Acca: (Tamil) older sister.
Achchi: (Tamil) grandmother.
Aiya: (Tamil) used as term of respect, like ‘sir’, although it literally means brother.
Aiyoo: polite exclamation. Akin to saying ‘Oh dear’.
Amma: mother. Also used as a term of respect, akin to madam, as in ‘Malar Amma’.
Aney: casual exclamation, in this context it is expressing delight.
Angé pore: (Tamil) move over there.
Annai: (Tamil) older brother. Sometimes used as a term of respect to an older male.
Appa: (Tamil) father. A wife didn’t address her husband by name. She would call him ‘Appa’ which means father.
Appu: the cook and housekeeper to British superintendents.
Arak: home brewed alcoholic beverage from the coconut palm.
Ayubowan: (Sinhalese) salutation wishing the recipient a long life, typically as a greeting or a goodbye.
Baila: lively dance music introduced to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese.
Betel: the leaf of the vine piper betel chewed with areca nut and slaked lime paste. It is a mild stimulant.
Chenthamil: (Tamil) the native Sri Lankans from the north of the country believe that they speak a pure unadulterated dialect of the language.
Chinnamma: (Tamil) young miss. Lakshmi addresses Shiro as Chinnamma out of respect. The word ‘amma’ means mother, but is also used as a sign of respect, akin to madam.
Coolie: indentured Indian labour working in the tea plantation.
Egg Hopper: made from a fermented batter of rice flour, coconut milk and sometimes a dash of palm toddy. Cooked with an egg in the centre.
Ganja: marijuana.
Hodhi: a light gravy of coconut milk, turmeric and spices.
Ingé pore: (Tamil) come over here.
Jaffna Tamil: Tamils who trace their heritage to the north of Sri Lanka.
Kadalai: boiled and tempered pulse with coconut and hot chili.
Kade: small corner store.
Kaluthai: donkey.
Kangani: (Tamil) Indian labour supervisor.
Kavanam: (Tamil) be careful.
Kiribath: rice porridge cooked with coconut milk.
Kohled: eyes outlined and painted in black eyeliner like paint.
Mahal: (Tamil) daughter.
Nandri illatha kaluthai: (Tamil) ungrateful donkey.
Nohuthu: (Tamil) a cry of excruciating pain.
Palaharams: (Tamil) A generic term for snacks sweet and savoury.
Palayang yako: (Sinhalese) go away, you idiot.
Parvati: Hindu Goddess considered as the supreme Divine Mother. She is considered her as the ultimate Divine Shakti — the embodiment of the total energy of the universe. She was homemaker and the protector of her husband (Shiva).
Pasikithu: (Tamil) I am hungry.
Periadorai: (Tamil) the senior superintendent of the tea plantation.
Periamma: (Tamil) madam. Amma is mother. However when the prefix ‘Peria’ or ‘big’ is added it means madam.
Pittu: steamed cylinders of ground rice paste layered with coconut.
Podeher Aiya: (Tamil) the minister in church.
Rambuttan: small red fruits about the size of golf balls. The fruit flesh is translucent, whitish or very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavour
Roti: griddle cakes made with flour, water and grated coconut.
Seenisambol: A dish made with chopped onions, chillie powder that is sweet and hot.
Soonyam: a curse or charm meant to induce the demons to bring illness or death on a person.
Stringhoppers: a form of steamed rice noodles. A traditional Sri Lankan breakfast dish.
Swami: a holy man with supposed supernatural powers.
Thambili: juice of the young coconut.
Thosai: savoury pancake originating in South India.
Thovil: thovil or ‘devil-dancing’ is a ritualistic healing ceremony that primarily belongs to folk religion. The dancers dress up to represent demons.
Uderata Maniké: (Sinhalese) upcountry girl. The name given to the locomotive taking the train up to the hill country.
Vadai: Indian-style savoury fritters made with variety of pulses and fried.
Vallukum: (Tamil) you may slip, it is slippery.
Vayapothu: (Tamil) shut up.
Veedu: (Tamil) house.
Veeté poungé: (Tamil) go home.
Vellala: A high caste Tamil.
Vesak lanterns: colourful lanterns of paper and bamboo sticks lit to celebrate the commemoration of Buddha and his Enlightenment.