Tamil to Sinhala Translation

Sinhala and Tamil are the two national languages of Sri Lanka. The phrase notes point out the many Tamil words that Sinhala uses every day.

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Tryவணக்கம்ආයුබෝවන්(Hello (respectful greeting))

How it translates

What Happens to Your Tamil Text

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On Our Server, One Step
Meta's M2M100 model translates Tamil straight into Sinhala, with no English in between. It is a general model, so short, plain sentences come out best. Nothing is stored.
115 Phrases on Your Device
The phrasebook below is looked up first and never sends anything. It only shows an exact answer when your sentence matches a line.

Neighbours From Different Families

Sinhala is Indo-Aryan, in a small branch it shares only with Dhivehi of the Maldives in Glottolog's classification, and Tamil is Dravidian. Centuries of living side by side in Sri Lanka have still left a deep mark. Sinhala borrowed kinship and food words from Tamil, such as අක්කා (akkaa, elder sister), කඩේ (kade, shop), පරිප්පු (parippu, dhal) and ආප්ප (aappa, hoppers).

Both languages put the verb last and use postpositions, so a Tamil sentence often maps onto Sinhala in the same order. Both also have a wide gap between written and spoken forms. Spoken Sinhala verbs barely change for the subject (මම යනවා, I go; එයා යනවා, he or she goes), while Tamil verbs always change: போகிறேன், போகிறான், போகிறாள்.

What to Check in a Translation

Sinhala has several words for "you", and the safe written one, ඔබ, sounds formal in speech. People usually say ඔයා to friends and use a name or a title with elders. The phrases above use ඔබ because it is never rude, the role Tamil நீங்கள் plays.

Translation tools tend to give literary Sinhala, which is right for signs and letters but stiff in conversation. Watch especially for written verb endings such as -මි and -මු, which you will rarely hear in speech.

Shared Sanskrit words can mislead. Tamil அவசரம் is a hurry, but Sinhala අවසරය is permission, so අවසරයි is a polite "may I?". Sinhala ධර්මය usually refers to the Buddha's teaching, a narrower sense than Tamil தர்மம்.

Typing Sinhala

The Sinhala script is rounded, with almost no straight strokes, and comes from the same Brahmi root as Tamil. It has more letters than Tamil, including prenasalised consonants such as ඳ (nd) and ඹ (mb), which have no Tamil equivalent.

A few Sinhala conjuncts are encoded with a zero width joiner between the virama and the next letter. The ර in ප්‍රියා (Priyaa) and රාත්‍රි (night) is written this way, so a keyboard that inserts the joiner for you saves trouble. Microsoft lists Sinhala and Sinhala Wij 9 keyboard layouts for Windows in its keyboard layout reference.

Sinhala and Tamil in Sri Lanka

Article 18 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka makes Sinhala the official language and adds that Tamil shall also be an official language, with English as the link language. Article 19 names Sinhala and Tamil as the two national languages, and Article 21 lets a person be educated in either.

That makes Tamil to Sinhala one of the most practical translation pairs for anyone in Sri Lanka, from filling in a form to talking with a neighbour.

Phrasebook

115 Everyday Phrases in Tamil and Sinhala

The notes are about the Sinhala. We curated these lines and checked the language facts in them against the published sources below; no native Sinhala speaker has reviewed them yet. Report a wrong line.

