VCE Sinhala key terms

The standard Sinhala greeting, literally wishing long life. Used when meeting someone and often when parting. Candidates should know it is polite in both formal and informal settings.

A friendly daytime greeting meaning 'good day'. It is less formal than a full respectful greeting and is common among friends, classmates and casual acquaintances.

Respectful pronouns and verb forms used for elders, teachers, officials and strangers. Sinhala marks respect through plural verb endings and honorific words such as oba, and using them incorrectly can seem rude.

The polite second-person pronoun, used with elders and people you do not know well. It takes plural-style verb agreement even when addressing one person, showing respect.

Informal second-person pronouns used with close friends, younger people or intimates. They are affectionate among peers but offensive to superiors, so candidates must judge social context carefully before using them.

The family, the central social unit in Sinhala personal-world texts. Candidates should be able to describe relatives, roles and household routines, and to distinguish close family from the wider extended family.

Helping one another, a value often highlighted in Sinhala texts about family and neighbours. It covers sharing chores, caring for elders and supporting people in difficulty, and is linked to community wellbeing.

A village, a key setting in Sinhala personal and community life. Texts often contrast village closeness and shared work with city anonymity, so candidates should know typical village activities and relationships.

A city or town, often presented as a place of work, study and faster living. Comparing city and village life is a common exam topic, including traffic, employment, housing and changes in social habits.

Urbanisation, the growth of towns as people move from rural areas. Candidates should discuss causes such as jobs and education, and effects such as crowded housing, traffic and pressure on services.

Work abroad, especially in the Middle East, a major feature of Sri Lankan economic and family life. Texts explore remittances, absent parents, and the emotional cost of separation for children and grandparents.

Migration, the movement of people between places or countries. In exam texts it may refer to rural-to-urban movement or emigration, and candidates should connect it to reasons for leaving and effects on those left behind.

Education, a frequent theme in Sinhala reading and writing tasks. Candidates should discuss schooling, university entrance, free education, and the value placed on learning within families and communities.

A university. Sinhala texts often mention entry competition, hostel life and study away from home. Candidates should know related words for faculty, degree and student life in the Sri Lankan system.

A teacher, a respected figure addressed with honorific language in Sinhala culture. Candidates should know the respectful forms used in letters and speeches, and the traditional high status of teachers in society.

Health, a topic that appears in texts about diet, hospitals, traditional medicine and wellbeing. Candidates should be able to describe common illnesses, healthy habits and public health services in simple Sinhala.

Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine widely practised in Sri Lanka. Texts discuss herbal remedies, massage and balance of bodily humours, and candidates should compare it with Western medicine without judging one as superior.

Nutrition, what the body needs to stay healthy. Candidates should know words for staple foods, fruit and vegetables, and be able to discuss balanced meals and the risks of too much sugar or processed food.

Food culture, including rice and curry, hoppers, string hoppers and sweets eaten at festivals. Candidates should link dishes to occasions, regions and hospitality, and describe meals in clear descriptive Sinhala.

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year, celebrated in April with rituals, special foods and family visits. Candidates should know customs such as lighting the hearth at an auspicious time and exchanging gifts and greetings.

Tradition or custom, the inherited practices that shape community life. Texts often ask whether traditions should be preserved or adapted, so candidates need vocabulary for continuity, change and generational difference.

Culture, the shared language, customs, arts and values of a community. Candidates should discuss Sinhala cultural identity, influences from other traditions, and how culture is passed on through family and education.

Literature, including poetry, novels, short stories and folk tales in Sinhala. Candidates should recognise genres and simple literary devices, and comment on themes, characters and the writer's purpose in short texts.

A poem or verse, often used in Sinhala songs and folk traditions. Candidates should know basic features such as rhythm, rhyme and imagery, and be able to state the feeling or message a short poem conveys.

Folk songs of village life, sung during work, harvest and ceremonies. They preserve older vocabulary and reflect rural experience, so candidates should recognise their purpose and the feelings they express.

Communication, the exchange of information through speech, writing or media. Candidates should compare face-to-face talk with phone and internet contact, and discuss clarity, politeness and misunderstandings in each.

Social media, widely used by Sinhala speakers of all ages. Texts discuss its benefits for connection and news, and its risks such as false information, addiction and rude online behaviour, so balanced vocabulary is essential.

The internet, a common topic in changing-world texts. Candidates should be able to discuss online learning, shopping and banking, plus problems such as poor access in rural areas and the cost of data.

The environment, a frequent theme in Sinhala comprehension and writing. Candidates should know vocabulary for pollution, waste, forests and climate, and be able to suggest practical actions to protect natural surroundings.

Climate change, including rising temperatures, irregular rain and extreme weather affecting Sri Lanka. Candidates should link it to farming, floods and droughts, and use appropriate vocabulary when arguing for action.

Sustainable development, meeting present needs without harming future generations. Texts may discuss renewable energy, responsible tourism and conservation, and candidates should explain the idea in simple, accurate Sinhala.

Multilingualism, common in Sri Lanka where Sinhala, Tamil and English are used. Candidates should discuss the advantages of speaking several languages and issues of fairness, identity and access to services.

The Sinhala language, an Indo-Aryan language written in its own script and spoken by the majority in Sri Lanka. Candidates should know its regional variation, its formal and informal registers, and its literary heritage.

English, widely used in Sri Lankan education, business and administration. Candidates should discuss its role as a link language and a source of loanwords in everyday Sinhala speech and writing.

Loanwords, words borrowed into Sinhala from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Portuguese, Dutch and English. Candidates should recognise common examples and discuss how borrowing enriches vocabulary over time.

Quotation, repeating someone's exact words in speech or writing. Candidates should use quotation marks and reporting verbs correctly, and know when quoting a source strengthens an argument or a news report.

A report, a factual text presenting information about an event or issue. Candidates should know its typical structure, objective tone and use of dates, names and figures, and how it differs from a personal letter.

A letter, a common writing task in Sinhala exams. Candidates should distinguish formal letters to officials from informal letters to friends, and use appropriate openings, closings and levels of respect.

Employment or a job, a central topic in texts about adult life and the changing economy. Candidates should discuss choosing a career, self-employment, working conditions and the skills employers value today.

Self-employment or running one's own small business. Texts often praise initiative among young people, and candidates should know vocabulary for trade, customers, loans and the risks and rewards of working independently.

Entrepreneurship, the activity of starting and running businesses. Candidates should discuss how small enterprises create jobs, the support available, and challenges such as capital, competition and market access in Sri Lanka.