Greetings

1. ආයුබෝවන්

   A-yu-bo-wan

   Hello / Welcome / May you live long

   Usage

   The iconic Sri Lankan greeting used with hands pressed together in a respectful bow

   Grammar Note

   Literally "May you have long life". The most important Sinhala greeting. Reply with the same phrase.

2. ස්තූතියි

   Sthū-thi-yi

   Thank you

   Usage

   Common expression of gratitude used in everyday situations

   Grammar Note

   Sanskrit-derived word for thanks. For more emphasis: "bohō stūtiyi" (many thanks).

3. සමාවෙන්න

   Sa-mā-wen-na

   Sorry / Excuse me

   Usage

   Used both as an apology and to get someone's attention politely

   Grammar Note

   Literally "please forgive me". Sinhala follows SOV word order. Significant diglossia exists between spoken and formal registers.

4. ඔව්

   Ov

   Yes

   Usage

   Used as an affirmative reply

   Grammar Note

   Basic affirmative. Can add honorifics for politeness. Colloquially drawn out as "övva".

5. නෑ

   Nǣ

   No

   Usage

   Used as a negative reply

   Grammar Note

   Colloquial "no". Formal: "næhæ". Sinhala has significant diglossia between spoken and written/formal registers.

6. ඔබේ නම කුමක්ද?

   O-bē na-ma ku-mak-da?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   Polite way to ask someone's name upon first meeting

   Grammar Note

   "Oba" is the polite "you". The suffix "da" turns a statement into a question. SOV word order is standard.

7. මගේ නම … යි

   Ma-gē na-ma … yi

   My name is …

   Usage

   Basic self-introduction. Insert your name in place of …

   Grammar Note

   "Yi" is an affirmative copula suffix. "Ma" (I) becomes "mage" in the genitive. Sinhala is an inflected language with case endings.

8. සුබ උදෑසනක්

   Su-ba u-dǣ-sa-nak

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting, often used at hotels or during breakfast

   Grammar Note

   "Suba" means auspicious/good, from Sanskrit. Same pattern: "suba rāthriyak" (good night).

9. සුබ රාත්‍රියක්

   Su-ba rāth-ri-yak

   Good night

   Usage

   Used before sleeping or when parting in the evening

   Grammar Note

   "Rāthriya" (night) + indefinite suffix "k". Indefinite nouns in Sinhala take the suffix "ka/k".

10. ගිහිල්ල එන්නම්

    Gi-hil-la en-nam

    I'm heading out (I'll be back)

    Usage

    Farewell said by the person leaving, implying they will return

    Grammar Note

    Literally "gone and coming back" — equivalent to Japanese "ittekimasu". Verb gerunds form compound verbs in Sinhala.

11. කෙසේද?

    Ke-sē-da?

    How are you?

    Usage

    Reply with "hondin innava" (I'm fine)

    Grammar Note

    Replies: "hondin innava" (I'm fine), "ē gāṇē" (so-so). Adding "da" to any question word creates a question.

12. ඔබට ඉංග්‍රීසි කතා කළ හැකිද?

    O-ba-ta ing-grī-si ka-thā ka-la hæ-ki-da?

    Can you speak English?

    Usage

    English is widely spoken in Sri Lanka. Useful when you need assistance

    Grammar Note

    "Hæki" is the ability modal meaning "can". Questions end with "da". English is a co-official language in Sri Lanka.

13. මම ආයෙත් එන්නම්

    Ma-ma aa-yeth en-nam

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop

14. ගොඩක් සතුටුයි

    Go-dak sa-thu-tu-yi

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting ways

15. ස්තූතියි, ආයුබෝවන්

    Sthū-thi-yi, A-yu-bo-wan

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye

16. මම ටිකක් ගිහින් එන්නම්

    Mama tikak gihin ennam

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving the guesthouse (literally "I'll go for a bit and come back") — a natural, everyday Sinhala way to announce leaving

17. මම ආවා

    Mama aawa

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said when returning to the guesthouse

18. මම ටිකක් කලින් යනවා

    Mama tikak kalin yanawa

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    Said when leaving before others, e.g. at a meal

19. ඒකට කමක් නෑ

    Eekata kamak nae

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Response to being thanked (literally "no worries about that")

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