Essential Sinhala Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Sinhala words and phrases you need
to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... v is pronounced as ʋ (midway between w and v) Capital letters indicate retroflex consonants. eg. D = ɖ (retroflex d) (Hint: Retroflex consonants are made with the tongue curled back against the palate.) Doubled vowels indicate a long vowel, ie. oo is a long o, ee is a long e th is an aspirated t (with a puff of air)
	aayuboovan. kohomada? Hello. aayuboovan. Goodbye. oba ingriisi kathaa kauranavaada? Do you speak English? maTa obava teerum ganna bæhæ. maTa terennee næhæ. I don't understand. Tikak. A little. ovu. næhæ. Yes. No. eka kiiyada? How much is it? mila væDiy. hondai. Too expensive. OK. karunaakarala. Please. (bohoma) stuutiy. Thank you (very much).
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions. The Top 20 ...
	obee nama mokakda? What is your name? magee nama ... My name is ... kohomada? How are you? hondin innava. hondai. Fine. ... koheeda tiyenne? Where is ...? væsikilya koheeda tiyennee? pirimi/gærænu Where is the toilet? Men/Women kanagaaTuy. samaavanna. Sorry. Excuse me. præshnayak næhæ. No problem. maTa ... oonee. I want ... maTa ... kæmati næhæ. I don't want ...
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around. The Top 30 ...
	oba kohenda? Where are you from? mama oosTreeliyaaven. I am from Australia. karunaakarala bila. The bill, please. mama ataramang velaa. I'm lost. navatinna! inna! Stop! Wait! metana, atana. Here, there. kulii rata. hooTala. guwan toTupala. sTeshama. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. mama ... kæmatiy. I like ... mama ... kæmati næhæ. I don't like ... eka, deka, tuna, hatara, paha. one, two , three, four, five. haya, hata, aTa, namaya/navaya, dahaya. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: ameerikaaven - from America kænaDaaven - from Canada engalantayen - from England ayarlantayen - from Ireland navasiilantayen - from New Zealand
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies. Useful extras ...
	vaasanaavan! Cheers! honda / naraka good / bad loku / poDi big / small længa / ææta near / far adu / tavat less / more venat / æti another one / enough mama elavalu vitarai kannee. I am vegetarian. mama mas kannee næhæ. I don't eat meat. ... kukul mas ... ... chicken. ... maalu ... ... fish. maTa vadæ'ti geDi apatyai. I am allergic to nuts. ... rata kaju ... ... peanuts. ... maalu ... ... fish. ... muhudu matsyayan ... ... seafood. ... bittara ... ... eggs.