Start with one friendly question and a clear task
“Got a minute?” “Can, but I will confirm the deadline.” “Paiseh, I need to check with finance first.” These are the kinds of short lines you may hear while working with people in Singapore. The trick is not merely to recognise the wording. A good colleague also understands who is responsible, when something is due, and whether an informal response is a real commitment.
This guide explains twenty useful expressions for workplace introductions, shared tasks, messages, lunch invitations and handovers. Some are Singlish or locally familiar; others are ordinary global office abbreviations. Singapore’s Speak Good English Movement recognises Singlish as a cultural marker while encouraging standard English when wider clarity matters. A colleague does not need to use Singlish, and you never need to imitate an accent.
The spoken examples are practice scenarios, not transcripts of real employees. They do not define an employer’s policy, a right to overtime pay, a sick-leave entitlement or a guaranteed WFH arrangement. When work arrangements matter, ask HR or your manager and consult the current Ministry of Manpower guidance. Read the twenty terms in sequence or jump to the conversation you expect to use.
English · 简体中文 · हिन्दी · Русский
Twenty expressions at a glance · Four moments when the right wording matters · Twenty expressions with real-life meaning · Ten conversations to practise with a colleague · Five-minute practice and a worked handover · Ten questions people ask about Singapore workplace language · References and limits of this guide · Continue your Singapore everyday vocabulary
Twenty expressions at a glance
| Expression | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1. Got a minute? | A courteous request for a short conversation. |
| 2. Can | A short informal yes, or a reply that something is possible. |
| 3. Can or not? | An informal question meaning “Is it possible?” or “Will that work?” |
| 4. Cannot / Can’t make it | An informal negative answer, or an explanation of inability to attend. |
| 5. Paiseh | An informal expression of embarrassment, apology or reluctance to impose. |
| 6. Jio | A colloquial verb meaning to invite someone to an activity. |
| 7. Makan | A Malay-derived everyday term meaning to eat. |
| 8. Kopi break | A short break for coffee, tea or a light refreshment. |
| 9. Settle already? | A casual way to ask whether something has been resolved. |
| 10. Check with | Consult a particular person before confirming something. |
| 11. Follow up | Contact someone again or take the next promised step. |
| 12. FYI | An email or chat abbreviation for “for your information”. |
| 13. CC | An email abbreviation for copying another recipient. |
| 14. WIP | An abbreviation for “work in progress”. |
| 15. KIV | Common office shorthand for “keep in view”. |
| 16. EOD | An abbreviation for “end of day”. |
| 17. On leave | Temporarily away from work on an approved or recorded absence. |
| 18. MC | In Singapore, commonly an abbreviation for “medical certificate”. |
| 19. WFH | An abbreviation for “work from home”. |
| 20. OT | An abbreviation for “overtime”. |
Four moments when the right wording matters
Casual conversation, not a command
“Got a minute?”, “Makan?” and “Kopi break?” belong to brief social exchanges. Ask once, leave room to decline and keep personal questions optional. A colleague who prefers a formal invitation is not being unfriendly.
Task clarity, not just “can”
After an informal yes, confirm the work item, owner, deadline and expected output. “Can” may mean willingness but not a final plan. A useful handover is repeatable by someone who was not present.
Messages, not hidden assumptions
FYI, CC, WIP and KIV shorten communications but can also hide what is expected. For a diverse team, translate each abbreviation into a plain sentence when there is any uncertainty.
Availability and boundaries
On leave, MC, WFH and OT describe different situations. Respect privacy and agreed schedules; do not assume a person can be contacted, can work remotely or must do overtime simply because a message arrived.
Twenty expressions with real-life meaning
1. Got a minute?
Meaning: A courteous request for a short conversation. A phrase to try: “Got a minute to check the delivery list?”
Why you hear it: It asks whether the other person is available now; it does not demand their immediate attention. Use it carefully: If the colleague is busy, suggest a time: “Would ten minutes after lunch work?” A meeting invitation should still say what you need to discuss.
