Sinhalese
1
9.1
- noun
- /sɪnəˈliːz/
- But ethnic tensions between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, supported by India, still rankle.
- Sinhalese and Tamils
- Buddhist Sinhalese
- majority Sinhalese
Examples
-
Many festivals in Sri Lanka celebrate the history and culture of the Sinhalese people.
-
All of them acknowledge that they are Veddas, but some also claim to be Sinhalese as well.
Academic text (1990) -
Tamils and Sinhalese are gradually finding common cause, helping one another.
Blog text (18) -
In this story, the Sinhalese are a chosen people whose ancestors arrived in Sri Lanka around 250 B.C.
Academic text (1992) -
In the selection of the natives, the governor nominated one low-country Sinhalese, one Burgher, and one Tamil.
Academic text (2006) -
On January 26, 2010, President Rajapaksa was re-elected to another six-year term, running up huge margins among the patriotic rural Sinhalese, whom Fonseka had counted on for support.
Academic text (2011) -
The Sinhalese are known for their rich cultural heritage and unique traditions.
-
He is a proud Sinhalese who enjoys sharing stories about his ancestors and their customs.
Synonyms
1
7.7
A person who belongs to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka
Compounds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Sinhalese = Sinhala (transparent) = Sinhala + ese
Standard demonym formation from 'Sinhala' + '-ese', so the meaning 'a member of the Sinhalese people' follows directly.
Etymology
Sinhalese comes from Sinhala, which comes from an old Indian word siṃha meaning 'lion'. So a Sinhalese person is a member of the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka, the people once known as the 'lion people'.