Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Singapore” come from?

Singapore comes from Malay Singapura, from Sanskrit सिंहपुर, combining Sanskrit सिंह from Proto-Indo-European sinǵʰo- meaning lion, with Sanskrit पुर from Proto-Indo-European pl̥h₁- meaning fortified settlement.

Ancestry of “Singapore”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1MalaySingapura—
2Sanskritसिंहपुर—
3Sanskritपुरfortress, castle, city, town; the female...
4Sanskritपरother; more remote; distant, further, other
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “Singapore”

  • Singaporean
  • Singaporan
  • Singaporeanness
  • Singaporese
  • Singaporeanize
  • Singaporeanization
  • Singaporeanism
  • 星加坡
  • 新加坡
  • Singapur
  • Singeapór
  • Singeapórach
  • สิงคโปร์
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →