Language/Sinhala/Vocabulary/Listening-and-Reading-Comprehension
Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Sinhala Course". In this lesson, we will focus on listening and reading comprehension. This is an essential skill that you need to develop to understand spoken and written Sinhala.
To enhance your understanding, we will use authentic materials, such as news articles, TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts. By doing so, you will get used to the speed, rhythm, and intonation of the language. You will also discover Sinhala culture, history, and tradition, and enrich your vocabulary.
The skills you will acquire in this lesson are fundamental to master the proficiency test at the end of this course. Whether you plan to visit Sri Lanka or work with Sinhala speakers, you will be more confident and efficient in your communication.
Let's start by reviewing a few words and phrases related to everyday life.
Daily Life
Here are some useful expressions you may encounter in your daily life in Sri Lanka:
| Sinhala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ඔබට කොහොමද? | obata kohomada? | How are you? |
| මම මේ වාර්තාවට පැමිණියි. | mama me vārthāvata pēminiya. | I am enjoying this weather. |
| හරියගේ/මගේ නම ඇතුළත් කරන්නේ කොහොමද? | hariyage/mage nama etulatha karannē kohomada? | What is your/his/her name? |
| මේ කොහෙද යකෝ/යක්කා? | mē koheda yakō/yakka? | What is this? |
By practicing these expressions, you will be able to build confidence in speaking with locals and interact more efficiently.
Transportation
Transportation is a crucial aspect of everyday life in Sri Lanka. Here are some expressions that can help you move around:
| Sinhala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| මම වාහනයක් ගත්තා. | mama vāhna yakka gaththa. | I took a car. |
| බස් වාහනයේ දුම්රිය මාරු දේවල් සඳහා ඉඩම් කර ඇත. | bas vāhna yē durmiriya māru dēwal sandahanda. | There is a separate spot for carrying baggage in buses. |
| මේ වාහනය කාර්යාලයට යන්නෙක්ද? | mē vāhna yakka kāryālayata yannēkuda? | Does this car go to the office? |
By knowing these phrases, you will be able to ask for directions, book a ride, or rent a car in Sinhala.
Food and Drinks
Sinhala cuisine is known for its richness in flavor and variety. By learning these expressions, you can enjoy some of the most popular dishes:
| Sinhala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| අම්මා කියන්න. | ammā kiyannā. | Call the mother (used in restaurants and cafes). |
| මම රනිල් වලින් අතුරු කරලා දෙන්නවා. | mama ranil walint athurula karalā denna wā. | I'd like to have a biryani from Ranil's. |
| අම්මාගෙන් ඇති ෂෝ එක මේකෙදි ඇතුලත් කරන්නවා. | ammagen ethi shō ekka mēkada etulatha karannawā. | Please give me one of the shrimp curry that Mom prepared. |
By learning these expressions, you will be able to order food and drinks in Sinhala, and communicate with the staff in restaurants and cafes.
Leisure and Entertainment
Leisure and entertainment play an important role in Sinhala culture. By learning some expressions used in these situations, you will be able to join the fun:
| Sinhala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| මගේ හොඳම මිතුරු කුමක්ද? | mage hodama mithuru kumakda? | What's the best place to visit? |
| මෙම ටික ඉල්ලීම ක්‍රියා කර ගැනීමට දැන්ම මා අදාළ ක්‍රියාකාරකම පටන්ගමු. | mēm tik illīma kriyā kara ganeemata dannam mā adalakriyākārakama patangamu. | I have some activities to suggest for you to do while in this city. |
| මගේ පැත්තට සහන වැල ගෙඩි වරු ඇත්තේ කොහොමද? | mage pattata sahāna wēla gedi waru ettē kohomada? | What is the best time to visit the rocky beach in my hometown? |
By learning these expressions, you will be able to converse with locals, discover new places and activities, and participate more actively in the cultural and social life in Sri Lanka.
Exercises and Tests
To practice your listening and reading skills, we recommend you visit the following websites:
- https://lankadictionary.com/audio/ - https://sinhalaonline.com/sinhala-reading-comprehension/ - https://www.lankadeepa.lk/read-online
By using these resources, you will be able to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills.
We also suggest you complete the following exercises:
1. Listen to a Sinhala podcast or radio show and write down the main ideas and keywords. 2. Read a short Sinhala article or story and summarize it in your own words. 3. Watch a Sinhala TV show or movie and take note of new words and expressions you hear.
By doing these exercises, you will be able to train your memory, analytical, and creative skills.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you have learned a few words and expressions related to daily life, transportation, food and drinks, and leisure and entertainment. You have also discovered how to practice listening and reading comprehension using authentic materials and resources.
Remember, mastering listening and reading comprehension is essential to acquire proficiency in Sinhala. Keep practicing and exploring, and you will soon be able to converse confidently and effectively with Sinhala speakers.