Sinhalese

[ sin-huh-leez, -lees ]

/ ˌsɪn həˈliz, -ˈlis /

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adjective

of or relating to Sri Lanka, its native people, or their language.

noun, plural Sin·ha·lese for 2.

a member of the Sinhalese people.

an Indic language that is the language of the majority of the population of Sri Lanka, including Colombo.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Also Singhalese .

Words nearby Sinhalese

singulary, singulative, singultus, sinh, Sinhailien, Sinhalese, Sinicism, Sinicization, Sinicize, Sinification, Sinify

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Sinhalese in a sentence

Prabhakaran had come to personify the movement, and his end, so wretched, became the emblem of Tamil defeat and Sinhalese triumph.
Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka’s Reign of Terror|Kapil Komireddi|November 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Our country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police,” one monk announced.
What Intolerant Buddhist Monks Are Doing to Sri Lanka|Kapil Komireddi|April 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There are many Sinhalese Buddhists who are mortified by the turn their country has taken under the Rajapaksas.
What Intolerant Buddhist Monks Are Doing to Sri Lanka|Kapil Komireddi|April 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Hindus stood round the tiger, and the Sinhalese traced mysterious signs on its forehead.
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan|Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky

Parker notes that in another Sinhalese form of this story both persons institute law-suits.
Filipino Popular Tales|Dean S. Fansler
The Sinhalese introduced from the mainland a comparatively high type of civilization, notably agriculture.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various
Some of these are on a small scale; but altogether several thousands of Sinhalese find a precarious existence in digging for gems.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various
For thirty years from this date the Sinhalese kings of Ceylon were tributary to China.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Sinhalese

Sinhalese

Singhalese or Sinhala

/ (ˌsɪnhəˈliːz) /

noun

plural -leses or -lese a member of a people living chiefly in Sri Lanka, where they constitute the majority of the population

the language of this people, belonging to the Indic branch of the Indo-European family: the official language of Sri Lanka. It is written in a script of Indian origin

adjective

of or relating to this people or their language

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012