Sri Lanka is a trilingual nation. The main language, Sinhala, is spoken by around 75 percent of the population; Tamil is spoken by around 25 percent (including not only the Tamils themselves, but many of the island’s Muslims). English is also widely used by Westernized and urban sections of the population, and is the first language of most Sri Lankan Burghers – many people speak it more or less fluently, and even native Sinhala speakers (especially in Colombo) often employ English in conversation alongside their native tongue, switching between languages as the mood takes them. English sometimes serves as a link language between the island’s communities, too – relatively few northern Tamils speak Sinhala, and even fewer Sinhalese speak Tamil.
Language is an emotive issue in Sri Lanka – the notorious “Sinhala Only” legislation of 1956, which downgraded Tamil from the status of an official language and effectively barred Tamils from most forms of government employment, was one of the most significant root causes behind the subsequent civil war, and although Tamil was restored to the status of an official language in 1988, the subject is still politically sensitive. All official signs, banknotes, government publications and the like are printed in all three languages, and (except in the north, where Sinhala is rarely seen or heard) many businesses and shops follow suit.
Sinhala (or Singhala; also referred to as Sinhalese/Singhalese, although properly speaking this is the name of the people themselves, rather than their language) is an Indo-Aryan language, related to other North Indian languages such as Hindi and Bengali, as well as to Sanskrit, the classic ancient language of the Indian subcontinent, and Pali, the sacred language of Buddhism. The language was first brought to Sri Lanka by the original Sinhalese settlers from North India around the fifth century BC, though it has developed since then in complete geographical isolation from other North Indian Indo-Aryan languages, being heavily influenced by Tamil, as well as acquiring numerous words from Dutch, Portuguese, Malay and English. Sinhala is found only in Sri Lanka; its closest relative is Dhivehi, spoken in the Maldives.
Sinhala pronunciation is relatively straightforward – most Sinhala words, despite their sometimes fearsome length, are generally built up out of chains of simple vowel sounds, typically a vowel plus a consonant, as in the expression for “please”, karuna karala. There are a few awkward consonant clusters, but these are relatively uncommon.
Written Sinhala uses a beautifully elegant and highly distinctive system of 47 curvilinear characters. Most characters represent a consonant plus a vowel sound that is indicated by a subtle addition to the basic character (see box opposite).
There’s little printed material available on Sinhala. The best resource is Lonely Planet’s Sinhala Phrasebook by Swarna Pragnaratne. Say it in Sinhala by J.B. Dissanayake and the Sri Lanka Words and Phrases phrasebook published by Arjuna Hulugalle are both useful.
Tamil is one of the most important of the various Dravidian languages of South India, and is spoken by almost sixty million people in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as by Tamils in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere around the world. The language in Sri Lanka has developed in isolation from the Tamil spoken in South India, acquiring its own accent and vocabulary – the relationship between Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil is roughly similar to that between British and North American English.
Some vowel sounds are represented using the characters shown above. Others are shown by modifying a basic consonant character, either by adding small additional strokes to it or by placing vowel symbols on one or both sides of the basic character. Most characters follow the same basic pattern:
Tamil has a long and distinguished history, and a literary tradition stretching back to the third century BC – surpassed among Indian languages only by Sanskrit. It’s also a famously difficult language to master, thanks to its complex grammar, extended alphabet and repertoire of distinctive sounds (the so-called “reflexive consonants”, common to all Dravidian languages, pronounced with the tongue curled against the back of the teeth) – these also make the language virtually impossible to transliterate into Roman script. The language is written in the beautiful Vattelluttu (“round script”), a combination of rectangular shapes and elegant curvilinear flourishes.
As with Indian English, the version of the language spoken in Sri Lanka, sometimes referred to as “Sringlish” (not to be confused with “Singlish”, or Singaporean English) is not without its own charming idiosyncrasies of grammar, spelling and punctuation, along with a few colourful local expressions. A “bake house” is of course a bakery, though you might not realize that a “cool spot” is a small café, or that a “colour house” is a paint shop. Remember too that “taxis” are most often just everyday tuktuks, while a “hotel” is frequently a cheap eating establishment rather than a place to stay. And if someone at your (real) hotel starts talking about their “backside”, don’t worry – they’re referring to the rear of the building, not a part of their anatomy. You might also come across classic old-time Sri Lankan idioms such as “men” (which can be used to refer to anyone listening, men and women); the monosyllabic “Is it?” (meaning anything from “I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand” to “Go jump off a cliff”); or the quintessentially Sri Lankan “What to do?” – a kind of verbal shrug of the shoulders, which can mean virtually anything from “What shall we do?” to “The situation’s completely hopeless” or “Let’s have another beer.”
For more on the idiosyncrasies of Sringlish, get hold of a copy of Michael Meyler’s comprehensive and entertaining A Dictionary of Sri Lankan English.
