Sri Lankan Phrase Book – Language Guide
Local Language & Phrase Guide
A collection of the most commonly used words & phrases
Sinhala | Tamil
Essential Sri Lankan Vocabulary
Any traveller should get to the know that bare essential set of Sinhalese and tamil words when visiting Sri Lanka. We can break things in to two broad categories, Standard Vocabulary & Sri Lankan Slang.
I’ve use the following format to make thing easy for you.
English – Sinhala Word – My own approximation of pronunciation using common English words.
I have highlighted English pronunciations in Red
(th- as in thorn)
So let us begin with the Standard Vocabulary,
Basics
Hello!
Sinhala : Ayubowan! (Ah–you-bow-one) ආයුබෝවන්
Tamil : Vanakkam வணக்கம்
(Greeting) Pretty much the first word any Lankan will teach you. Literally means “I wish you a long life”, but it used as a greeting as “Hello”.
How are you?
Sinhala : Kohomada? (Ko-ho-ma-da) කොහොමද
Tamil :
Literally means “How?”. Also is short for “How are you?”. Appropriate reply would be, “Hodin” (Good) or “Waradak Ne” (Not Bad)
Good Morning!
Sinhala : Suba Udasenak! සුභ උදැසනක්
Tamil : Kalai Vanakkam காலை வணக்கம்
(Greeting) Means “Good Morning”. Appropriate reply would be, “Suba Udasenak” or “ Esema wewa”
Good Night!
Sinhala : Suba Rathriyak! Su-bha-Ra-tri-yuck සුභ රාත්රියක්
Tamil : Iniya Iravu Vanakkam இனிய இரவு வணக்கம்
(Greeting) Means “Good Night”. Appropriate reply would be, “Suba Rathriyak” or “ Esema wewa”
Thank you
Sinhala : Sthuthi (is-stu-thi) ස්තුතියි
Tamil : Nanri நன்றி
Means “Thank you”.
Sorry
Sinhala : Kana Gaatui (Ka-na-ga-two-ee) කණගාටුයි
Tamil : Mannikkavum மன்னிக்கவும்
Express condolence
This
Sinhala : Meka (May-ker / as “Maker”) මේක
Tamil : Itu இது
That
Sinhala : Araka (Ah-ra-ker) අරක
Tamil : Anta அந்த
Here
Sinhala : Methana (May-tha-na) මෙතන
Tamil : Inke இங்கே
There
Sinhala : Athana (Ah-tha-na) අතන
Tamil : Anke அங்கே
How Much?
Sinhala : Keeyada? (Key-ya-the) කීයද
Tamil : Evvalavu எவ்வளவு
Yes
Sinhala : Ow ඔව්
Tamil : Am ஆம்
No
Sinhala : Ne නෑ
Tamil : Illai இல்லை
How?
Sinhala : Kohomada? (Ko-ho-ma-da) කොහොමද
Tamil : Eppati எப்படி
When?
Sinhala : Keeyatada? (Key-ya-ta-da) කීයටද
Tamil : Eppolutu எப்பொழுது
Where?
Sinhala : Koheda? (Ko-hay-da) කොහෙද
Tamil : Enke எங்கே
Name
Sinhala : Nama (Na-ma) නම
Tamil : Peyar பெயர்
Mine
Sinhala : Mage (Ma-gay) මගෙ
Tamil : Ennudaiya என்னுடையது
My Name is ..
Sinhala : Mage Nama (Ma-gay nah-ma) මගෙ නම ….
