Posted by
Aisha
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.
"How you doing, machan?"
"I'm alright, bung."
Also works along the lines of 'goodness knows what's happening', when you're really annoyed.
Oh, this could also be used to express annoyance. Did we mention that there are a LOT of those words?
Not to be confused with "kella", which is what it ideally should be.
Like, what the heck, yea?
The expression says it all.
"It's very hot today, no?"
Say what?
We did mention that we become very creative when it comes to expressing annoyance, right? Even when the phrases used makes zero sense?
Ouch. Good day to you too, kind sir.
This is pretty safe to use around parents, it's not really THAT bad. I mean it's bad, but just not that bad.
Oh shoot.
"That was a patta knock by Sanga, man!"
Just... just palayang, men.
This post is shape eke okay, no?
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GrammarNazi
Number 2 is wrong. It's not the English equivalent, but the Sinhalese equivalent to 'dude'.
Aney Bung
It says English Equivalent "TO''
Grammarnazi2
Still wrong
GrammarGrammarNazi
*Sinhala
GrammarNazi
Nope, it can be Sinhalese. Helpful tip: Check the dictionary before correcting people.
Sinhalese
ˌsɪnhəˈliːz,ˌsɪnə-/
noun
1.
a member of a people originally from northern India, now forming the majority of the population of Sri Lanka.
2.
an Indic language spoken by the Sinhalese, descended from Sanskrit. It has about 13 million speakers.
adjective
1.
relating to the Sinhalese or their language.
GrammarNazi
Exactly why it's wrong
Ela Kolla
Where's "Ela"
Another Ella Kollek
Username checks out
ALCH3MIST
AHAHAHAHAHA
Anon
Machan translates to brother-in-law and hena gahapan is invoking lightning to strike someone…thunder is just a sound…
Aney Bung
Lightning is Akunu. Thunder is Hena. Enough Said.
matt
Machan is not unique to sri lanka. It's a tamil word, used in India as well.
siri elapatha
You are right…macho…
Isuru
You're missing some prominent ones. Like 'Ela' and 'sirawata'.
dishoom
Achchige Redda - Before sanitary napkins (pads) for ladies were introduced to Sri Lankans, they used to use a cloth instead during that time of the month. So achchige redda literally means "your grand mothers sanitary napkin".
kthnxbye.
siri elapatha
MAy be you got point….
HNP1988
"Kehelmala" and "Magula" are notable absentees!
nobody
Where is "jing bang" :P
Michael
What about 'Adoh' & 'Sirawata?!'
Cats and bitches
Missed ela kiri
concerned
you guys have forgotten "mala anayak" :P
Rohan
Pakaya - Gediya - Fruit - insult people who insult you.
Dee
Ammatasiri!
Afrah
'Aney' is also used to express Compassion or Appreciation, ie. "Aney, so sweet." Also notable absentee would be 'men' ie. "Aney, so sweet men." :D
Dilka
I miss "Aiyo" in the list…
Rifeth
What about 'ammata siri'!
David
would've been way better with the literal translations as well, instead of this vanilla version.
Dion Deen
Where's "Ado"? Or "Sirawata"? Or both together "Ado Sitawata?"
Crasher
Sirawata?
mala anayak!
ammata siri!
Kumuthan
Elakiri!!
Rix.90
Where did Pissu Hadenawa go ???
Foodie123
Where's ammatasiri?
SachiDing
ADOH!!!
AdMan
Aside from other absentees, Magula is also missing. Mona Magulalda mey? Mala Magulak ne.
S
Do adoh, eeyah and parippu qualify?
l de Silva
Funny post overall. Just fix the little corrections as pointed out by some. Accuracy counts.
GrammarNazi
^ Aye!
Judy
This was just PATTA!
sarvarakshani
SriLankanism in language is only Sinhala Slangs ah!!!!
nelum vila
While Sinhala may be Sri Lankan, Sri Lankan is more than Sinhala … #checkyoursinhalaprivilege.
Ajith
Well said
Aisha
The list doesn't comprise of purely Sinhala words.
It's nothing to do with Sinhala privilege.
the machan
Agreed mang!
