How Many People Speak Sinhalese 

Sinhalese is the native language of the Sinhalese people, the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Around 20 million people speak Sinhalese in Sri Lanka.

 

 

Top Reasons to Learn Sinhalese

Sri Lankan people are very friendly and you will find some people can speak English but it will be fun for you to impress locals with your knowledge if you try to converse with them in their native language. It will also make sightseeing and getting around easier.

 

 

Best Places to Study Sinhalese

  • Sri Lanka - there are language schools and educational institutes offering year round courses.
  • Online

 

 

Useful Sinhalese Words & Phrases for Travelling to Sri Lanka

Got an interest in learning basic Sinhalese? Find helpful words and phrases which will come in handy if you are going to travel to Sri Lanka...
 

Greetings & Basics Phrases

  • Hello - Hallo
  • Thank you - Istuti
  • How are you? - Kohomadhe?
  • I'm fine - Varadak neh
  • Please - Karunakerara
  • Yes - Ow
  • No - Naa
  • Have a nice day - Subha davasak


Conversational

  • What is your name?  Nama mokadhdha?
  • My name is....  Mage nama....
  • Do you speak English? - Oba ingreesi kathaa karanavadha?
  • I don’t speak Sinhala - Singhala danna naa 
  • I understand - Mata teerenavaaa
  • I don’t understand - Mata obava therum ganna baahaa


Questions

  • Where? - Kohedha?
  • What? - Mokadhdha?
  • When? - Kawadadha?
  • Why? - Ayi?
  • Who? - Kaudha?


Shopping & Buying Things

  • How much (is this)?  (Meeka) kiyadha?
  • What is this?  Mekeh mokadeh?
  • Very expensive  Hari ganan
  • Bank - Bank eka


Tourism & Sightseeing

  • Where is the station?  Stesemeta eka ko?
  • Hotel - Hotela
  • Where is the hotel?  Hootale kohedha?
  • Village - Gama
  • River - Ganga
  • City - Nuwara
  • Temple - Vihara


Emergencies

  • Pharmacy - Bet sappuwa
  • Call the police! - Polisiya kataa karanna!


Days of the Week

  • Monday - Sanduda
  • Tuesday - Angahauwada
  • Wednesday - Badada
  • Thursday - Brahaspathinda
  • Friday - Sikurada
  • Saturday - Senesurada
  • Sunday - Irida


Food & Drink

  • Restaurant - Apana sala
  • Food  - kaama
  • Breakfast  udee tee
  • Lunch  - Dawal kaama
  • Dinner  paa kaama
  • Water - Watura
  • Coffee  kopi
  • Tea - Tey


Numbers

  • 1  eka
  • 2  deka
  • 3  tuna
  • 4  hatara
  • 5  paha
  • 6  haya
  • 7  hata
  • 8  ata
  • 9  namaya
  • 10  daaha
  • 20  vissa
  • 30  tiha
  • 40  hataliha
  • 50  panaha
  • 60  heta
  • 70  heddawa
  • 80  assuwa
  • 90  annuwa
  • 100  seeiye
  • 1,000  daha

 

 

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