Table of contents
1. Why learn Sinhala? 2. The Sinhala alphabet 3. Basic grammar 4. Greetings and polite expressions 5. Essential vocabulary — 50 words 6. Numbers 7. Useful everyday phrases 8. Sri Lankan culture and traditions 9. The Sinhalese diaspora 10. Learn Sinhala with Targumi
Why learn Sinhala?
Sinhala (සිංහල, sinhala) is the native language of approximately 17 million people, primarily in Sri Lanka where it is one of the two official languages alongside Tamil. Learning Sinhala opens a door to one of the oldest civilisations in South Asia.A language at the crossroads of cultures
Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is an island nation located south of India. Its strategic position on Indian Ocean trade routes made it a unique cultural crossroads. Sinhala reflects this richness: it has borrowed from Pali (the language of Theravada Buddhism), Sanskrit, Tamil, Portuguese, Dutch and English — witnesses to successive waves of trade and colonisation.
Theravada Buddhism
Sri Lanka is one of the strongholds of Theravada Buddhism, the oldest form of Buddhism. About 70% of the population is Buddhist, and the Sinhala language is intimately linked to the sacred texts in Pali. Learning Sinhala allows you to understand the suttas, temple rituals and the philosophy of life that permeates Sri Lankan daily life.
Sinhalese diglossia
Sinhala exhibits a marked phenomenon of diglossia: there is a literary form (elu) used in writing, formal media and literature, and a spoken form (katha basa) used in everyday conversation. Beginners generally focus on the spoken form, which is more accessible and immediately useful.
Professional opportunities
Sri Lanka is experiencing economic growth in tourism, IT and textiles. Speaking Sinhala is a considerable asset for business and project development in the region.
The Sinhala alphabet
The Sinhala alphabet (සිංහල අක්ෂර මාලාව) is an abugida derived from the ancient Brahmi script. It is one of the most rounded alphabets in the world — a characteristic due to the historical use of palm leaves as writing material (straight lines would have torn the leaves).
Vowels (ස්වර)
Sinhala has 18 vowels (short and long):
| Vowel |
| ------- |
| අ (a) |
| ආ (ā) |
| ඉ (i) |
| ඊ (ī) |
| උ (u) |
| ඌ (ū) |
| එ (e) |
| ඒ (ē) |
| ඔ (o) |
| ඕ (ō) |
| Case |
| Example (book = පොත, potha) |
| ------ |
| ------ |
| Nominative |
| පොත (potha) |
| Accusative |
| පොතව (pothawa) |
| Dative |
| පොතට (pothaṭa) |
| Genitive |
| පොතේ (pothē) |
| English |
| Transliteration |
| --------- |
| ----------------- |
| Hello |
| āyubōwan |
| How are you? |
| kohomada? |
| Fine, thank you |
| hoňdayi, stūtiyi |
| Thank you |
| stūtiyi |
| Please |
| karuṇākara |
| Excuse me |
| samāwenna |
| Goodbye |
| gihin ennam |
| Yes |
| ow |
| No |
| nähä |
| English |
| Transliteration |
| --------- |
| ----------------- |
| Water |
| watura |
| Food |
| kǣma |
| House |
| gedara |
| Family |
| pawula |
| Mother |
| ammā |
| Father |
| tāttā |
| Child |
| lamayā |
| Friend |
| yāḷuwā |
| Love |
| ādaraya |
| Money |
| salli |
| Work |
| waḍa |
| School |
| pāsala |
| Market |
| poḷa |
| Road |
| pāra |
| Car |
| kāraya |
| Book |
| potha |
| Day |
| dawasa |
| Night |
| räya |
| Sun |
| hiru |
| Moon |
| saňda |
| Rain |
| wässa |
| Big |
| loku |
| Small |
| poḍi |
| Good |
| hoňda |
| Bad |
| naraka |
| Beautiful |
| lassana |
| Hot |
| uṇusum |
| Cold |
| sītala |
| Eat |
| kanawā |
| Drink |
| bonawā |
| Sleep |
| nidāgannawā |
| Go |
| yanawā |
| Come |
| enawā |
| Speak |
| katā karanawā |
| See |
| balanawā |
| Hear |
| ahanawā |
| Know |
| dannawā |
| Want |
| ōnē |
| Can |
| puḷuwan |
| Love (verb) |
| ādareyi |
| Rice |
| bath |
| Tea |
| tē |
| Fish |
| māḷu |
| Elephant |
| aliyā |
| Temple |
| pansala |
| Sea |
| muhuda |
| Island |
| divayina |
| Country |
| raṭa |
| Man |
| minihā |
| Woman |
| gähänu |
| Number |
| Transliteration |
| -------- |
| ----------------- |
| 1 |
| eka |
| 2 |
| deka |
| 3 |
| tuna |
| 4 |
| hatara |
| 5 |
| paha |
| 6 |
| haya |
| 7 |
| hata |
| 8 |
| aṭa |
| 9 |
| nawaya |
| 10 |
| dahaya |
| 20 |
| wissa |
| 50 |
| panaha |
| 100 |
| siyaya |
| 1000 |
| dahasa |
| English |
| Transliteration |
| --------- |
| ----------------- |
| What is your name? |
| obē nama mokadda? |
| My name is... |
| magē nama... |
| I don't understand |
| maṭa tērennē nähä |
| Speak slowly |
| semin katā karanna |
| How much does it cost? |
| mēkē gāna kīyada? |
| Where are the toilets? |
| wäsikiḷiya koheda? |
| I'm learning Sinhala |
| mama sinhala igena gannawā |
| It's delicious! |
| rasayi! |
| Help me please |
| karuṇākara maṭa udaw karanna |
| I come from England |
| mama engalantayen āwā |
Sri Lankan culture and traditions
Buddhism in daily life
Theravada Buddhism shapes life in Sri Lanka. Every poya (full moon) day is a public holiday. Sri Lankans visit the temple (pansala), offer lotus flowers and listen to the monk's teachings. The concept of pin (merit) is central: every good deed accumulates karmic merit.
Major festivals
Sri Lankan cuisine
Rice and curry is the national dish: rice accompanied by multiple curries (vegetables, fish, meat). Pol sambol (spiced grated coconut), dhal (lentils) and hoppers (bowl-shaped pancakes) are essential. Ceylon tea is world-famous.Ayurveda
Sri Lanka is a centre of Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient healing tradition. Many Ayurvedic terms in Sinhala are essential for understanding this practice.
The Sinhalese diaspora
In the United Kingdom
The UK is home to the largest Sri Lankan diaspora in Europe, with significant communities in London (particularly in Tooting and Harrow). Cultural associations and Buddhist temples keep the language and traditions alive.
In Canada
Canada, particularly Toronto, is home to a Sri Lankan community of over 200,000 people. Scarborough is sometimes called "Little Jaffna," though the Sinhalese community there is also significant.In Australia
Melbourne and Sydney have vibrant Sinhalese communities. Australia has become a major destination for Sri Lankan students and professionals.In France
The Sri Lankan community in France, mainly in Paris (La Chapelle area, near Gare du Nord), is predominantly Tamil but also includes Sinhalese. Sri Lankan grocery shops and restaurants offer a taste of the culture.
Learn Sinhala with Targumi
On Targumi, we offer a complete method to learn Sinhala:
Sinhala is a fascinating language that connects you to 2,500 years of Buddhist history and civilisation. Every word you learn brings you closer to this magnificent island and its warm-hearted people.
ආයුබෝවන්! (Welcome!)---
Article written by Priya Jayawardena, certified Sinhala teacher and Targumi collaborator. At Targumi, we make learning Sinhala accessible to everyone.