pointed out that tourists tend to find Singlish charming - often attempting to mimic it, though not always successfully.

The accent is also not one-size-fits-all. "A young Chinese Singaporean girl is going to have a wildly different accent than an old Malay uncle," someone pointed out.

Several noted that when spoken with clarity, even a strong local accent can be pleasant to listen to. "I had this lecturer in school who had a distinct Singaporean accent," one Redditor wrote.

"But her enunciation and intonation were so perfect, I remember thinking I could listen to her talk about stuff I don't care about for the rest of my life."

So, is the Singaporean accent attractive?

Depends lor.