Electronics

1. ජංගම දුරකථනය

   jangama durakathanaya

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   "Jangama" (mobile) + "durakathanaya" (telephone). In speech the English "mobile" or "phone" works too

2. පරිගණකය

   parigaṇakaya

   Computer

   Usage

   The native Sinhala word, built on "gaṇan" (to count) — what you see on signs and at government offices

3. ලැප්ටොප්

   læpṭop

   Laptop

   Usage

   English "laptop" in Sinhala script — also useful when looking for a power socket at a cafe

4. චාජරය

   chājaraya

   Charger

   Usage

   Show it when you left yours behind or need another — phone shops in town sell them cheaply

5. චාජර් වයරය

   chājar vayaraya

   Charging cable

   Usage

   "Vayaraya" means wire. Show the actual connector (USB-C / Lightning) to get the right one

6. පවර් බෑන්ක්

   pavar bǣnk

   Power bank

   Usage

   The English term as it stands. Long-distance buses and trains rarely have sockets, so it earns its place

7. බැටරිය

   bæṭariya

   Battery

   Usage

   Covers dry cells and built-in batteries alike. Show the old one to get the right size

8. ප්ලග් එක

   plag eka

   Plug

   Usage

   Sri Lanka mostly uses the round-pin type D (with some type G) at 230V — bring an adapter

9. සොකට් එක

   sokaṭ eka

   Power socket

   Usage

   Point at it to ask whether you may use one. Most sockets have their own switch — flip it or nothing happens

10. විදුලිය

    viduliya

    Electricity

    Usage

    Electricity itself — it comes up when a guesthouse explains extra charges

11. විදුලිය කැපීම

    viduliya kæpīma

    Power cut

    Usage

    "Kæpīma" means cutting. Scheduled cuts happen when the reservoirs run low in the dry season — show this to report one or ask when power returns

12. වයිෆයි

    vayifayi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    The English word written in Sinhala script — signs usually keep the Latin "WiFi"

13. වයිෆයි මුරපදය

    vayifayi murapadaya

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    "Murapadaya" means password. Show it at a cafe or guesthouse and they will write it down for you

14. සිම් කාඩ් එක

    sim kāḍ eka

    SIM card

    Usage

    Tourist plans are sold at counters in the arrivals hall. You need your passport to buy one

15. අන්තර්ජාලය

    antharjālaya

    Internet

    Usage

    A native coinage: "anthar" (inter) + "jālaya" (net). Coverage across the island is generally good

16. ඉයර්ෆෝන්

    iyarfōn

    Earphones

    Usage

    A loanword. Private buses play music loud, so these become essential travelling kit

17. කැමරාව

    kæmarāva

    Camera

    Usage

    Posing with your back to a Buddha image can land you in legal trouble here. Show this and ask before you shoot

18. ටෝච් එක

    ṭōch eka

    Torch / flashlight

    Usage

    For power cuts and dark cave temples such as Dambulla — and essential on the night climb up Adam's Peak

19. විදුලි පංකාව

    viduli paṅkāva

    Electric fan

    Usage

    "Viduli" (electric) + "paṅkāva" (fan). Budget rooms often have only a ceiling fan

20. ඒසී

    ēsī

    Air conditioner

    Usage

    English "AC" in Sinhala script. Use it when checking whether a room is AC or fan-only

21. රිමෝට් එක

    rimōṭ eka

    Remote control

    Usage

    A loanword — show it at reception when the aircon remote is missing

22. ශීතකරණය

    shīthakaraṇaya

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    A native word built on "shītha" (cold); in speech people also say "fridge". Show it when you need to keep medicine cold

23. රූපවාහිනිය

    rūpavāhiniya

    Television

    Usage

    A native coinage: "rūpa" (image) + "vāhiniya" (carrier). It is also the name of the state broadcaster

24. කේතලය

    kēthalaya

    Kettle

    Usage

    From English "kettle". This being a tea country, most rooms have one

25. රෙදි සෝදන යන්ත්‍රය

    redi sōdana yanthraya

    Washing machine

    Usage

    "Redi" (cloth) + "sōdana" (washing) + "yanthraya" (machine). Where there is none, use a laundry

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