We’re embracing our Sri Lankan-ness with a bit more vigour than usual today, and have compiled this list of words which make us authentic, quintessential Sri Lankans. We’re totally not judging you, but you’re just not Sri Lankan enough if you’ve never used ‘bung’ or ‘machan’ at some point in life. Or if you haven’t been called it at some point either.
The awesomesauce pictures we’ve used are also completely local, and sourced off Nazly’s Flickr account. I’m terrible with Photoshop, so muchos gracias bohoma sthuuthiy to Malinthe for doing the bulk of work on this.
Now, back to Sri Lankanisms. This doesn’t cover everything, but here’s 16 of them off the top of our heads. If you’ve got any favourites you’d like to share, hit us up in the comments.
1. Machan
“”How you doing, machan?””
2. Bung
“”I’m alright, bung.””
3. Bambuwa
Also works along the lines of ‘goodness knows what’s happening’, when you’re really annoyed.
4. Aney
Oh, this could also be used to express annoyance. Did we mention that there are a LOT of those words?
5. Kaella
Not to be confused with “”kella””, which is what it ideally should be.
6. Redda
Like, what the heck, yea?
7. Mala Wadayak
The expression says it all.
8. No?
“”It’s very hot today, no?””
9. Mokak
Say what?
10. Achchige Redda
We did mention that we become very creative when it comes to expressing annoyance, right? Even when the phrases used makes zero sense?
11. Hena Gahapan
Ouch. Good day to you too, kind sir.
12. Mee Haraka
This is pretty safe to use around parents, it’s not really THAT bad. I mean it’s bad, but just not that bad.
13. Mala Keliyay
Oh shoot.
14. Patta
“”That was a patta knock by Sanga, man!””
15. Palayang Bung Yanna
Just… just palayang, men.
16. Shape
This post is shape eke okay, no?