115 phrases

Greetings

Hello (respectful greeting)
வணக்கம்
vanakkam
ආයුබෝවන්
aayubovan
Literally "may you live long". Used at any time of day, often with palms joined.
Good morning
காலை வணக்கம்
kaalai vanakkam
සුබ උදෑසනක්
suba udaesanak
Good night
இனிய இரவு
iniya iravu
සුබ රාත්‍රියක්
suba raathriyak
How are you? (polite)
எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்?
eppadi irukkireerkal?
ඔබට කොහොමද?
obata kohomada?
I am fine
நான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன்
naan nalamaaga irukkiren
මම හොඳින් ඉන්නවා
mama hondin innavaa
Thank you
நன்றி
nandri
ස්තූතියි
sthoothiyi
බොහොම ස්තූතියි (bohoma sthoothiyi) is "thank you very much".
Sorry / Excuse me
மன்னிக்கவும்
mannikkavum
සමාවෙන්න
samaavenna
Please
தயவுசெய்து
thayavuseythu
කරුණාකර
karunaakara
Welcome (to a guest)
வாருங்கள்
vaarungal
එන්න
enna
The everyday "come (in)". සාදරයෙන් පිළිගනිමු (saadarayen piliganimu) is the formal welcome.
See you again
மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்
meendum sandhippom
නැවත හමුවෙමු
naevatha hamuvemu
Nice to meet you
உங்களைச் சந்தித்ததில் மகிழ்ச்சி
ungalai sandhithathil magizhchi
ඔබව හමුවීම සතුටක්
obava hamuveema sathutak
What is your name?
உங்கள் பெயர் என்ன?
ungal peyar enna?
ඔබේ නම මොකක්ද?
obe nama mokakda?
My name is Priya
என் பெயர் பிரியா
en peyar Priya
මගේ නම ප්‍රියා
mage nama Priyaa

Conversation

Yes
ஆம்
aam
ඔව්
ow
No
இல்லை
illai
නැහැ
naehae
Okay / All right
சரி
sari
හරි
hari
I do not understand
எனக்குப் புரியவில்லை
enakku puriyavillai
මට තේරෙන්නේ නැහැ
mata therenne naehae
I do not know
எனக்குத் தெரியாது
enakku theriyaathu
මම දන්නේ නැහැ
mama danne naehae
Please speak slowly
தயவுசெய்து மெதுவாகப் பேசுங்கள்
thayavuseythu methuvaaga pesungal
කරුණාකර හෙමින් කතා කරන්න
karunaakara hemin kathaa karanna
Please say that again
தயவுசெய்து மீண்டும் சொல்லுங்கள்
thayavuseythu meendum sollungal
කරුණාකර නැවත කියන්න
karunaakara naevatha kiyanna
I know a little Tamil
எனக்குக் கொஞ்சம் தமிழ் தெரியும்
enakku konjam thamizh theriyum
මට ටිකක් දෙමළ පුළුවන්
mata tikak demala puluvan
Literally "I can (do) a little Tamil". දෙමළ is Sinhala for Tamil.
Do you know English?
உங்களுக்கு ஆங்கிலம் தெரியுமா?
ungalukku aangilam theriyuma?
ඔබට ඉංග්‍රීසි පුළුවන්ද?
obata ingreesi puluvanda?
What does this mean?
இதற்கு என்ன அர்த்தம்?
itharku enna artham?
මේකේ තේරුම මොකක්ද?
meke theruma mokakda?
How do you say this?
இதை எப்படிச் சொல்வது?
ithai eppadi solvathu?
මේක කොහොමද කියන්නේ?
meka kohomada kiyanne?
No problem / It is all right
பரவாயில்லை
paravaayillai
කමක් නැහැ
kamak naehae
Please wait a minute
ஒரு நிமிடம் காத்திருங்கள்
oru nimidam kaathirungal
පොඩ්ඩක් ඉන්න
poddak inna
Literally "stay a little".
Can you help me?
எனக்கு உதவ முடியுமா?
enakku uthava mudiyuma?
මට උදව් කරන්න පුළුවන්ද?
mata udav karanna puluvanda?
What?
என்ன?
enna?
මොකක්ද?
mokakda?
Where?
எங்கே?
enge?
කොහේද?
koheda?
When?
எப்போது?
eppothu?
කවදාද?
kavadaada?
Why?
ஏன்?
en?
ඇයි?
aeyi?