Tamil : En Peyar என் பெயர்
Today
Sinhala : Ada (Ah-da) අද
Tamil : Inru இன்று
Tomorrow
Sinhala : Heta හෙට
Tamil : Nalai நாளை
Yesterday
Sinhala : Ee-ye ඊයේ
Tamil : Nerru நேற்று
Sorry! / Excuse me,…
Sinhala : Sama Wenna (Sama-when-na) සමාවෙන්න
Tamil : Mannikkavum மன்னிக்கவும்
Sorry as to express regret or when apologizing / to excuse yourself
Numerals
| One | Eka | එක | ஒன்று (oṉṟu) |
| Two | Deka | දෙක | இரண்டு (iraṇdu) |
| Three | Thuna | තුන | மூன்று (mūṉṟu) |
| Four | Hathara | හතර | நான்கு (nāṉku) |
| Five | Paha | පහ | ஐந்து (ainthu) |
| Six | Haya | හය | ஆறு (āru) |
| Seven | Hatha | හත | ஏழு (ēzhu) |
| Eight | Ata | අට | எட்டு (eṭṭu) |
| Nine | Navaya | නවය | ஒன்பது (oṉpathu) |
| Ten | Dahaya | දහය | பத்து (patthu) |
| Eleven | Ekaloha | එකොළහ | பதினொன்று (patiṉoḷṟu) |
| Twelve | Doloha | දොළහ | பன்னிரண்டு(paṉṉiraṇṭu) |
| Thirteen | Daha-thuna | දහතුන | பதின்மூன்று (patiṉmūṉṟu) |
| Fourteen | Daha-hathara | දහහතර | பதினான்கு(patiṉāṉku) |
| Fifteen | Pahalawa | පහලව | பதினைந்து(patiṉaintu) |
| Sixteen | Daha-saya | දහසය | பதினாறு(patiṉāṟu) |
| Seventeen | Daha-hatha | දහහත | பதினேழு(patiṉēḻu) |
| Eighteen | Daha-ata | දහඅට | பதினெட்டு(patiṉeṭṭu) |
| Nineteen | Daha-navaya | දහනවය | பத்தொன்பது(pattoṉpatu) |
| Twenty | Wissa | විස්ස | இருபது(irupatu) |
21-29 Wisi (…….)
30 Thirty – Thiha Thi-her
31-39 Tis (…..)
40 Forty – Hathaliha Ha-ther-li-her
41-49 Hathalis (……)
50 Fifity – Panaha Pa-na-ha
51-59 Panas (….)
60 Sixty – Heta
61-69 Heta (…..)
70 Seventy – Heththawa Hae-th-thae-ver
71-19 Hath-thae (…..)
80 Eighty – Asuwa Ah-sewer
81-89 Asu (…..)
90 Ninety – Anuwa Ah-new-er
91-99 Anu (…..)
100 One Hundred – Eka siyaya
101 -199 eka siya ……. 200-299 de-siya…… 300-399 thun-siya….. 400-499 Hara-siya….
500-599 pan-siya…….. 600-699 Haya-siya……. 700-799 Hath-siy…… 800-899 Ata-siya…..
900-999 Nawa-siya……
1000 One Thousand – Dahai Da- Hi
At the Restaurant
Can we get a menu ?
Sinhala : Menu eka balanna puluwanda?
Water ( Bottle )
Sinhala : Vathura (bothalaya)
Hot Water
Sinhala : Unu Vathura
Tea
Sinhala : Te
Milk Tea
Sinhala : Kiri Te
Black Tea
Sinhala : Plain T
Coffee
Sinhala : Kopi
Milk Coffee
Sinhala : Kiri Kopi
Ice Coffee
Sinhala : Ice Kopi
Salt
Sinhala : Lunu
Sugar
Sinhala : Seeni
Spoon
Sinhala : Handa han-da
Fork
Sinhala : Geruppuwa (Gay-roop-poor)
Milk
Sinhala : Kiri
I’m vegetarian
Sinhala : Man mas kanne ne / Man elavalu vitharai kanne / Mama Vegetarian
I don’t eat…..
Sinhala : Mama (………..) kanne ne
At the Hotel
Do you have rooms?
Sinhala : Karara thiyenawda
How much per night?
Sinhala : Eka raekata keeyada?
With Breakfast?
Sinhala : Ude kaema ekkada?
One Person
Sinhala : Ek kenai
Two people
Sinhala : Dennai / Den nek
Hot Water Shower?
Sinhala : Nanna Unu Vatura thiyenawada / Hot water thiyenawada?
Air Conditioning
Sinhala : AC thiyenawada?
What time is the check out?
Sinhala : Check Out keeyatada?
Shopping
How much
Sinhala : Gaana Keeyada? / Keeyada?
Do you have a larger size / It’s too small
Sinhala : Thawa loku ekak ?/ podi wadi
Do you have a smaller size/ It’s too large
Sinhala : Thawa podi ekak? / loku wadi
It’s Too much/ It’s too expensive
Sinhala : Gana wadi / Wedi!
Can you lower the price
Sinhala : Thawa adu karanna.
I’ll come back later
Sinhala : Passe ennam
Do you have other colours?
Sinhala : Wena pata thiyenawada
Do you have other designs? – Wena design thiyanawada?