Rajitha Kurukulasuriya
What about "Mala Panninawa"?
babyface
Where's BUWA ?
babyface
Amma gahai
MA
Sinhalese dude, are you kidding me? This is not at all how Tamil and Muslim people talk in the country. Is one not Sri Lankan enough unless they mix in a healthy dose of Sinhala into their conversations? Way to be chauvinistic.
Dee
Quite funny that I've come across so many Muslims, Tamils and even Burghers who use a lot of these words! Just try to look at the bright side of things without being a buth-kana-mee-haraka!
MA
Quite funny that you think the 'I am not a Sinhala chauvinist, my friend is Tamil and I know many Muslims' line of argument qualifies your rationale for Sinhala slang being branded as universal. Checked your majoritarian privilege lately?
This is not srilankan
Yea i agree. This list is written by someone who's lived only in colombo. Sinhalese in rural areas dont speak like this at all. And tamils and muslim slang is completely ignored. THIS IS NOT A SRILANKAN WORD COLECTION. Its just some slang words spoken by kolamba hathe kalu suddo.
DirtyMinds
What about 'Puka Deepang'?
MyName
Not to be a pooper, but aren't almost all of these terms essentially Sinhalese? Understandable since it happens to be the most widely spoken language in the island, but! The term Sri Lankanisms seems a bit misleading.
Bhagya YAMU STAFF
True, but you'll find most Sri Lankans use these regardless of language and some of these aren't even proper Sinhala words.
matt
Tamils and muslims in colombo, may be . But you won't see ppl living in the north and east using them.
Bubbles
Aney hukey :P
Buwa
Aachchige Reddha
curious
so… where is the equivalent slang term for a boy?
I wish you guys didn't put 'kaella' it's nothing to be promoted.
Sakiezter
May I suggest you to add Ela, Bokka, Yako, Ammatasiri, Aathal, Ekenma, Siraawata, Kicha, Wedi wage, Kindiyata, Noondi, Ado.
Bhagya YAMU STAFF
Part 2 :D
G3
These are all Sinhalese words though- does this not exclude all those people who don't speak Sinhalese but would like to identify themselves as Sri Lankan?
IBBA
Where's that word "APPACHCHY "
Chevindu
There it is! :)
Llewellyn
Patta means to emphasize something eg. Eka patta boruwak. But to say Sangha played a patta game is wrong. The corrdct word is "PUKKA" which is used in India to describe
a British gentleman . eg. " PUKKA SAHIB". So it should read "Sanga played a Pukka gsme."
KG
That is "PATTAPAL", not "PATTA". "PATTA" is used to mean "super", so it's cool to say "Sanga played a PATTA knock"
Cj
You missed the word 'Kora '
Which means lame but in a better meaningful way break a leg '
But actually means blady good.
Example usage 'Kora Keala' as in hot chick
Rasike
Ella Ella,
The second one should be Bang rather bung.
Baduwa,Maru,Buwa ,Set eka, kade,Nikan,
Are some other words cross my mind
xxx
What about "Puke deepang"?
Sumudu
"Huta" ko aney?
samanthamahalpath
Where is " Baduma Thamayi" " Thaappetama keliya"
MageySalli
"ayyo salli"
AP
How about anu nawayen, sune sun, toiya
Karen
Great compilation Yamu, shape!! We appreciate the patta effort Aisha, more power to you and the team.
What's sad is that there are always people to criticise another persons effort once done, but no inclination to do it themselves, tsk tsk.
gasapi
This is a much better reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:RitigalaJayasena/Sinhala_Slang
nikan pandithayek
Baka pandithayo set ekak!!
J YAMU STAFF
'Illang kanawa'
'koheda yanne malle pol'
'ayyo salli'
'maru'
'ammatuhudu'
'ammatasiri'
;D
Amreen
What does 'musala gaani' mean?
Faith Simpson Ratnayake
They forgot 'lawn moowa' which I use to cut the grass
anonymous
aiyo?????
lasantharupe
these details are very important to every one. can apply practically. keep going…… for more details click on this
weera
interesting. the word "bung" was actually also used by Indonesians with the same meaning. Indonesian 1st President Sukarno used to be affectionaly called "bung (su)Karno" (bro karno)