Travel

Where is the toilet?
கழிப்பறை எங்கே இருக்கிறது?
kazhipparai enge irukkirathu?
වැසිකිළිය කොහේද?
vaesikiliya koheda?
Where is the bus stand?
பேருந்து நிலையம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது?
perundhu nilaiyam enge irukkirathu?
බස් නැවතුම්පොළ කොහේද?
bas naevathumpola koheda?
Where is the railway station?
ரயில் நிலையம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது?
rayil nilaiyam enge irukkirathu?
දුම්රිය ස්ථානය කොහේද?
dumriya sthaanaya koheda?
How do I get to the airport?
விமான நிலையத்துக்கு எப்படிப் போவது?
vimaana nilaiyathukku eppadi povathu?
ගුවන් තොටුපළට යන්නේ කොහොමද?
guvan thotupalata yanne kohomada?
How far is it?
அது எவ்வளவு தூரம்?
athu evvalavu thooram?
ඒක කොච්චර දුරද?
eka kochchara durada?
Go straight
நேராகப் போங்கள்
neraaga pongal
කෙළින්ම යන්න
kelinma yanna
Turn left
இடது பக்கம் திரும்புங்கள்
idathu pakkam thirumbungal
වමට හරවන්න
vamata haravanna
Turn right
வலது பக்கம் திரும்புங்கள்
valathu pakkam thirumbungal
දකුණට හරවන්න
dakunata haravanna
Please stop here
இங்கே நிறுத்துங்கள்
inge niruthungal
මෙතන නවත්වන්න
methana navathvanna
I am lost
நான் வழி தவறிவிட்டேன்
naan vazhi thavarivitten
මට පාර වැරදුණා
mata paara vaeradunaa
Literally "the road went wrong for me".
I need a room
எனக்கு ஒரு அறை வேண்டும்
enakku oru arai vendum
මට කාමරයක් ඕනේ
mata kaamarayak one

Shopping

How much is this?
இது என்ன விலை?
ithu enna vilai?
මේකේ මිල කීයද?
meke mila keeyada?
It is too expensive
விலை மிகவும் அதிகம்
vilai migavum athigam
මිල වැඩියි
mila vaediyi
Please lower the price a little
விலையைக் கொஞ்சம் குறைத்துக் கொடுங்கள்
vilaiyai konjam kuraithu kodungal
පොඩ්ඩක් අඩු කරන්න
poddak adu karanna
I want this
எனக்கு இது வேண்டும்
enakku ithu vendum
මට මේක ඕනේ
mata meka one
I do not want this
எனக்கு இது வேண்டாம்
enakku ithu vendaam
මට මේක එපා
mata meka epaa
Do you have change?
சில்லறை இருக்கிறதா?
sillarai irukkiratha?
මාරු සල්ලි තියෙනවද?
maaru salli thiyenavada?
I am just looking
சும்மா பார்க்கிறேன்
summa paarkkiren
මම බලනවා විතරයි
mama balanavaa vitharayi
When does the shop open?
கடை எப்போது திறக்கும்?
kadai eppothu thirakkum?
කඩේ අරින්නේ කීයටද?
kade arinne keeyatada?
Literally "what time does the shop open?". කඩේ comes from Tamil கடை.

Food

Water
தண்ணீர்
thanneer
වතුර
vathura
I am hungry
எனக்குப் பசிக்கிறது
enakku pasikkirathu
මට බඩගිනියි
mata badaginiyi
I am thirsty
எனக்குத் தாகமாக இருக்கிறது
enakku thaagamaaga irukkirathu
මට තිබහයි
mata thibahayi
Rice (cooked)
சாதம்
saatham
බත්
bath
Raw rice is සහල් (sahal).
Milk
பால்
paal
කිරි
kiri
Tea
தேநீர்
theneer
තේ
the
Coffee
காபி
kaapi
කෝපි
kopi
I am vegetarian
நான் சைவம்
naan saivam
මම නිර්මාංශ කෙනෙක්
mama nirmaansha kenek
Less spicy, please
காரம் குறைவாகப் போடுங்கள்
kaaram kuraivaaga podungal
සැර අඩුවෙන්
saera aduven
Literally "with less heat".
It is very tasty
மிகவும் சுவையாக இருக்கிறது
migavum suvaiyaaga irukkirathu
හරිම රසයි
harima rasayi
The bill, please
பில் கொடுங்கள்
bil kodungal
බිල දෙන්න
bila denna
Have you eaten?
சாப்பிட்டீர்களா?
saappitteerkala?
කෑම කෑවද?
kaema kaevada?
That is enough, thank you
போதும், நன்றி
pothum, nandri
ඇති, ස්තූතියි
aethi, sthoothiyi
Salt
உப்பு
uppu
ලුණු
lunu