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
hello/welcome hello/ayubowan vanakkam
goodbye ayubowan varavaanga
yes oh-ooh aam
no nay illai
please karuna karala thayavu seithu
thank you es-toothee nandri
OK hari (or hari-hari) sari (or sari-sari)
excuse me sama venna enga
sorry kana gartui mannikkavum
do you speak English? Oh-ya Inghirisee kata karenavada? ningal angilam paysu virhala?
I don’t understand matah obahvah thehrum enakku puriyavillaiye gahna baha
what is your name? nama mokada? ungaludaya peyr enna?
my name is… mahgay nama… ennudaya peyr…
how are you? kohomada? ningal eppadi irukkirigal?
well, thanks hondeen innava romba nallayirukkudhu
not very well vadiya honda nay paruvayillai
this mayka ithu
that ahraka athu
when? kawathatha? eppa?
where? kohedah? enge?
when does it open/close? ehika kiyatada ahrinnay/vahhannee e thirakkiruthu/moodukiradu
I want mata onay enakku venam
is there any…?…-da? vere ethavathu irikkirutha
how much? ahhekka keeyada? ahdu evvalah-vur?
can you give me a discount? karuna karala gana? ithil ethavathu salugai adukaranna irikkirutha?
big loku pareya (perisu)
small podi sarreya
excellent hari hondai miga nallathu
hot (weather) rasnai ushnamana
open erala thira
closed vahala moodu
shop kaday kadi (kadai)
post office teppa kantorua anja lagam
bank bankua vangi
toilet vesikili kahlippadem
police polisiya kavalar
pharmacy farmisiya/bayhet sapua marunthu kadai
doctor dostara maruthuvar (vaidyar)
hospital rohala aspathri
ill asaneepai viyathi
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
boat bohtua padadur
bus bus ekka bas
bus station bus stand baas nilayem
train kohchiya rayil
train station dumriya pala rayil nilayem
car car car
bicycle bicycle saikal
road para pathai
left vama idathu
right dakuna valathu
straight on kelin yanna naerakapogavum
near langa arukkil
far athah turam
station is-stashama nilayam
ticket tiket ekkah anumati situ
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
hotel hotelaya hotel
guesthouse guesthouse ekka virun-dhinnar vidhudheh
bathroom nahnah kamarayak kulikkum arai
clean suda suththam
cold seethai kulir
dirty apirisidui alukku (azhukku)
room kamaraya arai
do you have a room? kamara teeyenavada? arekil kidehkkumah?
may I see the room? kamaraya karuna karala? koncham kanpikkireengala penvanna?
is there an a/c room? a/c kamaraya teeyenavada? kulir seithu arayai park mudiyama?
is there hot water? unuvatura teeyenavada? sudu thanir irukkuma?
please give me the bill karuna karala bila ganna bill tharavum
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
1 ekka ontru
2 dekka erantru
3 toona moontru
4 hatara nangu
5 paha ainthu
6 hiya aru
7 hata aelu
8 ahta ettu
9 navighya onpathu
10 dahhighya pattu
20 vissai erpathu
30 teehai mupathu
40 hatalihai natpathu
50 panahai ompathu
100 seeya nooru
200 dayseeya irunooru
1000 daha aiyuram
2000 daidaha iranda iuram
100,000 lakshaya latcham
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
today ada indru
tomorrow heta naalay
yesterday eeyai neh-truh
morning udai kaalai
afternoon havasa matiyam
day davasa pakal
night reh eravu
last/next week giya/ilanga sahtiya pona/adutha vaaram
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
restaurant aapana salawa unavu aalayam
the menu, please menu eka penvanna thayavu seithu thinpandangal patti tharavum
I’m vegetarian mama elavalu vitaray naan oru saivam kannay
please give me the bill karuna karala bila ganna bill tharavum
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
bread paan rotti/paan
egg bittaraya muttai
ice ay-is ice
rice (cooked) baht arisi
water wathurah thannir
mineral water (bottle) wathurah botalayak genna oru pottal soda panam
tea tay teyneer
milk kiri paal
sugar seeni seeni
butter bahta butter/vennai
jaggery hakuru seeni/vellam
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
fruit palaturu palam
banana keselkan valaipalam
coconut pol thengali
mango amba mangai
papaya papol pappa palam
pineapple annasi annasi
vegetables elavelu kai kari vagaigal
onion luunu venkayam
potato ala uruka kilangu
tomato thakkali thakkali
ENGLISH SINHALA TAMIL
meat harak mas mamism
chicken kukulmas koli (kozhi)
pork uroomas pantri
beef harak mas maattu mamism
lamb batalu mas aattu mamism
crab kakuluvo nandu
prawns isso iraal
lobster pokirissa periya iraal
fish malu min
abhaya mudra “Have No Fear” pose in traditional Buddhist iconography
adimuka Alternative name for a vahalkada (the small shrines placed at the four cardinal points of a stupa)
ambalama Traditional pilgrim’s rest house
anda The main, hemispherical section of a dagoba
apsara Heavenly nymph
arhat Enlightened monk
Avalokitesvara Mahayana Bodhisattva who is worshipped as the lord of infinite compassion, able to save all beings from suffering
Ayurveda Ancient Indian system of holistic healthcare