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2. Can
Meaning: A short informal yes, or a reply that something is possible. A phrase to try: “Can, I can send the revised file after lunch.”
Why you hear it: In Singapore you may hear “Can” as agreement, without a full sentence. The word itself does not name the job, owner or deadline. Use it carefully: For a task, state the commitment explicitly: “Yes, I can send the revised file tomorrow morning.” Do not treat a casual “can” as approval of every detail.
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3. Can or not?
Meaning: An informal question meaning “Is it possible?” or “Will that work?” A phrase to try: “Can or not? / Could we complete this by Thursday?”
Why you hear it: The phrase is familiar but may sound abrupt when a stranger, manager or client hears it. What can be done must still be named. Use it carefully: In professional speech, say “Would Thursday be feasible?” or “Could you confirm whether this is possible?” Ask about capacity and timing without pressuring people.
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4. Cannot / Can’t make it
Meaning: An informal negative answer, or an explanation of inability to attend. A phrase to try: “Paiseh, I can’t make it to the call at two.”
Why you hear it: “Cannot” may mean a request is not possible; “can’t make it” usually refers to attendance at a specific time. Neither needs to be an insult. Use it carefully: Offer an alternative with your refusal: “I can’t attend at two; would three work?” In a formal email, explain the actual constraint and propose a realistic next step.
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5. Paiseh
Meaning: An informal expression of embarrassment, apology or reluctance to impose. A phrase to try: “Paiseh, I missed your message. I will correct the file.”
Why you hear it: Paiseh comes from Hokkien and occurs in casual Singapore speech. It can soften an awkward request or admit a small mistake. Use it carefully: If you made an error, a concrete repair matters more than saying paiseh repeatedly: name what went wrong, apologise, correct it and give a reliable update.
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6. Jio
Meaning: A colloquial verb meaning to invite someone to an activity. A phrase to try: “We’re jio-ing a few people for lunch. Would you like to join?”
Why you hear it: You may hear “Jio us for lunch” or “Bo jio!” among colleagues who know one another well. It is social language, not a compulsory office instruction. Use it carefully: Invite without pressure: “A few of us are going for lunch. Would you like to come?” A declined invitation is not proof that a teammate is unfriendly.
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7. Makan
Meaning: A Malay-derived everyday term meaning to eat. A phrase to try: “Want to makan together? / Would you like to have lunch?”
Why you hear it: “Makan?” is often an invitation to eat or ask about lunch. Singapore workplaces are multilingual, and not every colleague uses the same wording. Use it carefully: Use “Would you like to have lunch?” when meeting someone new. Do not assume that joining a meal means sharing the same dietary needs or religious practices.
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8. Kopi break
Meaning: A short break for coffee, tea or a light refreshment. A phrase to try: “Kopi break after this task?”
Why you hear it: Kopi is the local term for coffee. Among familiar colleagues, “Kopi break?” may invite a few minutes of informal conversation. Use it carefully: Check that the time works. Whether a break is paid, scheduled or permitted depends on actual workplace arrangements; a vocabulary phrase creates no entitlement.
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9. Settle already?
Meaning: A casual way to ask whether something has been resolved. A phrase to try: “Is the customer issue settled already?”
Why you hear it: “Settle already?” may refer to a task, payment, error or customer issue. It can sound impatient when the problem is sensitive or unfinished. Use it carefully: Instead say “Has the invoice issue been resolved? If not, what remains?” A precise status question is better than suggesting a colleague is slow.
简体中文 09 · हिन्दी 09 · Русский 09
10. Check with
Meaning: Consult a particular person before confirming something. A phrase to try: “Let me check with the team lead before I confirm.”
Why you hear it: “I’ll check with finance” usually means the speaker does not yet have a final answer. It is not a promise that finance will approve the request. Use it carefully: Name the person or function and the expected update: “I’ll check with the account owner and reply by tomorrow.” Do not circulate confidential material beyond authorised colleagues.
