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Glite Dictionary
🧑 A Sri Lankan person 🌏 Of Sri Lankan people 🗣️ A Sri Lankan language
Singhalese

Singhalese

1 9.2
About the Sinhalese people or their language
  • adjective
  • /sɪŋhəˈliːz/
  • UK
: sinhala
  • The Singhalese culture is rich in traditions and festivals.

Examples

  • The Singhalese language is widely spoken in Sri Lanka.

  • The Singhalese communities celebrate their cultural heritage each year.

  • He studied Singhalese traditions for his anthropology thesis.

  • I learned a few phrases in Singhalese during my trip to Sri Lanka.

  • He studied Singhalese traditions for his anthropology thesis.

  • The Singhalese communities celebrate their cultural heritage each year.

  • I learned a few phrases in Singhalese during my trip to Sri Lanka.

Synonyms

Sinhalese
vsSinghalese
2 8.8

Relating to the people, culture, or language of Sri Lanka's largest group

is an alternative spelling with the same scope
Sinhala
vsSinghalese
1 8.2

Relating to the people or language of Sri Lanka's largest group

is broader, including people, culture, and the language

Compounds

Singhalese language
  • UK
8.4

A language most people in Sri Lanka speak

Surface Forms

Singhalese positive

Morphology

Singhalese = Sinhala (semi-transparent) = Sinhala + ese

The word is built from the Sinhala ethnonym/language name plus the productive demonymic suffix '-ese', but the spelling variant and exact referent are not fully obvious to many learners.

Etymology

Singhalese comes from Sinhala, which comes from the old Sanskrit word sinha meaning 'lion', a name linked to the ancient people of Sri Lanka. So Singhalese describes things that belong to those people or their language.