Sri Lanka is truly serene & if you have decided to visit the land of Elephants & precious gems, let me tell you that you’ll have the best vacation UNDER a BUDGET.
Well, it depends on where you are for these sentences below to be of need. In urban areas, you might find people who speak fluent English but in rural regions, communication becomes a big problem!
Let’s cut the crap & begin with learning!
1- Thank you- “sthoo∙thi”
I would highly recommend using this word if you love to see sparkly eyes & smiley faces. People of Sri Lanka are humble & super sweet. By just saying “sthoo∙thi” you’ll see what I’m talking about. If you want to be a lil more polite & say “Thank you very much” all you have to do is add “bo∙ho∙mȧ” in front of it. It’ll be something like “bo∙ho∙mȧ sthoo∙thi”. Remember “bo∙ho∙mȧ” by associating it with a Hindi word “Bohot” which means “very”.
2- Food - “āhāra”
The most important word of all, “āhāra” that is FOOD! This will be helpful if you are hungry & want to find a place to eat. You can use in a sentence in this way “āhāra soyā gata hæki sthānaya?” (Where to find food?) or āhāra tibēda? (Is food available?)
3- I Don’t Speak Sinhala- “Singhala Danna Naa”
In case you come across someone who goes on speaking in Sinhala & all that they speak is making you look like an old uncle who is squinting his eyes & trying his best to understand, then these 3 magical words will come to you rescue “Singhala Danna Naa”
4- Excuse me & Sorry - “sa∙maa vén∙nȧ”
This is a 2 in 1 deal! If you are sorry about something say “sa∙maa vén∙nȧ” if you want to call someone use “sa∙maa vén∙nȧ”.
5- How much?- “ kee∙yȧ∙dhȧ?” If you go shopping & belong to a kind that needs to know the price of that product before buying (like me basically) you can approach the seller & ask them “kee∙yȧ∙dhȧ?” Now, if they reply in English that’s your luck & if they don’t you are back to square one!
6- Okay/Very Nice- Hari Hondai
Doesn’t this sound like “Harry’s Hyundai”? Well, use this to remember Okay & Nice in Sinhala! If you want to appreciate someone. Appreciation is always appreciated!
7- Yes “owu” & No “nǣ”
These words can be handy for some very important conversations. In case if someone asks you “oyāṭa pissu da?”, you might wanna say yes “owu” but gotta say no “nǣ”
8- Where is the toilet? - “væ∙si∙ki∙li∙yȧ thi∙yén∙né ko∙hé∙dhȧ?” Let’s admit, it’s a good habit to pee & poop from time to time. To find a place to do your deed you can ask a passerby “væ∙si∙ki∙li∙yȧ thi∙yén∙né ko∙hé∙dhȧ?” & they’ll point out the way or just say “mama dannē næ” which means “I don’t know”
9- Hello - “Aayu-bo-wan” This should have probably been the first word on the list but that’s cliche...This basically is a Sri Lankan greeting & translates into Long Life. Live long fellas :)
10- I don’t want it- “EPA”
You can use this word when someone is trying to sell you stuff on the beach or any other place which you don’t wanna buy. Use it with politeness.
Bonus:
If you fall in love with someone in Sri Lanka in a span of the little trip you may say “ma∙mȧ o∙yaa∙tȧ aa∙dhȧ∙réyi” to them which means I love you in Sinhala.
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