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

Finally,aWaytoLearnSGHokkien

Reconnect with your roots. Speak the language of your Ah Ma. Duolingo for Singaporean Hokkien. Tio Boh?

Available on Android & iOS

Built by Singaporean dialect enthusiasts

Spoken Hokkien in Singapore has declined significantly.

1980

81.4%

2020

99.9%

In just 40 years, a language that connected generations has 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 an Ah Ma 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, Hokkien has not disappeared in Singapore yet. It is still here, waiting to be spoken again by us and future generations. Relearning Hokkien 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.

Grammar

Structured grammar lessons that draw comparisons with Mandarin and Singlish, so more nuanced concepts click faster.

Tio Boh mascot gesturing with speech bubbles

Vocabulary

Practical words and expressions organised around everyday themes, with enough context that you actually know when and how to use them.

Fluency

Go beyond memorised phrases — learn to form and adapt sentences on your own, until speaking Hokkien feels natural.

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. Download the app and start learning Hokkien today.

Available on Android & iOS

Help us keep Hokkien alive in Singapore!