Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 May 2

= May 2 =

Linguistic evolution of the name singapura
how/when/why did the name singapura evolve to singapore and whats the demonym for singapura? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 220.255.1.125 (talk) 17:05, 2 May 2014 (UTC)


 * I haven't been able to find a well-sourced answer to your question online, but it seems probable that the name Singapore is simply an anglicization of Singapura. That is, it was a form adopted in English because it was easier to pronounce than the original form. It seems likely that the originator of the English version of this name was Thomas Stamford Raffles or perhaps someone in the employ of Raffles, who would have introduced it about 1818.  As for the demonym for Singapura, that is not a recognized place name in English, so it doesn't have an English demonym other than Singaporean.  If you are interested in the Malaysian demonym for Singapura, it is apparently orang Singapura. Marco polo (talk) 19:42, 2 May 2014 (UTC)


 * This says: -pur, -puri, -pura, -puram, -pore: From Sanskrit, a town (walled city -- may also mean a city with a citadel or palace). E.g., Kanpur*, Thiruvananthapuram. Also Singapore!
 * * previously Cawnpore. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  02:05, 3 May 2014 (UTC)