-arama or -rama park, garden or monastic residence
betel Popular and mildly narcotic snack, combining leaves from the betel tree with flakes of areca nut, a pinch of lime and sometimes a piece of tobacco; produces the characteristic red spittle whose stains can be seen on pavements throughout the country
bhikku Buddhist monk
bo tree (Ficus religiosa; also known as the bodhi tree) Species of tree held sacred by Buddhism, since the Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath one
bodhigara Bo tree enclosure
bodhisattva A Buddha-to-be who, rather than passing into nirvana, has chosen to stay in the world to improve the spiritual welfare of other, unenlightened beings
bund Bank of a reservoir or tank
Burghers Sri Lankans of European (usually Dutch) descent
cetiya/chaitya Alternative Sinhalese word for a stupa
chattravali Spire-like pinnacle at the top of a stupa
chena Slash-and-burn farming
Cholas (or Colas) The dominant power in South India from the tenth to the twelfth centuries, with their capital at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu; overran Sri Lanka in the late tenth century, sacking Anuradhapura in 993, after which they established a new capital at Polonnaruwa
coir Fibre made out of coconut husks
Culavamsa The “Lesser Chronicle” and continuation of the Mahavamsa
dagoba Stupa, a type of hemispherical monument found throughout the Buddhist world, traditionally enshrining religious relics and symbolizing both the person of the Buddha himself and the route to enlightenment
devale Shrine or temple to a deity, either freestanding or part of a Buddhist temple; nominally Buddhist, but often showing strong Hindu influence
dhyani mudra Meditation pose
digge Drummers’ hall; often a pillared hall or pavilion in a temple where drummers and dancers rehearse
Durga The most terrifying of female Hindu deities, the demon-slaying Durga is considered an aspect of Shiva’s consort, Parvati
duwa Small island
dwarfs Attendants of Kubera, the god of wealth, and thus symbols of prosperity
-ela Stream
-gaha Tree
-gala Rock
-gama Village
Ganesh Popular elephant-headed Hindu god, the son of Shiva, remover of obstacles and bringer of success and prosperity
ganga River
-ge Hall or house
gedige South Indian-style shrine, rectangular in shape and built entirely of stone or brick
-giri Rock
gopuram Tower of a Hindu temple, usually richly decorated with multicoloured statues
guardstone Carved figure placed at the entrance to a temple to protect against malign influences; often shows a figure of a nagaraja
Hanuman Monkey god who assisted Rama in recovering Sita from the demon Rawana, as related in the Ramayana
harmika The box-shaped section of a dagoba that sits on top of the dome (anda) and supports the chattravali
Hinayana Alternative and pejorative name for Theravada Buddhism
hypostyle Building constructed using many columns
image house (pilimage) Building in a Buddhist temple housing a statue of the Buddha
Jatakas Stories describing the 547 previous lives of the Buddha
JHU Jathika Hela Urumaya, or National Heritage Party, led by Buddhist monks; promotes a broadly right-wing, nationalist and anti-Tamil agenda
JVP Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or People’s Liberation Front. Marxist party with an extreme nationalist, anti-Tamil agenda. Originally made up largely of rural poor and students, the JVP launched armed insurrections against the government in 1971 and 1987–89, both put down with considerable loss of life. Since the second insurrection, it has transformed itself into an important mainstream political party with a strong parliamentary presence
-kanda or -kande Hill/mountain
Kataragama One of the principal Sri Lankan deities, believed to reside in the town of Kataragama
kavadi The “peacock dance” performed by devotees of the god Kataragama
kolam Masked dance-drama
kovil Hindu temple
-kulam Tank, lake
Lakshmi Hindu goddess of wealth, Vishnu’s consort
lingam Phallic symbol representing Shiva; often placed within a yoni, representing female sexuality
LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, popularly known as the Tamil Tigers
maha Great
Mahavamsa The “Great Chronicle”, the semi-mythical account of early Sri Lankan history as narrated by the island’s Sinhalese Buddhist clergy
Mahayana Buddhism One of the two major schools of Buddhism, and the dominant form of the religion in China, Japan and Tibet, though it has had only superficial influence on Sri Lankan Buddhism
mahout Elephant handler
Maitreya The next Buddha. Mahayana Buddhists believe Maitreya will reintroduce Buddhism to the world when all knowledge of the religion has been lost
makara Imaginary composite animal derived from Indian bestiary
makara torana Arch formed from two linked makaras
mandapa Pillared hall or pavilion
mawatha (abbreviated to “Mw”) Street