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11. Follow up
Meaning: Contact someone again or take the next promised step. A phrase to try: “I will follow up with the supplier tomorrow.”
Why you hear it: A follow-up may be a reminder, status check, clarification or agreed action. The phrase does not automatically accuse someone of failing. Use it carefully: Use “I will follow up with the supplier on Friday and share the outcome.” Write down who owns the follow-up and when the group will hear back.
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12. FYI
Meaning: An email or chat abbreviation for “for your information”. A phrase to try: “FYI: the meeting room has changed to Level 3.”
Why you hear it: FYI often signals information rather than a direct assignment, but the sender’s intent can still be unclear. Use it carefully: If action is needed, add a sentence: “FYI: the venue changed. No response needed.” Or write “Please confirm by 3 pm” separately. Never infer a hidden deadline from FYI alone.
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13. CC
Meaning: An email abbreviation for copying another recipient. A phrase to try: “Please CC the project coordinator on the status email.”
Why you hear it: CC normally makes someone visible in the message distribution. Being copied is not the same as approving a proposal or taking ownership. Use it carefully: Check that recipients are authorised to see the information. In a workplace with privacy obligations, CC is a delivery mechanism, not permission to disclose confidential data.
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14. WIP
Meaning: An abbreviation for “work in progress”. A phrase to try: “The report is WIP; the figures still need checking.”
Why you hear it: WIP describes something being developed, reviewed or checked. It does not mean a final deliverable is ready. Use it carefully: Add what remains: “The draft is WIP; the price table needs review.” Avoid attaching an unfinished file without clearly marking its status if readers may rely on it.
简体中文 14 · हिन्दी 14 · Русский 14
15. KIV
Meaning: Common office shorthand for “keep in view”. A phrase to try: “KIV the second design until the client responds.”
Why you hear it: KIV generally means hold a matter for later consideration or monitoring. It does not necessarily mean rejected, approved or permanently cancelled. Use it carefully: Ask “Who will review it, and when?” In an international team, write “keep under review” so that people unfamiliar with KIV can understand.
简体中文 15 · हिन्दी 15 · Русский 15
16. EOD
Meaning: An abbreviation for “end of day”. A phrase to try: “Can you send the file by EOD? / By Friday at 5 pm Singapore time?”
Why you hear it: EOD can be ambiguous: a person may imagine close of business, midnight or another timezone. It is not an official universal Singapore clock time. Use it carefully: Confirm the exact calendar date, time and timezone: “Friday, 5 pm Singapore time.” That is safer than interpreting EOD differently across countries or shift schedules.
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17. On leave
Meaning: Temporarily away from work on an approved or recorded absence. A phrase to try: “Mei is on leave tomorrow; I will handle the handover.”
Why you hear it: The phrase states availability, not the reason. It may refer to annual leave or another applicable arrangement. Use it carefully: Ask about handover rather than personal details: “Who is covering this request?” Avoid promising colleagues will respond during leave. Exact entitlements depend on applicable employment terms.
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18. MC
Meaning: In Singapore, commonly an abbreviation for “medical certificate”. A phrase to try: “He is on MC today; please ask me about the urgent task.”
Why you hear it: “On MC” is a colloquial way of saying someone is absent on medical/sick leave supported by an MC. It reveals nothing about a diagnosis. Use it carefully: For a shared task, say “The colleague is unavailable today. Please contact the backup.” Check the employer’s policy and MOM guidance for actual sick-leave arrangements; do not spread private medical details.
简体中文 18 · हिन्दी 18 · Русский 18
19. WFH
Meaning: An abbreviation for “work from home”. A phrase to try: “I am working from home on Wednesday, subject to our agreed arrangement.”
Why you hear it: WFH describes where work is carried out; it is not a casual guarantee that remote work has been approved. Use it carefully: Say “I have an agreed WFH arrangement on Wednesday” or ask about the formal request process. MOM’s FWA guidelines govern how qualifying requests are considered, not automatic approval of every request.
