How to speak like a local in Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka is a charming destination to visit with rich culture, natural beauty and friendly people. Of course, as part of any travel adventure, speaking the local language or understanding bits of it will come in handy; this is true in Sri Lanka when it comes to communicating with people especially outside major cities such as Colombo and Kandy. The good thing is, most people are helpful, though it's always better to have some understanding of the local language.

Keep in Mind the Languages

Sri Lanka has two main languages; the majority population are the Sinhalese who speak Sinhala followed by the Tamils who speak Tamil. English is considered a "link language" and you are apt to find people in urban cities, main towns and tourist hubs that can speak English fluently or at a moderate level. Many locals also speak what is colloquially known as "Singlish" which is a hybrid of English and Sinhala. You will not always find signboards in English and so it is always good to learn some Sinhala phrases which you can use to communicate when stuck, want advice or just want to interact.

Know Your "Ayubowan"

One of the easiest phrases to learn is the formal greeting "ayubowan" which is usually accompanied by placing your hands together (similar to the prayer emoji) near the chest. Be you staying at the best Kandy hotels including properties such as Earl's Regent or beach resorts down south, chances are you will get a warm and friendly "ayubowan" when you arrive; you can return this greeting by saying the same thing. It's not only a warm way to greet someone with a smile but in this age of social distancing and avoiding physical contact, it makes a great alternative to a handshake or hug too!

Learn Greetings

If you want to say "good morning", the phrase to use is "suba udesanak", though as stated earlier, many Sri Lankans use or are familiar with the English terms too. Exchanging names is another important part of getting to know people and in Sinhala, you can ask "oyage nama mokadda?"; here "mokadda" means "what is", "oyage" is "your" and "nama" is name. If you are asked this question you can reply "mage nama" followed by your name; "mage" means "my" and as mentioned, "nama" is "name".

When saying goodbye, one can say "gihin ennam"; this means that one is leaving / going somewhere else but will be back. Alternatively, you can say "suba dawasak" which is a pleasant way to wish someone a nice day.

Remember Common Phrases

Common phrases used every day are also worth learning since chances are they will come in handy even to answer questions. "Mama" means "I" and "mata" means "me", while "ow" (pronounced like "owu") means "yes" and "na" or "naha" is "no". A good phrase to learn is "mata therenne na" which translates to "I don't understand"! When in need of assistance, you can also say "mata udaw karanna" which is like saying "help me".

If you want to show your appreciation or thank someone, you can say "isthuthi" which is "thanks", though if you want to say "thank you very much", use the phrase "bohoma isthuthi". If someone asks you about something and you want to say it's "good" you can use the word "hodai"; conversely if you want to say something is "bad" you can say "narakai".

When travelling by public transport or even by tuk-tuk, if you want to get down somewhere specific / or at a halt you can use the phrase "methana nawatanna" which is stop (nawatanna) here (methane). When shopping and in need to ask the price, just say "keeyada?" which is "how much?"; if the price is too steep don't be afraid to say "gana wedi" which means "too pricey or expensive"!