Health

I need a doctor
எனக்கு ஒரு மருத்துவர் வேண்டும்
enakku oru maruthuvar vendum
මට දොස්තර කෙනෙක් ඕනේ
mata dosthara kenek one
Where is the hospital?
மருத்துவமனை எங்கே இருக்கிறது?
maruthuvamanai enge irukkirathu?
රෝහල කොහේද?
rohala koheda?
Where is the pharmacy?
மருந்துக் கடை எங்கே இருக்கிறது?
marundhu kadai enge irukkirathu?
ෆාමසිය කොහේද?
faamasiya koheda?
I have a fever
எனக்குக் காய்ச்சல் இருக்கிறது
enakku kaaychal irukkirathu
මට උණයි
mata unayi
I have a headache
எனக்குத் தலை வலிக்கிறது
enakku thalai valikkirathu
මට ඔළුව රිදෙනවා
mata oluva ridenavaa
My stomach hurts
எனக்கு வயிறு வலிக்கிறது
enakku vayiru valikkirathu
මට බඩ රිදෙනවා
mata bada ridenavaa
I am not well
எனக்கு உடம்பு சரியில்லை
enakku udambu sariyillai
මට සනීප නැහැ
mata saneepa naehae

Emergency

Help! (save me)
காப்பாற்றுங்கள்!
kaappaatrungal!
බේරගන්න!
beraganna!
Call the police
காவல்துறையை அழையுங்கள்
kaavalthuraiyai azhaiyungal
පොලිසියට කතා කරන්න
polisiyata kathaa karanna
Call an ambulance
ஆம்புலன்ஸை அழையுங்கள்
aambulansai azhaiyungal
ගිලන් රථයක් ගෙන්වන්න
gilan rathayak genvanna
Fire!
தீ!
thee!
ගින්න!
ginna!
Thief!
திருடன்!
thirudan!
හොරා!
horaa!
I have lost my phone
என் கைப்பேசி தொலைந்துவிட்டது
en kaippesi tholaindhuvittathu
මගේ ෆෝන් එක නැති වුණා
mage fon eka naethi vunaa
Be careful
கவனமாக இருங்கள்
kavanamaaga irungal
පරිස්සමින්
parissamin
Literally "carefully", said on its own as a warning.
Danger
ஆபத்து
aapathu
අනතුර
anathura

Work

What work do you do?
நீங்கள் என்ன வேலை செய்கிறீர்கள்?
neengal enna velai seykireerkal?
ඔබ කරන රැකියාව මොකක්ද?
oba karana raekiyaava mokakda?
I work in an office
நான் அலுவலகத்தில் வேலை செய்கிறேன்
naan aluvalagathil velai seykiren
මම කාර්යාලයක වැඩ කරනවා
mama kaaryaalayaka vaeda karanavaa
I am a teacher
நான் ஆசிரியர்
naan aasiriyar
මම ගුරුවරයෙක්
mama guruvarayek
A woman says ගුරුවරියක් (guruvariyak).
The meeting is at ten
கூட்டம் பத்து மணிக்கு
koottam pathu manikku
රැස්වීම දහයට
raesveema dahayata
I am busy now
நான் இப்போது வேலையாக இருக்கிறேன்
naan ippothu velaiyaaga irukkiren
මම දැන් කාර්යබහුලයි
mama daen kaaryabahulayi
I will call you later
நான் உங்களைப் பிறகு அழைக்கிறேன்
naan ungalai piragu azhaikkiren
මම පස්සේ කතා කරන්නම්
mama passe kathaa karannam
I need leave tomorrow
எனக்கு நாளை விடுப்பு வேண்டும்
enakku naalai viduppu vendum
මට හෙට නිවාඩු ඕනේ
mata heta nivaadu one
The work is finished
வேலை முடிந்துவிட்டது
velai mudindhuvittathu
වැඩේ ඉවරයි
vaede ivarayi

