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What Was Singapore Called Before Singapore?
Singapore’s early port settlement was known as Temasek, also written Temasik. Historical sources record the name by the 14th century, while the later name Singapura is also associated with the settlement.
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- Singapore’s early port settlement was known as Temasek, also written Temasik. Historical sources record the name by the 14th century, while the later name Singapura is also associated with the settlement.
- The story that Sang Nila Utama named it Singapura after seeing a lion is a traditional account, not one corroborated by other historical evidence.
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Before it was known as Singapore, the island’s historic port settlement was called Temasek, also spelled Temasik. Singapura is another name associated with the settlement, so the history is not simply a one-step change from Temasek to Singapore. 2
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Temasek in the historical record
Singapore’s National Library Board notes references to Temasek in documents dated 1330, 1349 and 1365, among other early sources. The name is probably related to the Malay word tasek, meaning “lake,” though the origin is not certain. 8
The National Library Board describes the late-13th-century port settlement as Temasek/Singapura, reflecting the use of both names in accounts of the place’s history. 6
Where the Singapura story comes from
A well-known account in the Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) says that the prince Sang Nila Utama saw a lion and named the settlement Singapura. The story is often told as an explanation for the change of name, but the National Library Board notes that no other historical document or evidence corroborates the founding account as described in the text. It is best treated as a traditional story, not a verified event. 2
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In short: Temasek is the clearest answer to what Singapore was called before Singapore, while Singapura is another historical name linked to the settlement.
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What is the short answer to "What Was Singapore Called Before Singapore?"?
Singapore’s early port settlement was known as Temasek, also written Temasik. Historical sources record the name by the 14th century, while the later name Singapura is also associated with the settlement.
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Singapore’s early port settlement was known as Temasek, also written Temasik. Historical sources record the name by the 14th century, while the later name Singapura is also associated with the settlement. The story that Sang Nila Utama named it Singapura after seeing a lion is a traditional account, not one corroborated by other historical evidence.