Gostan. My favourite Singlish word has a Royal Navy origin.

My favourite Singlish word...

has a Royal Navy origin.

My career advice?

You cannot "Gostan" already.

Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

"Gostan" was born in the bustling ports of Southeast Asia:

Penang

Malacca

Singapore

A local twist on the Royal Navy command "Go Astern", meaning to reverse a ship.

Somewhere along the way, it slipped its moorings and sailed into everyday Singlish life.

⏪ ”Eh bro, too far lah, need to gostan a bit.”

🤦‍♂️ "Said yes to overtime before hearing how much. Gostan the enthusiasm already."

🌶️ "Thought the laksa not spicy. One spoon - eyes watering already. Too late, cannot gostan."

Gostan is a brilliant example of nautical English taking root through Singlish and Manglish.

Reflecting Southeast Asia's deep maritime heritage.

It likely dates back over 100 years to the British colonial era.

Fun Facts

It's officially Manglish and Singlish "Gostan" appears in both Malaysian English (Manglish) and Singaporean English (Singlish) dictionaries. One word, two countries, one shared maritime history.

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It works in reverse too The opposite command - "Go ahead" - became "gohed" in Singlish. So you could "gostan" out of a parking spot and "gohed" down the road, all in Royal Navy English without knowing it.

-⚓️-

Pirates may have used it too The Strait of Malacca was one of the most pirated waters in the world. British naval vessels patrolling the region would have used "go astern" constantly. Whether pirates picked it up is unconfirmed - but it's a fun thought.

The Maritime Origins Series

Maritime Origins is a storytelling series created by Jason Nangle, Founder of Angle Recruitment, a global maritime recruitment and executive search firm.

The series explores the fascinating history behind everyday phrases that originated at sea, as well as the remarkable stories, traditions and characters that have shaped maritime culture.

Many sayings still used today were first spoken by sailors navigating the challenges of life on board ships. Alongside these phrase origins, the series also highlights lesser-known maritime stories, legends and historical moments from the world of shipping.

Through short stories and visual posts, Maritime Origins connects the language, heritage and traditions of seafarers with the modern maritime industry.

New posts in the series launch every Tuesday on LinkedIn and are then shared across other platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X. Follow Jason Nangle on LinkedIn and Angle Recruitment across your preferred social platforms.

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