Names of common Singapore fish in various languages

Singapore is famous for its seafood. The widely popular Chili Crab and the spicy Curry Fish Head are a must try for any one visiting Singapore. Seafood is the common factor in various cuisines of Singapore. Be it Malay, Chinese or Tamil cuisine; Korean, Japanese or Western dishes, seafood is everywhere...

Those of us who are new to Singapore and unaware of the diverse cultures and languages entwined deeply in the hearts of people, find it rather difficult to understand the meanings of the names of most of the dishes, let alone know the names of the fish used to make those dishes. The wet market is the testing grounds for such vocabulary of fish names.

One can find a large variety of fish being sold here, but their names in different languages confuse the non-local people.

Singapore is also full of avid anglers occupying every possible inch of Bedok Jetty or Changi beach trying very hard to get the favor of lady luck and hook a fish. Every angler worth his salt knows the name and species of the fish existing in the waters of Singapore.

Yet for the noob angler, every scrap of information regarding the nomenclature of fish is of utmost importance.

The list shown below, for the names of the most common fish found in markets or while fishing in different languages may benefit those people who are unaware of the various names of the fish popular in Singapore.

English Name	Malay	Chinese	Tamil	Bengali	Marathi
Albacore Tuna	Ikan Tongkol	Kam Cheong Yee
Barracuda/Sea Pike	Ikan Kacang	Sha Jun			Jaban Tal
Barramundi/Asian Seabass/Giant Sea Perch	Ikan Siakap Putih	Kim Bak Lor	Painee Meen/Koduvai	Bhetki	Khajuri
Catfish	Ikan Duri/Keli	Tong Sat	Mulluvalai	Kan Magur	Nal Shingala
Eel			Vilangu	Kamila	Ahir
Grouper	Ikan Kerapu	Sek Pan	Kalavan/Panni Meen
Yellowfin Grouper	Ikan Kerapu Pisang
Hilsa/Shad/River Herring	Ikan Terubok		Oolum	Ilish	Chaksi
JewFish/Croaker			Kathalai/Panna	Lambu	Ghol
Mackerel/Chubb Mackerel/Indian Mackerel	Ikan Kembong Borek/Mabong		Kanangeluthi/Kana Kayuthai	Parai	Bangda
Spanish Mackerel/Seer Fish	Ikan Tenggiri Batang	Kau Yee/Ba Dong/Chuk Kau	Vanjaram/Naimeem/Savara		Surmai
Indo-Pacific King Mackerel/King Fish	Ikan Tenggiri Papan	Ma Jiao Yu/Ma Kau	Vanjaram		Surmai
Malaysian Mahseer/Greater Brook Carp	Ikan Kelah
Marble Goby		Soon Hock
MilkFish/White Mullet	Ikan Susu		Chano Chanos/Palai Meen
Grey Mullet	Ikan Andapong	Jee Ah/Jaie Yee Jaie	Madavai Kendai/Kavyangalu	Bhangan	Bol
Parrotfish/Tuskfish/Wrasse	Ikan Bayan/Ketarap
Peacock Bass		Huang Di Yu
Silver Pomfret	Ikan Bawal Selatan	Pak Chong Yee
Black Pomfret	Ikan Bawal Hitam	Hak Chong Yee	Karuppu Vawal		Halwa
White Pomfret	Ikan Bawal Putih	Chong Yee	Vowal Meen		Saranga/Paplet
Prawns/Shrimp	Udang		Eral/Ira	Chingri	Kolambi
Red Sea Bream	Ikan Kakap Merah
Red Snapper	Ikan Merah	Hoong Yee/Ang Kuey	Sikappu Meen
Mangrove Red Snapper/Mangrove Jack	Ikan Kakap Merah/Jenahak Temerah	Cu Lin Hong Zao/Chia Zho	Seppilli/Vekkattai/Thokkal
Russel's Snapper	Ikan Merah Tanda	Ang Zho Kee
Golden Snapper/John's Snapper	Ikan Jenahak Tanda/Ungah	Ang Zho
Yellowtail Snapper/Yellow Streaked Snapper	Ikan Jenahak Jalur Kuning	Ang Sai/Ji Yu
Rohu	Ikan Jerawat			Rui
Sardine	Ikan Selayang/Tamban	Sa Ting Yee	Siru Meen/Kavalai/Vellai Suda		Pedvey
Scad/Yellow Stripe Scad	Ikan Selar/Selar Kuning
Sea Bream/Porgy/Porgies	Ikan Kakap
Shark	Ikan Yu	Sar Yee	Sura/Sorrah
Silver Catfish	Ikan Patin
Snakehead/Murrel	Ikan Haruan	Sheng Yu/Li Yu	Viraal Meen/Koravai	Shol/Cheng	Daku
Giant Snakehead	Toman	Duo Man Yu
Spotted Scat	Ikan Ketang	Kim Kor/Jin Gu
Stingray/Skate/Skate Wings	Ikan Pari	Po Yee/Hung Heurr	Thirukkai	Haush	Waghla
Tilapia			Kari/Neyyi		Talapia
Threadfin/Indian Salmon	Ikan Kurau	Shun Feng Wu/Gor Heurr	Koduva Meen/Kaala		Rawas
Tuna	Ikan Kayu	Kam Cheong Yee	Soorai
Wolf Herring/Silver Bar Fish	Ikan Parang	Sai Toh Yee	Karu Vaali/Valai		Karli