Feelings

1. සතුටුයි

   sathuṭuyi

   Happy / glad

   Usage

   The basic word for gladness — "sathuṭa" (joy) with the colloquial "-yi" ending

2. උද්‍යෝගිමත්

   udyōgimath

   Excited / enthusiastic

   Usage

   Eagerness for what is coming — the word for the morning of a safari or a train journey

3. හිත සැහැල්ලුයි

   hitha sæhælluyi

   Relieved

   Usage

   "Hitha" (heart) + "sæhællu" (light) — a light heart. Show it when a worry lifts

4. ආඩම්බරයි

   āḍambarayi

   Proud

   Usage

   Pride. Adding it when you praise someone's country or work reads as respect

5. ආදරෙයි

   ādareyi

   I love (you / it)

   Usage

   The colloquial form of "ādaraya" (love). "Mama oyāṭa ādareyi" means "I love you". For things and places, "kæmathiyi" is more natural

6. කැමතියි

   kæmathiyi

   I like it

   Usage

   The standard way to say you liked a dish or a place — and to indicate your pick when shopping

7. මතක් වෙනවා

   mathak venavā

   It comes to mind / I miss it

   Usage

   "Mathaka" (memory) + "venavā" (to become). Works for people and places, and lands warmly at a farewell

8. දුකයි

   dukayi

   Sad

   Usage

   From "duka" — the same word as the Buddhist term for suffering. It is also used to express condolences

9. කලකිරිලා

   kalakirilā

   Disappointed

   Usage

   The cooled feeling after something falls short. Show it quietly so it does not read as blame

10. තනියෙන්

    thaniyen

    Alone / lonely

    Usage

    From "thani" (single). "Thaniyen āvā" means "I came alone" — handy for explaining solo travel

11. තරහයි

    tharahayi

    Angry

    Usage

    From "tharaha" (anger). Shouting in public makes someone lose face here — showing this quietly works far better

12. බයයි

    bayayi

    Afraid

    Usage

    From "baya" (fear). Also useful to warn in advance that you are wary of dogs or heights

13. පුදුමයි

    pudumayi

    Surprised / amazed

    Usage

    From "puduma" (wonder) — surprise with admiration in it, and a welcome thing to show when a view floors you

14. කනස්සල්ලෙන් ඉන්නවා

    kanassallen innavā

    I'm worried

    Usage

    "Kanassalla" (worry) + "innavā" (to be). Saying it when plans are uncertain usually earns some slack

15. ආතතිය

    āthathiya

    Stress / tension

    Usage

    Being wound tight — good after a long transfer or a run of changed plans

16. ලැජ්ජයි

    læjjayi

    Shy / embarrassed

    Usage

    From "læjjā" (shame) — also good for apologising that your Sinhala is halting

17. එපා වෙලා

    epā velā

    Fed up / sick of it

    Usage

    "Epā" (don't want) + "velā" (having become). Applied to food it means you have had your fill — so not right after someone serves you

18. මහන්සියි

    mahansiyi

    Tired

    Usage

    From "mahansiya" (fatigue) — a polite way to signal you want to wrap up the sightseeing

19. නිදිමතයි

    nidimathayi

    Sleepy

    Usage

    From "nidimatha" (drowsiness) — handy on night buses and long train rides

20. සනීපෙන් ඉන්නවා

    sanīpen innavā

    I'm well

    Usage

    "Sanīpa" (health) + "innavā" (to be) — the natural answer when someone asks how you are

21. හිනා යනවා

    hinā yanavā

    That makes me laugh

    Usage

    "Hinā" (laughter) + "yanavā" (goes) — laughter comes out. Show it to react to someone's joke

22. අවුලයි

    avulayi

    It's confusing

    Usage

    From "avula" (a tangle). Show it when directions or an explanation are not landing and you will usually get it again, more slowly

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