Numbers

1. එකක් - දෙකක් - තුනක්

   e-kak - de-kak - tu-nak

   One - Two - Three

   Usage

   Basic counting. Used for quantities when shopping or ordering.

   Grammar Note

   Sinhala numbers take the indefinite suffix "-ක" (-ka). The numeral system derives from Sanskrit. Sinhala also has its own script numerals, though Arabic numerals are widely used.

2. හතරක් - පහක් - හයක්

   ha-ta-rak - pa-hak - ha-yak

   Four - Five - Six

   Usage

   Numbers 4–6, used in markets and restaurants for mid-range quantities.

   Grammar Note

   Sanskrit comparison: "four" Sanskrit "catvāri" → Sinhala "hatara"; "five" Sanskrit "pañca" → Sinhala "paha." Sinhala numbers show systematic sound changes from Sanskrit origins.

3. හතක් - අටක් - නවයක්

   ha-tak - a-tak - na-va-yak

   Seven - Eight - Nine

   Usage

   Numbers 7–9, widely used for times, prices, and quantities.

   Grammar Note

   "හත" (seven) evolved from Sanskrit "sapta." "අට" (eight) from Sanskrit "aṣṭa" — close to Pali "aṭṭha." These show Sinhala's deep roots in Indo-Aryan languages.

4. දහයක්

   da-ha-yak

   Ten

   Usage

   Ten — a key number for prices, ages, and quantities in daily use.

   Grammar Note

   "දහය" (10) evolved from Sanskrit "daśa." Counting continues: 11 = "එකොළහ" (e-ko-la-ha), 12 = "දොළහ" (do-la-ha). The teens follow a different pattern from simple addition.

5. ගාන කීයද?

   ga-na ki-ya-da?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The most common phrase for asking prices while shopping

   Grammar Note

   "ගාන" (ga-na) is the colloquial word for price. The formal term is "මිල" (mi-la). Sri Lanka's currency is the Rupee (LKR). This phrase is essential for market shopping.

6. සියයක්

   si-ya-yak

   One hundred

   Usage

   One hundred — used frequently for Rupee amounts in Sri Lanka

   Grammar Note

   "සිය" (si-ya) = hundred, corresponding to Sanskrit "śata." 200 = "දෙසිය" (de-si-ya), 300 = "තුන්සිය" (tun-si-ya). Patterns are regular and easy to learn.

7. දාහයක්

   da-ha-yak

   One thousand

   Usage

   One thousand — essential for negotiating prices in Sri Lankan Rupees

   Grammar Note

   "දාහ" (da-ha) = 1,000. 2,000 = "දෙදාහ," 5,000 = "පන්දාහ." A Colombo-Kandy bus ticket costs around 200 LKR; hotel rooms start from 2,000–5,000 LKR.

8. භාගයක්

   bha-ga-yak

   Half

   Usage

   Expressing half — used in price negotiations or specifying food portions

   Grammar Note

   "භාගය" derives from Sanskrit "bhāga" (share/part). "අඩ" (a-da) is another word for half. "අඩ ගාන" = half price — useful in negotiations at markets.

9. ටිකක්

   ti-kak

   A few / a little

   Usage

   Expressing a small amount or few. Useful for adjusting quantities.

   Grammar Note

   "ටිකක්" is a very common colloquial expression meaning "a little/a few." Versatile: "ටිකක් රිදෙනවා" = hurts a little; "ටිකක් ඉන්නකො" = wait a moment. Heard constantly in daily Sinhala.

10. ගොඩාක්

    go-daak

    Many / a lot

    Usage

    Expressing many or a lot. "ගොඩාක්" is one of the most heard words in daily Sinhala.

    Grammar Note

    "ගොඩාක්" comes from "ගොඩ" (heap/pile). It expresses both quantity and intensity. "ගොඩාක් ස්තූතියි" = "thank you very much." One of the most versatile words in colloquial Sinhala.

11. කීයක් ද?

    ki-yak da?

    How many?

    Usage

    A short phrase for asking the quantity of something

    Grammar Note

    "කීය" is a question word for "how many/how much." Combined with the indefinite "-ක" and question marker "-ද," it forms a complete inquiry about quantity or price.

12. ගණන් කරන්නද?

    ga-nan ka-ran-na-da?

    Can you count for me?

    Usage

    Asking someone to count items or verify a quantity

    Grammar Note

    "ගණන" derives from Sanskrit "gaṇana" (counting/calculation). The same root gives "ගණිතය" = mathematics. Use this phrase to verify change or item counts while shopping.

13. මගේ වයස අවුරුදු විසිහතයි

    ma-gē va-ya-sa a-vu-ru-du vi-si-ha-ta-yi

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer when asked your age; the reply to "oyaagē vayasa kīyada?"

    Grammar Note

    In colloquial Sinhala a numeral used as a predicate takes "-yi", as "rupiyal pahayi" (it is five rupees). "Visihata" is a compound of "visi" (20) and "hata" (7); 28 is "visiaṭa".

14. මේ අවුරුද්දේ මගේ වයස අවුරුදු විසිඅට වෙනවා

    mē a-vu-rud-dē ma-gē va-ya-sa a-vu-ru-du vi-si-a-ṭa ve-na-vā

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    "Venavā" is the colloquial present of "to become" and also covers what is going to happen, as "satuṭu venavā". "Avuruddē" is the locative of "avurudda" (year).

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