Basic Words

1. ඔව්

   ov

   Yes

   Usage

   The basic yes. Often enough on its own to keep a transaction moving

2. නැහැ

   nahe

   No

   Usage

   The basic no. Pair it with a head shake to make refusal unmistakable

3. කරුණාකර

   karunaakara

   Please

   Usage

   Add it to any request, including when you order by pointing at something

4. ස්තූතියි

   sthoothiyi

   Thank you

   Usage

   For anything you receive or any help you get. The single most-used word of a trip

5. සමාවෙන්න

   samaavenna

   Excuse me

   Usage

   To get a stranger's or staff member's attention, or to squeeze past someone

6. කණගාටුයි

   kanagaatuyi

   Sorry

   Usage

   An actual apology after bumping into someone or making a mistake, not for getting attention

7. කමක් නැහැ

   kamak nahe

   It's OK / I'm fine

   Usage

   Both "no harm done" when someone apologises and a soft "no thanks" to an offer

8. මට තේරෙන්නේ නැහැ

   mata therenne nahe

   I don't understand

   Usage

   When you did not follow what was said. It usually prompts the other person to rephrase

9. තේරුණා

   theruna

   I understand

   Usage

   Confirms the explanation landed. Clearer than just nodding

10. ඉවරයි

    ivarayi

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    Signals a meal, payment or procedure is complete — also used to have plates cleared

11. කරුණාකර ඉන්න

    karunaakara inna

    Please wait

    Usage

    To ask someone to hold on while you dig out luggage or paperwork

12. විනාඩියක් ඉන්න

    vinaadiyak inna

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A lighter, shorter hold-on for a brief pause at a till or before a photo

13. වැඩිහිටියෙක්, කරුණාකර

    vadihitiyek, karunaakara

    One adult, please

    Usage

    For ticket desks and entrances where adult and child prices differ

14. මට වෙන්කිරීමක් නැහැ

    mata venkireemak nahe

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    The first thing to say when walking into a restaurant or hotel without booking

15. මට වෙන්කිරීමක් තියෙනවා

    mata venkireemak tiyenavaa

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Say it on arrival, then give your name to speed things up

16. මට උදව් කරන්න

    mata udav karanna

    Please help me

    Usage

    For trouble or an emergency. It is fine to say this loudly

17. කරුණාකර නැවත කියන්න

    karunaakara navatha kiyanna

    Once more, please

    Usage

    When you missed what was said — handy for prices and room numbers

18. කරුණාකර හෙමින් කතා කරන්න

    karunaakara hemin kathaa karanna

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    When the speed is the problem. Works well combined with "once more"

19. මට ටිකක් කතා කරන්න පුළුවන්

    mata tikak kathaa karanna puluvan

    I speak a little

    Usage

    Sets expectations early so the other person switches to simpler wording

20. ඔබට ඉංග්‍රීසි කතා කරන්න පුළුවන්ද?

    obata ingreesi kathaa karanna puluvandha?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Your fallback when communication stalls. Usually works at hotels and airports

    Grammar Note

    Use ඔබ (oba) with strangers; ඔයා (oyaa) is for people you know.

21. මේක

    mēka

    This one

    Usage

    For an object next to you — point at the item in a stall or shop as you show it

22. ඕක

    ōka

    That one (near you)

    Usage

    For an object near the person you are speaking to; Sinhala distinguishes near-me, near-you, and over-there with separate words

23. අරක

    araka

    That one over there

    Usage

    For something away from both of you — the item at the back of the display case

24. මෙතන

    methana

    Here

    Usage

    The place you are standing; also how you say you want to get out here

25. ඔතන

    othana

    There (near you)

    Usage

    The place where the other person is

26. අතන

    athana

    Over there

    Usage

    A place away from both of you — for pointing out a destination

27. මම

    mama

    I / me

    Usage

    Refers to yourself — for making clear who the sentence is about

28. ඔබ

    oba

    You

    Usage

    The polite second person for strangers; ඔයා (oyā) is for people you know. With elders, Sinhala speakers often avoid a pronoun altogether

29. එකට

    ekaṭa

    Together

    Usage

    For going, sitting, or doing something together — useful when sharing a table or a ride

30. දැන්ම

    dænma

    Right now

    Usage

    Signals urgency — that you mean now, not later

31. එක් කෙනෙක්

    ek kenek

    One person

    Usage

    States how many people — for a table or a ticket count

32. දෙන්නෙක්

    dennek

    Two people

    Usage

    Sinhala counts people differently from objects, using the -denā / -kenek forms shown here

33. තුන් දෙනෙක්

    thun denek

    Three people

    Usage

    States a party of three — also for room occupancy or how many will ride in a tuk-tuk

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