Question Words

1. මොකක්ද?

   mokakdha?

   What?

   Usage

   A one-word request for clarification when you did not catch something

2. කොහෙද?

   kohedha?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a location. Point at a map or photo while you say it

3. කවදාද?

   kavadaadha?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks for a time or date — useful for departure times

4. කවුද?

   kavudha?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who someone is or who is in charge

5. ඇයි?

   ayi?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason. It can sound blunt, so soften it with a smile

6. කොහොමද?

   kohomadha?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks how to do something — ticket machines, for instance

7. කීයක්ද?

   keeyakdha?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a count of items or people

8. මේක කීයද?

   meka keeyadha?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The standard price question. In markets ask them to show the number on a calculator

9. කොයි එකද?

   koyi ekadha?

   Which one?

   Usage

   For choosing between options — use it while pointing

10. මේක මොකක්ද?

    meka mokakdha?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at a dish or product to ask what it is

11. වැසිකිළිය කොහෙද?

    vasikiliya kohedha?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used questions of any trip. Works in shops, stations and hotels

12. දැන් වෙලාව කීයද?

    dan velaava keeyadha?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the current time — useful when your phone is dead

13. තියෙනවද?

    tiyenavadha?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    A short way to ask about stock or availability while pointing at something

14. පුළුවන්ද?

    puluvandha?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    Asks whether something is possible — card payment, changing money and so on

15. මුදල් ගෙවන්න ඕනෙද?

    mudal gevanna onedha?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Checks for an extra fee — luggage storage, Wi-Fi and the like

16. මේක නොමිලේද?

    meka nomiledha?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Confirms something is free of charge — water or refills, for example

17. මේක හරිද?

    meka harida?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Asking for permission — often used together with pointing

18. බැරිද?

    bearida?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    Used to double-check after being told no

19. ඔයාට හොඳින්ද?

    oyaata hondinda?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Used to check on someone's wellbeing — a different role from qst-017, which asks permission

20. ඇත්තද?

    aththada?

    Really?

    Usage

    Used to confirm something surprising

21. විශ්වාසද?

    vishwaasada?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Used to press for certainty about a fact — more formal than qst-020 ("Really?")

22. ඔයා කොහෙන්ද?

    oyaa kohenda?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    A common conversation starter

23. ඔබේ නම කුමක්ද?

    obe nama kumakda?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A common conversation starter

24. ඔයාගේ වයස කීයද?

    oyaage vayasa keeyada?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking age directly is best kept for people you already know — it can feel a bit forward with strangers or elders

25. එකට ෆොටෝ එකක් ගන්නද?

    ekata photo ekak gannada?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Used to ask permission before taking a photo together

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