Learn Sinhalese
Sinhalese is one of the official languages of Sri Lanka. If you would are keen to learn your language skills, or have a trip to Sri Lanka planned and would like to interact with locals our guide to studying Sinhalese will be able to help you.
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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