Family

Mother
அம்மா
amma
අම්මා
ammaa
The same word as Tamil அம்மா.
Father
அப்பா
appa
තාත්තා
thaaththaa
Elder brother
அண்ணன்
annan
අයියා
ayiyaa
Younger brother
தம்பி
thambi
මල්ලී
mallee
Elder sister
அக்கா
akka
අක්කා
akkaa
The same word as Tamil அக்கா.
Younger sister
தங்கை
thangai
නංගී
nangee
Son
மகன்
magan
පුතා
puthaa
Daughter
மகள்
magal
දුව
duva
Husband
கணவர்
kanavar
සැමියා
saemiyaa
Wife
மனைவி
manaivi
බිරිඳ
birinda
Grandmother
பாட்டி
paatti
ආච්චි
aachchi
Friend
நண்பர்
nanbar
යාළුවා
yaaluvaa

Time and Numbers

One
ஒன்று
ondru
එක
eka
Two
இரண்டு
irandu
දෙක
deka
Three
மூன்று
moondru
තුන
thuna
Four
நான்கு
naangu
හතර
hathara
Five
ஐந்து
aindhu
පහ
paha
Six
ஆறு
aaru
හය
haya
Seven
ஏழு
ezhu
හත
hatha
Eight
எட்டு
ettu
අට
ata
Nine
ஒன்பது
onbathu
නවය
navaya
Ten
பத்து
pathu
දහය
dahaya
One hundred
நூறு
nooru
සියය
siyaya
Today
இன்று
indru
අද
ada
Tomorrow
நாளை
naalai
හෙට
heta
Yesterday
நேற்று
netru
ඊයේ
eeye
Now
இப்போது
ippothu
දැන්
daen
What time is it?
மணி என்ன?
mani enna?
වෙලාව කීයද?
velaava keeyada?

Shared words

Words Tamil and Sinhala Share, and Where They Part

Tamil	Sinhala	Meaning	Note
அக்கா akka	අක්කා	elder sister	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
அம்மா amma	අම්මා	mother	The same word in both.
மாமா maama	මාමා	uncle	The same word in both, used for an uncle and as a friendly address for an older man.
கடை kadai	කඩේ	shop	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
இடம் idam	ඉඩම	place / land	Borrowed from Tamil இடம் (place); in Sinhala ඉඩම means a plot of land.
கூலி kooli	කුලිය	wages, hire charge	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
பருப்பு paruppu	පරිප්පු	lentils, dhal	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
கருவாடு karuvaadu	කරවල	dried fish	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
அப்பம் appam	ආප්ප	hopper (a rice pancake)	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
பிட்டு pittu	පිට්ටු	steamed rice flour and coconut	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
தோசை thosai	තෝසේ	dosa	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
வடை vadai	වඩේ	vadai, a fried savoury	Borrowed into Sinhala from Tamil.
தர்மம் tharmam	ධර්මය	dharma; the Buddha's teaching in Sinhala	Sanskrit dharma. In Sinhala it usually means the Buddhist teaching.
அவசரம் avasaram	අවසරය	hurry / permission	False friend from Sanskrit avasara: Tamil அவசரம் is a hurry; Sinhala අවසරය is permission, as in අවසරයි, "excuse me, may I?".

Questions People Ask

How do you say vanakkam in Sinhala?

ආයුබෝවන් (aayubovan), "may you live long". It is used at any time of day, often with palms joined, just like வணக்கம் . Use the phrasebook’s greeting line with its Roman guide while practising. If the rest of your message contains a name or a place, translate that sentence separately and check the established Sinhala spelling of those details.

