Basic questions
❃ Basic questions
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ළඟම තියෙන ඒටීඑම් එක කොහේද?
[ ḷan̆gama tiyena ēṭīem eka kohēda? ] -
Where is the nearest ATM?
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බස් එක කීයටද යන්නේ?
[ bas eka kīyaṭada yannē? ] -
When does the bus leave?
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මේක කීයද?
[ mēka kīyada? ] -
How much does this cost?
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ඒ කවුද?
[ ē kavuda? ] -
Who is that person?
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ඇයි මේ පාර වහලා තියෙන්නේ?
[ æyi mē pāra vahalā tiyennē? ] -
Why is this road closed?
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මේ කෑම එකේ නම මොකක්ද?
[ mē kǣma ekē nama mokakda? ] -
What is the name of this food?
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ස්ටේෂන් එකට යන්නේ කොහොමද?
[ sṭēṣan ekaṭa yannē kohomada? ] -
How do I get to the station?
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කොයි එකද වඩා හොඳ?
[ koyi ekada vaḍā hon̆ḍa? ] -
Which one is better?
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බොන වතුර තියෙනවද?
[ bona vatura tiyenavada? ] -
Do you have drinking water?
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මේ තැන හොයාගන්න උදව් කරන්න පුළුවන්ද?
[ mē tæna hoyāganna udav karanna puḷuvanda? ] -
Can you help me find this place?
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මේ කිට්ටුව හොඳ කෑම කඩයක් තියෙනවද?
[ mē kiṭṭuva hon̆ḍa kǣma kaḍayak tiyenavada? ] -
Is there a good restaurant nearby?
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අපි ළඟට ඇවිත්ද ඉන්නේ?
[ api ḷan̆gaṭa ævitda innē? ] -
Are we almost there?
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ඒක කීයටද අරින්නේ?
[ ēka kīyaṭada arinnē? ] -
What time does it open?
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ඒක කීයටද වහන්නේ?
[ ēka kīyaṭada vahannē? ] -
What time does it close?
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මට ටිකට් එකක් ගන්න පුළුවන් කොහෙන්ද?
[ maṭa ṭikaṭ ekak ganna puḷuvan kohenda? ] -
Where can I buy a ticket?
Navigating Sri Lanka efficiently requires a good grasp of essential question words, such as "Koheda?" (කොහේද - koheːda) for "Where?" and "Kiyada?" (කීයද - kiːjada) for "How much?". However, knowing the words is only half the battle; the cultural context of how you ask and receive answers matters just as much. In Sri Lanka, pointing directly at a person or an object with your index finger is often considered impolite or overly aggressive. Instead, you will notice locals using their chin, a subtle upward nod of the head, or their whole hand to indicate a direction. Furthermore, while you might be used to relying entirely on Google Maps or digital timetables, Sri Lanka remains a highly communal society where information is shared orally. Asking "Mokakda?" (මොකක්ද - mokakda), meaning "What is this?", at a bustling market stall will not only get you the name of an exotic fruit but usually a free taste and a warm smile. When you ask "Kiyatada?" (කීයටද - kiːjaʈada) for "What time?", keep in mind that the island operates on a much more relaxed rhythm. A local bus might leave when it is fully packed rather than at an exact scheduled minute. Asking questions here is viewed as a sign of respect and curiosity rather than a bother. Never hesitate to ask locals for recommendations or directions; their verbal guidance, complete with chin-points and smiles, is an integral part of the Sri Lankan travel experience.
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