Counting to ten in Sinhala
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers. Play the ten Sinhala words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Sinhala phrases in this lesson
- එකE-ka
- One
- දෙකDE-ka
- Two
- තුනTU-na
- Three
- හතරHA-ta-ra
- Four
- පහPA-ha
- Five
- හයHA-ya
- Six
- හතHA-ta
- Seven
- අටA-ta
- Eight
- නවයNA-va-ya
- Nine
- දහයDA-ha-ya
- Ten
The base number, also embedded in words like "ekak" (one of something). Sri Lankan prices are quoted in rupees and often run into the hundreds, so learning even the first few numbers pays off quickly.
Short and clear. Two tuk-tuks, two plates, two tickets: this number comes up constantly. The "d" is soft, closer to a light "d" than a hard English one.
The "t" here is dental, made with the tongue touching the upper teeth, softer than the English "t." Practice by saying it quickly and lightly.
A rhythmic word that is easy to remember. The "h" is breathy and the two syllables flow together. A tuk-tuk ride across town often costs four hundred rupees or so.
Very short and crisp. Five hundred rupees (pahasa) is a common note denomination and a useful mental benchmark for small purchases.
The "daha" root appears in larger numbers too: twenty is "wisi," but you will hear "daha" in compounds. A ten-rupee coin is useful for small market purchases.