sinhalese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, ethnic/cultural designation
Quick answer
What does “sinhalese” mean?
The Indo-Aryan language spoken by the majority Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Indo-Aryan language spoken by the majority Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.
Pertaining to the Sinhalese people, their language, or their culture. Can also refer to a member of that ethnic group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. UK usage may show slightly more familiarity due to historical colonial ties. The spelling 'Sinhalese' is standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral ethnic/cultural descriptor in both.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English, but remains a low-frequency, specialized term in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “sinhalese” in a Sentence
[Language] is spoken by [the Sinhalese][Adjective] + noun (e.g., Sinhalese art)The + Sinhalese (collective noun for people)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sinhalese” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Sinhalese community in London celebrates the New Year in April.
- He is studying Sinhalese grammar.
American English
- The museum has a collection of Sinhalese masks.
- She gave a talk on Sinhalese poetry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in market analysis for Sri Lanka.
Academic
Common in linguistics, anthropology, history, and South Asian studies.
Everyday
Low frequency; used when specifically discussing Sri Lanka, languages, or ethnicity.
Technical
Used in linguistics (language family classification), ethnography, and translation studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sinhalese”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sinhalese”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sinhalese”
- Misspelling as 'Singhalese' (less common variant) or 'Sinhalaese'.
- Using as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'three Sinhalese') for people; better as 'three Sinhalese people'.
- Confusing with 'Sinhala' (the preferred endonym for the language).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sinhala' is the endonym (name used by its speakers) and is increasingly the standard term for the language itself in academic and official use. 'Sinhalese' is the traditional English exonym for the people, their language, and their culture.
In modern terminology, Sinhalese is considered an ethnic group, sharing a common language, history, and cultural heritage, forming the majority population of Sri Lanka.
Sinhalese is spoken as a first language by approximately 17 million people, primarily in Sri Lanka, with diaspora communities worldwide.
Sinhalese is an Indo-Aryan language within the larger Indo-European family. It is related to languages like Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi, though it has been geographically isolated for centuries.
The Indo-Aryan language spoken by the majority Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.
Sinhalese is usually formal, academic, ethnic/cultural designation in register.
Sinhalese: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪn(h)əˈliːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪn(h)əˈliz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SINg a tale in CEYLON (old name for Sri Lanka) = SINhalese.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE AS A PEOPLE (The Sinhalese are their language; it embodies their history and identity).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary referent of the word 'Sinhalese'?