10 Fun and Essential Commands in Sinhala, You Need to Master for Your Trip to Sri Lanka!

Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? One of the best ways to enhance your travel experience is by learning a little bit of the local language, Sinhala! Mastering some essential commands in Sinhala can not only make your interactions smoother but also endear you to the locals. In this post, we’re going to explore ten simple yet essential commands that will help you navigate through the beautiful islands and engage with the friendly people you’ll meet along the way.

Let’s dive into the world of Sinhala commands!

Essential Sinhala Commands for Travelers

1. කරන්න (Karanna) - Please Do!

When you need help, this is the command to use! “කරන්න” (karanna) means “Please do (it).” It’s a polite way to ask someone for assistance or a favor.

Examples:

• mata udaw karanna (මට උදවු කරන්න) - Please help me.

• mata kathā karanna (මට කතා කරන්න) - Please talk to me.

• meake thallu karanna (මේක තල්ලු කරන්න) - Please push this.

• me deka akata karanna (මේ දෙක එකට කරන්න) - Please combine this.

  
  

For extra politeness, you can say “karuna karala” (කරුණාකරලා) before the command. For example, “karuna karala me deka akata karanna” (කරුණාකරලා මේ දෙක එකට කරන්න).

2. එපා කරන්න (Epā Karanna) - Don’t Do!

Sometimes, you may want to prevent something from happening. Using “එපා කරන්න” translates to “Don’t do (it).” This phrase is useful in situations where you want to keep things safe.

Examples:

• epā mata udaw karanna (එපා මට උදවු කරන්න) - Do not help me.

• epā mata kathā karanna (එපා මට කතා කරන්න) - Do not talk to me.

• epā ēka karanna (එපා ඒක කරන්න) - Do not do it.

• epā eliyata yanna (එපා එළියට යන්න) - Do not go out.

  
  

3. එකතු කරන්න (Ekathu Karanna) - Add!

Enjoying a meal and want to make it better? You might want to say “එකතු කරන්න,” which means “Add (it)!” Whether you want more rice or side dishes, this command is helpful.

Examples:

• eyata meya ekathu karanna (එයට මෙය එකතු කරන්න) - Add that to this.

• thawa tikak ekathu karanna (තව ටිකක් එකතු කරන්න) - Add a little more.

• thawa bath tikak ekathu karanna (තව බත් ටිකක් එකතු කරන්න) - Add a little more rice.

  
  

4. කතා කරන්න (Kathā Karanna) - Speak Please!

When you need assistance or want clear communication, you can use “කතා කරන්න.” It means “Please speak (about it).” This is a respectful way to prompt a more detailed conversation.

Examples:

• mata kathā karanna (මට කතා කරන්න) - Speak to me.

• eyata kathā karanna (එයාට කතා කරන්න) - Speak to him.

  
  

5. ගන්න (Ganna) - Take!

Straight and to the point, “ගන්න” simply means “Take!” Use this command when you want to encourage someone to grab something.

Examples:

• ganna ekak (ගන්න එකක්) - Take one.

• ara potha ganna (අර පොත ගන්න) - Take that book.

• bag eka ganna (බෑග් එක ගන්න) - Take the bag.

  
  

6. නවතින්න (Navathinna) - Stop!

The command “නවතින්න” means “Stop!” Use this when you want someone to cease an action immediately. It’s clear and direct.

Examples:

• methana navathinna (මෙතන නවතින්න) - Stop here.

• car eka methana navathanna (කාර් එක මෙතන නවතන්න) - Stop the car here.

• ōka nawathanna (ඕක නවතන්න) - Stop that.

  
  

7. මට කියන්න (Mata Kianna) - Tell Me!

When you're seeking information or need clarity, saying “මට කියන්න” means “Tell me!” It invites someone to share more details.

Examples:

• mata kiyanna eheta yana vidiya (මට කියන්න එහෙට යන්න විදිය) - Tell me how to get there.

• mata kiyanna oyage nama (මට කියන්න ඔයාගේ නම) - Tell me your name.

• mata kiyanna thava visthara (මට කියන්න තව විස්තර) - Tell me more info.

  
  

8. දිහා බලන්න (Diha Balanna) - Look at (something/someone)

If you're exploring and need to charm your hosts, you might hear “දිහා බලන්න” - meaning “Look at!” This phrase can spark interesting conversations.

Examples:

• අර බලන්න අර මල් දිහා - Look at those flowers.

• balanna ara diya aella diha (බලන්න අර දිය ඇල්ල දිහා) - Look at that waterfall.

• balanna ara samanealaya diha (බලන්න අර සමනැලය දිහා) - Look at that butterfly.

  
  

9. සොයා ගන්න (Soyā Ganna) - Find!

When searching for something specific, just ask someone to “සොයා ගන්න” (soya ganna) which means “Find (it)!” It can be anything from a place to a particular item.

Examples:

• mata eka hoya ganna bea (මට ඒක හොයා ගන්න බෑ) - I cannot find it.

• oyata puluwanda eaka hoya ganna? (ඔයාට පුළුවන්ද ඒක හොයා ගන්න?) - Can you find it?

• hari para hoya ganna (හරි පාර හොයා ගන්න) - Find the right path.

  
  

10. ඉන්න (Inna) - Stay!

If you want someone to remain in a place or linger during a conversation, “ඉන්න” (inna) means “Stay!” It's a reflection of hospitality in local culture.

Examples:

• methana inna mama enakan (මෙතන ඉන්න මම එනකන්) - Stay here until I come.

• eyata inna kiyanna (එයාට ඉන්න කියන්න) - Ask him to stay.

  
  

Incorporating these commands into your vocabulary will not only improve your Sinhala, but it will also help you better understand and appreciate the local culture.

The Joy of Learning Sinhala

Learning these phrases makes the journey more enjoyable. When you use the local language, you connect better with locals. They appreciate the effort, and it often leads to meaningful exchanges. You will learn about their culture, traditions, and everyday life.

Conclusion

Mastering these essential commands in Sinhala can significantly enhance your travel experience in Sri Lanka. Not only will they help you communicate effectively, but they also provide a wonderful opportunity to engage with the locals in a more meaningful way. Remember, it’s not just about speaking the language; it’s about building connections and creating unforgettable memories during your trip.

So, before you pack your bags and head to this beautiful island, take some time to practice these Sinhala commands. You'll find that a little effort goes a long way in making your journey more enjoyable and immersive.

With these handy phrases at your disposal, you’re well on your way to having a fun-filled adventure in Sri Lanka! Safe travels!