How do I say thank you in Sinhala?

ස්තූතියි (sthoothiyi). For "thank you very much", say බොහොම ස්තූතියි (bohoma sthoothiyi). Copy the complete Sinhala expression from the phrasebook. Its Roman guide helps you read it, but does not convert Tamil letters into Sinhala or supply the spelling of a new sentence that you have not checked.

What is the Sinhala word for Tamil?

දෙමළ (demala). "I know a little Tamil" is මට ටිකක් දෙමළ පුළුවන් (mata tikak demala puluvan). Use the listed expression as a whole when describing your language ability. If you need to mention a different language or level, check a complete new sentence rather than replacing a sound in the Roman guide yourself.

Are Sinhala and Tamil related?

Not by family: Sinhala is Indo-Aryan and Tamil is Dravidian. But Sinhala has borrowed many Tamil words, especially for food and family, such as අක්කා and කඩේ. Shared vocabulary does not remove the need to check a full translated sentence. Use the Tamil and Sinhala phrasebook columns together, and confirm local names or unfamiliar expressions before sending a machine-generated message.

Is Tamil an official language in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Article 18 of the Constitution says Tamil shall also be an official language alongside Sinhala, and Article 19 names both as national languages. That official status does not mean every recipient reads both scripts. Choose the language your reader actually wants, and check local place names independently before using a Tamil-to-Sinhala translation for a direction or address.

Why do some Sinhala letters break when I type them?

Some conjuncts need a zero width joiner after the virama. Without it, ප්‍රි can show as two separate letters. Use a Sinhala keyboard that adds it, such as the Windows Sinhala layouts. Copy the entire Sinhala word when checking a translation instead of inserting invisible joiners by trial and error. Compare it with the original result first; changing the underlying characters can alter how the word displays.

Does this choose Sri Lankan Tamil when translating into Sinhala?

There is no Tamil regional selector in this tool. Enter a complete Tamil sentence and check place names, local terms and the intended person in the Sinhala result. For an everyday request, compare the phrasebook entry and its note; it is a useful starting point, but it does not promise every regional wording.

Can I read Sinhala output using the Roman guide?

The Roman guide helps you read the Sinhala phrases listed in the phrasebook. Keep it beside the full Tamil meaning when practising a greeting or request. A custom sentence translated by the server does not automatically receive a Roman guide, so do not expect the phrasebook’s reading support on every result.

Should a Tamil place name be translated or kept in Sinhala?

Use the established Sinhala place name when you know it, and check it separately from the sentence translation. For directions, keep the destination visible in the original Tamil as well until you have confirmed the result. A machine-produced spelling is not proof that it matches the name on a local sign or address.

When should I use the server for Tamil to Sinhala?

Choose the server when you have a new Tamil sentence that the Sinhala phrasebook does not contain and you agree to send it for translation. The server handles this pair directly with M2M100. Google Translate is another optional destination; compare the intended meaning before using either result for an important message.

Sources

The language facts on this page come from these sources, last checked on 2 November 2026. The phrases are curated by us. If a line is wrong, tell us.

Sri Lanka Ministry of Education: greetings e-thaksalawa.moe.gov.lk
Unicode Standard: writing systems and character order unicode.org
Google Translate Help: translating written words support.google.com
Constitution of Sri Lanka, Chapter IV (Language), Articles 18 to 21 parliament.lk
Glottolog: Sinhala glottolog.org
Glottolog: Tamil glottolog.org
Unicode Standard, Sinhala code chart (U+0D80 to U+0DFF) unicode.org
Microsoft: Windows keyboard layouts learn.microsoft.com
Chrome: Translator API (supported languages and platforms) developer.chrome.com
Cloudflare Workers AI: IndicTrans2 English to Indic model developers.cloudflare.com
Cloudflare Workers AI: M2M100 many-to-many model developers.cloudflare.com