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20. OT
Meaning: An abbreviation for “overtime”. A phrase to try: “Is OT required for this task, and what approval applies?”
Why you hear it: OT refers to work outside usual or contractual hours, but the rules for overtime pay and limits depend on the person’s coverage and agreement. Use it carefully: Ask about authorisation and scope before doing extra hours. MOM explains that statutory OT entitlements under Part 4 of the Employment Act do not cover all employees, including managers and executives.
简体中文 20 · हिन्दी 20 · Русский 20
Ten conversations to practise with a colleague
These ten dialogues are fictional. Take turns being the visitor and the colleague; the reply may differ in real life. Learn to hear the answer before composing your next sentence.
1. Asking for two minutes
You: “Hi, got a minute to check the shipment list?” Colleague: “I’m finishing a call. Can we talk in ten minutes?” You: “Sure. I will bring the list then.”
What to notice: The visitor asks for time, receives a specific alternative and respects it. Short notice is acceptable when the request is small, but a time-critical emergency should be named accurately rather than hidden in casual wording.
2. When “can” needs a condition
You: “Can we send the revised slides today?” Colleague: “Can, if the numbers are checked.” You: “I will check the figures and confirm the time by email.”
What to notice: “Can” is conditional here, not a completed promise to send unchecked information. The next sentence separates checking figures from confirming the actual delivery time.
3. Apologising and moving a call
You: “Paiseh, I cannot make it for the 2 pm call.” Colleague: “Would 3 pm work?” You: “Yes. I will update the invitation and tell the team.”
What to notice: Paiseh is a friendly acknowledgement, but the useful action is the updated invitation. Being unable to attend does not mean another person must accept the proposed alternative.
4. Jio and makan without pressure
Colleague: “We are jio-ing people for lunch. Want to makan?” You: “Thanks for inviting me. I can join at 12.30.” Colleague: “Great. We will meet at the lobby.”
What to notice: The invitation is social and genuinely optional. “Jio” and “makan” are not required words for participation. Arranging a time and meeting place is more useful than testing the newcomer’s Singlish.
5. Declining a coffee break
Colleague: “Kopi break after this task?” You: “Thank you, but I need to finish this first.” Colleague: “No problem. Another time.”
What to notice: The colleague accepts a polite refusal. Coffee breaks can build relationships, but nobody needs to accept a social invitation to prove their professional commitment.
6. A quotation is still WIP
You: “Is the quotation settled already?” Colleague: “Still WIP. I need to check with procurement.” You: “Thanks. Please tell me what remains and when you can follow up.”
What to notice: The question “settled already?” becomes clearer when the remaining approval and update owner are identified. WIP means there is still work to do, not that the quotation is ready.
7. FYI and CC in one message
You: “FYI: the client meeting is now on Level 4.” Colleague: “Do you need me to do anything?” You: “No action needed. Please CC the coordinator when you send the final notes.”
What to notice: The sender clarifies that the FYI itself needs no response. CC is requested only for the final notes, where the coordinator’s involvement has a clear work purpose.
8. KIV with a review date
Colleague: “The design is KIV for now.” You: “Understood. Who will review it and when?” Colleague: “The team will revisit it next Tuesday. I will share a reminder.”
What to notice: KIV would be unhelpful without an owner and review point. The follow-up date makes the apparently vague abbreviation into a manageable next step.
9. EOD without a guessing game
Colleague: “Please finish the report by EOD.” You: “Could you confirm the exact time?” Colleague: “Friday, 5 pm Singapore time.” You: “Noted. I will update you before then.”
What to notice: EOD is replaced with a date, time and timezone. This matters even if both colleagues live in Singapore: different shifts or working hours can create different assumptions.
10. Leave, MC and the handover
You: “Ravi is on leave and Lin is on MC. Who covers the urgent handover?” Colleague: “I am the backup. What is outstanding?” You: “Here is the WIP list. Shall we check the agreed WFH schedule and any proposed OT with the manager?” Colleague: “Yes. Let us confirm the arrangement rather than assume.”