moonstone Carved semicircular stone placed in front of entrance to shrine. Also a type of gemstone mined in the island
Moors Sri Lankans of Arab or Indian-Arab descent
mudra Traditional pose in Buddhist iconography
naga stone Stone decorated with the image of a hooded cobra
nagaraja Serpent king
nikaya Order of Buddhist monks
nuwara Town
ola/ola leaf Parchment made from the talipot palm; used as a writing material in Sri Lanka up to the nineteenth century
oya or stream Small river
Pali The sacred language of Theravada Buddhism. This early Indo-European language, related to Sanskrit, is close to the language spoken by the Buddha himself. The scriptures of Theravada Buddhism were originally written in Pali and are still recited in this language in Buddhist ceremonies
Pallavas South Indian Tamil dynasty (fifth to ninth centuries), based in Kanchipuram, who, along with the Pandyans and Cholas, periodically interfered in Sri Lankan affairs
Pandyans Major Tamil dynasty (sixth to fourteenth centuries), based in Madurai, who vied for control of South India with the Cholas and Pallavas from the ninth to thirteenth centuries and periodically involved themselves in Sri Lankan affairs. Sacked Anuradhapura in the ninth century
parinirvana mudra Reclining pose showing the Buddha on the point of entering into nirvana. One of the most common mudras in Sri Lankan art
pasada/prasada Palace
Pattini Hindu goddess worshipped as paragon of marital fidelity
perahera Procession
Pillaiyar Ganesh (Tamil)
pirith Ceremonial chanting of Buddhist scriptures
-pitiya Field or park
poya Full-moon day
poyage Building in a monastery used for ceremonial gatherings of monks on poya days (hence the name); sometimes translated as “chapter house”
puja Hindu or Buddhist religious offering or ceremony
-pura/-puram Town
Rajarata Literally “The King’s Land” – the traditional name for the area now more generally known as the Cultural Triangle
Rama The seventh incarnation of Vishnu and hero of the Ramayana
Rawana (or Ravana) Demon-king and arch villain of the Ramayana; responsible for kidnapping Rama’s wife Sita and holding her captive in Sri Lanka
Ruhunu (or Rohana) Traditional name for southern Sri Lanka
samadhi (dhyani) mudra Pose showing Buddha in state of meditation, seated in the lotus or half-lotus position
Saman The god of Adam’s Peak
samudra Large tank
Sangha The worldwide community of Buddhist monks
Shiva One of the two principal Hindu gods, worshipped in many forms, both creative and destructive
Shiva Nataraj Classic subject of Hindu sculpture, showing a four-armed dancing Shiva enclosed by a circle of fire
sinha Lion
Skanda Son of Shiva (also known as Murugam and Subramanian). His identity in Sri Lanka has merged with that of Kataragama
SLA Sri Lankan Army
SLFP One of the two main Sri Lankan political parties, led successively by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, his wife and his daughter. Policies have tended to be the opposite of the pro-Western, free-market UNP, leaning instead towards a brand of populist nationalism (often with an anti-Tamil bias) featuring extensive state control of the economy
sri pada Holy footprint
tampita A small shrine raised on pillars
tank Large man-made lake constructed for irrigation – almost always much larger than the English word suggests
-tara/-tota Port
Theravada Buddhism The older of the two main schools of Buddhism, and the dominant form of the religion in Sri Lanka
tuktuk Motorized rickshaw; also known as a three-wheeler, trishaw or taxi
UNP United National Party; one of Sri Lanka’s two main political parties and the first ruling party of independent Sri Lanka. Policies have traditionally tended to be pro-Western and free-market
Upulvan Sri Lankan name for Vishnu
vahalkadas Shrines placed at the four cardinal points of a stupa
vatadage Characteristic Sri Lankan style of building formed by adding a roof and ambulatory to a dagoba
Veddha Sri Lanka’s original inhabitants
ves Style of traditional costume and dancing employed by Kandyan dancers
Vibhishana The youngest brother of Rawana. Despite his demonic nature, Vibhishana is revered in Sri Lanka, since he pleaded the captive Sita’s cause with Rawana and later fought with Rama against his brother, suggesting the potential for right action in even the lowest creature
vidiya Street (in Kandy)
vidyalaya School
vihara (sometimes spelt vehera or wehera) Buddhist temple or monastery
vimana Palace of a god or celestial being
Vishnu One of the two principal Hindu gods, considered a protector of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
VOC Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company)
walauwa or walauwe Traditional country manor of local village headman
-watte Garden
-wewa (pronounced “-vava”) Man-made reservoir (tank)
-wila Pond
