I visited the lovely Singapore just last week, and took a taxi with my local friends once in a while. Now I would like to know why the taxi drivers are called Uncles in Singapore :) I have never heard that anyplace else, but I think it sounds like a nice tradition! Do you know the story behind the name? Is this common only in Singapore?
in singapore, we usually address the senior uncle for the men and aunty for the women. and most of the taxi drivers are senior and thus the term uncle came juz as appropriate n handy.
Hi Uncle in the dictionary is brothers/sister's brother. In traditional chinese young person must show respect and courtesy by calling an older person uncle as it is deemed rude to call him by name or 'Oy' or 'Ay'.
Hello eepo, as you can see during your visit in our tiny sunny island, Singapore is a multi racial society. English is our common language use to communicate with people from different race. To show respect to elder people in our country, the term uncle and auntie is use as it's appropriate for all race. In the past, most cabbies here are elders in their 40's-60's, hence 'Uncle' is use to address them. It gives a touch of closeness, warmth and sense of home. Hope you'll be back to our sunny island one day and do let us know, we'll have a cab waiting for you.
Hey, mind share with us how taxis in Finland operate? does the cabbies own their taxis there?
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Taxi drivers age have been lower to 30. These days you can find a lot younger taking the road and also an increasing number are also Female.
A younger person, in our multi racial country address some one that are more elder by "Uncle" or "Aunty" refer to the respect they accord thus also showing their good boughtup.
Hope you have enjoy your stay in our sunny island.