What to notice: The conversation protects private medical information and names the backup. WFH and OT are matters to confirm under actual arrangements rather than implied authorisations.
Five-minute practice and a worked handover
Read one example aloud for each of these jobs: ask whether a colleague has time, accept a task with a clear deadline, invite someone to lunch without pressure, send a status message, and hand over an urgent request. In the next round, let your partner answer differently. Your goal is not to force a “can”, but to reach a shared understanding.
1. A coworker says “Can”. Has a deadline been agreed? Not automatically. Ask which task, what deliverable and when.
2. Is KIV a finished task? No. It indicates a matter to keep in view for later review, with an owner and review time still to be clarified.
3. What is more useful than writing EOD? A specific date, clock time and timezone, for example Friday, 5 pm Singapore time.
4. Does “on MC” tell you a diagnosis? No. Respect privacy and find out who covers the relevant work.
5. Is everyone entitled to statutory OT pay? No. Coverage and contractual arrangements differ; check MOM and HR.
6. What should accompany “Paiseh, my mistake”? A description of the error, the proposed correction and a realistic update time.
Worked example: A workable handover sounds like this: “The customer report is WIP. I have checked the first five items; two figures still need confirmation. I will check with finance today, follow up tomorrow morning and send the corrected report by Friday, 5 pm Singapore time. Mei is on leave, so Ravi is the named backup.” Every part answers a distinct question: status, remaining work, source, next action, deadline and backup. These names and tasks are fictional practice examples.
Ten questions people ask about Singapore workplace language
1. Is every expression here Singlish?
No. Paiseh and jio are recognisably local, while FYI, CC, WIP and EOD are widely used international office abbreviations. Learn both the meaning and the appropriate register.
2. Should I say “lah” to sound local?
No. A clear sentence and respectful tone are more useful. Do not copy particles mechanically; local colleagues vary in how and when they use them.
3. Does “can” mean my task is approved?
Not necessarily. It may mean only that a particular request is possible. Confirm the task, person in charge, output and time before treating it as a firm agreement.
4. Can I use “jio” with my manager or a client?
It depends on familiarity and setting. For a first meeting or formal invitation, “Would you like to join us for lunch?” is safer.
5. What should I do when I receive “FYI”?
Read the information. If an action is genuinely unclear, ask politely. Do not assume FYI itself means either urgent action or a required response.
6. What is the difference between KIV and WIP?
WIP describes a task actively in progress; KIV describes something retained for later consideration. Neither supplies a deadline or owner without further clarification.
7. Is EOD always 6 pm in Singapore?
No. End of day has no universally fixed clock time. Confirm a date, time and timezone, particularly with colleagues on different schedules.
8. Does “on MC” tell me what illness a colleague has?
No. It is not a diagnosis. Respect privacy; ask about the backup contact or task handover rather than medical details.
9. Can anyone choose to WFH by saying “WFH today”?
No. The phrase is not approval. Actual arrangements depend on the employer and, where relevant, the processes described in MOM’s flexible work arrangement guidelines.
10. Does OT always mean extra pay?
Do not assume one rule for all employees. Eligibility for statutory overtime pay depends on employment coverage and applicable terms; consult MOM and the relevant contract or HR team.
References and limits of this guide
For the language/register distinction and actual employment conditions, consult these organisations. This lesson uses sources for claims about communication and policy; example conversations are teaching illustrations, not official scripts.
- Speak Good English Movement
- Cambridge: Young Singaporean English and (bo)jio
- Ministry of Manpower: sick leave
- Ministry of Manpower: flexible work arrangements
- Ministry of Manpower: overtime and hours of work
- eduKateSG: Singlish and everyday Singapore speech
Continue your Singapore everyday vocabulary
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If a colleague uses a phrase you do not understand, asking “Could you explain what you need and by when?” is better than pretending you agree. Keep the conversation respectful and the work outcome precise.