Phrase cards

You can travel all week in English, but a few local words change how people greet you back. Read from these cards, or turn your screen to the person you are talking to. The capital letters show the stressed part. Do not worry about getting the sounds exactly right: the effort is what people notice.

Print the cards More phrases, with the reasons →

1. 1 / 9
   Hello
   Ayubowan
   AA-yu-boh-wan
   ආයුබෝවන්

   Hello, and goodbye. It means "may you live long". Say it with your palms together in front of your chest, and bow your head a little.

2. 2 / 9
   Hello (Tamil)
   Vanakkam
   va-NAK-kam
   வணக்கம்

   Hello to Tamil speakers, with your palms together.

3. 3 / 9
   Thank you very much
   Bohoma sthuthiyi
   BO-ho-ma STOO-ti-yi
   බොහොම ස්තූතියි

   After any help, a meal, or a ride. Learn this one before you land.

4. 4 / 9
   Thank you (Tamil)
   Nandri
   NUN-dri
   நன்றி

   Thank you to Tamil speakers.

5. 5 / 9
   How are you? · Good
   Kohomada? · Hondai
   KO-ho-ma-da · HON-dai
   කොහොමද? · හොඳයි

   The everyday question, and the everyday answer.

6. 6 / 9
   How much is this?
   Meka keeyada?
   MAY-ka KEE-ya-da
   මේක කීයද?

   At a market or a tuk-tuk. Know roughly what a fair price is before you ask.

7. 7 / 9
   No, thank you
   Epa, sthuthiyi
   EH-paa, STOO-ti-yi
   එපා, ස්තූතියි

   To sellers and tuk-tuk drivers, with a smile. "Epa" alone can sound sharp.

8. 8 / 9
   I don't understand
   Mata therenne naha
   MA-ta TEH-ren-neh NEH-heh
   මට තේරෙන්නේ නැහැ

   When you are lost in a conversation. Then try English, or point.

9. 9 / 9
   No problem · Never mind
   Kamak naha
   KA-mak NEH-heh
   කමක් නැහැ

   A kind thing to say when someone apologises to you.

From our free guide, Your First Week in Sri Lanka, checked October 2026. Sinhala is spoken on most of the classic route; Tamil in the north and east and in Tamil areas of the hill country. How we research.