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Sri Lanka best local phrases to learn as tourist - Sinhala and Tamil basics?

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M
Marta•720 rep

Two-week trip. Want to make an effort with locals. Essential phrases?

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Essential Sinhala phrases (used in most tourist areas): (1) 'Ayubowan' - hello/farewell/blessing (with hands together, praying gesture). (2) 'Istuti' - thank you. (3) 'Kohomada' - how are you. (4) 'Mata therenne nae' - I don't understand. (5) 'Kiyada' - how much? (6) 'Mekada?' - what is this? (7) 'Vathura' - water. (8) 'Rasay' - delicious. (9) 'Ehei/Nae' - yes/no. (10) 'Sudai' - white/foreigner. Essential Tamil (Jaffna, Batticaloa, tea estates): (1) 'Vanakkam' - hello. (2) 'Nandri' - thank you. (3) 'Eppadi irukkirir?' - how are you. (4) 'Enna vela?' - what price. Learn 'Ayubowan' + 'Istuti' at minimum - Sri Lankans light up when foreigners say these correctly.

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R
Ranjini•1240 rep

Ayubowan + Istuti + numbers. Thank you!

26
M
Marta•720 rep

Also: numbers 1-10 in Sinhala are useful when bargaining at markets: eka, deka, thuna, hathara, paha, haya, hatha, ata, navaya, dahaya. Say 'ekasiya' for 100, 'ekadahaha' for 1000. If you drop the price in Sinhala at Pettah market, the vendor almost always laughs, drops the price further, and gives you a 'friend' rate. Sri Lankan warmth rewards effort.

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A
Anoma•1240 rep

Pronunciation: Sinhala is a 'flowing' language, not clipped. 'Ayubowan' = 'ah-yu-bow-warn'. 'Istuti' = 'iss-tu-ti'. 'Kohomada' = 'ko-ho-ma-da'. Emphasize the second syllable slightly. Say 'ayubowan' with palms pressed together at chest = universally received warmly. Sinhala has honorifics - adding 'meniki' after a woman's name ('Amma-meniki' = respected mother) or 'mahaththaya' after a man's = polite. Try it in villages, kids will chase you smiling.

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A
Ammi•1240 rep

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