pronouncing Tampines

[curiouskat]

Just wondering - I know a lot of locals make fun of westerners who pronounce Tampines (Tam-pee-knees) as Tam-pines (like a pine tree). Realistically though, where does this word come from. It doesnt sound Malay, Chinese or Indian. I am assuming it could be European in which case the Western pronounciation could be correct. I did a search and found than Tampines is actually a tree but no pronounciation was given.

Anyone know?

[TEACHER]

PARDON ME, BUT I MUST CORRECT YOUR PRONUNCIATION...IT IS NOT TAM-PEE-KNEES NOR TAM-PINES. IT IS DAMN-PENIS WITH THE EMPHASIS ON THE PENIS.....

Just wondering - I know a lot of locals make fun of westerners who pronounce Tampines (Tam-pee-knees) as Tam-pines (like a pine tree). Realistically though, where does this word come from. It doesnt sound Malay, Chinese or Indian. I am assuming it could be European in which case the Western pronounciation could be correct. I did a search and found than Tampines is actually a tree but no pronounciation was given.

Anyone know?

[koyuli]

...

[Global Citizen]

Hi, I found this description online..


I once heard from an old taxi driver that the trees has fruits which are being processed to make into 'assam', which we commonly used in our asian cooking..

Hope it helps!

Actually assam comes from the tamarind tree. I don't think the two are related.