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Sinhala and Tamil are national languages in Sri Lanka, with English commonly used to make communication possible between persons not sharing a native language. It’s easy to get by with English, and the Sri Lankan variety has its own unique characteristics . However, English may be widely spoken in the main places. In any case, even a few words of Sinhala or Tamil will go a long way.
Sinhala
Sinhala is officially written using a cursive script.If you read below pronunciation guides as if they were English, you should not have any problems being understood.
Introduction and Basics – Sinhala
| Hello. | aayu-bowan |
| Goodbye. | aayu-bowan |
| Yes. | owu |
| No. | naha |
| Please. | karunaa kara |
| Thank you. | istuh-tee |
| Excuse me. | sama venna |
| Do you speak English | oyaa in-ghirisih kata karanawada? |
| My name is …. | maaghe nama … |
| Sorry. | kana gaatui |
| Excuse me. | samah venna |
Emergencies phrases
| Help! | aaney! |
| Call a doctor! | dostara gen-nanna! |
| I’m lost | mama athara man wela |
| Go away! | methanin yanna! |
| Call the police! | polisiyata kiyanna! |
Accommodation phrases
| Do you have any rooms available? | kaamara thiyanawada? |
| How much is it per person | ek kenek-kuta kiyada |
| person? | |
| How much is it per night | ek rayakata kiyada |
| Is breakfast included? | udeh keh-emath ekkada? |
| for one night only | ek rayak pamanai |
| for two nights only | raya dekak pamanai |
| for one person only | ek-kenek pamanai |
| for two people only | den-nek pamanai |
Shopping & Services phrases
| What time does it open? | kiyatada meka arinneh |
| What time does it close? | kiyatada meka wahanneh |
| How much is it? | Meka Keyadah? |
| public telephone | podu dura katanayak |
| Small | Podi |
| Big | Loku |
| my hotel | mang inna hotalaya |
| medicine | Beheth |
Eating & Drinking phrases
| I’d like rice and curry please. | bahth denna |
| Can we see the menu? | menoo eka balanna puluvandha? |
| I’m a vegetarian | mama elavalu vitharai kanne |
| Where can I wash my hands | Ath sodanne kohenda? |
| No ice in my drink please. | karunaakarala maghe beema ekata ais dhamanna epaa |
| That was delicious! | eka harima rasai! |
| Please bring a/the Bill | Bill eka genna |
| Please bring a/the fork | gaarappuvak genna |
| Please bring a/the knife | Pihiyak genna |
| Please bring a/the plate | Pigaanak genna |
| Please bring a/the glass of water | Wathura veedhuruvak genna |
| coff ee | koh-pi |
| fruit | palathuru |
| glass | co-ppaya |
| milk | kiri |
| salt | lunu |
| spoon | han-duh |
| sugar | seeni |
| tea | thay |
| water | vathura |
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