Photo Credit: Mrs. Smart
“Drinking”… “Drinks”… “I need a drink”.
When did the above words become synonymous with all things alcohol-related?
I remember once telling a friend of mine in Sri Lanka, “let’s go for a drink some time”, and he politely smiled and replied “No machang, I don’t drink alcohol”.
But that’s not what I meant!
And this is not what I intended to mean in this post either, although, you will find a lot of alcohol mentioned in it >>>
When it comes to my favorite alcoholic drink, I personally find myself swaying between being a single-malt guy and a wine guy. In both cases I don’t pretend to be a connoisseur.
I know one thing: That I know nothing about single-malts & wines
– Socrates, at the pub with his mates
My favorite single-malt has to be Glenmorangie.
I think that more than anything it’s because it reminds me of the many drink “sessions” Awesome Father, Komitel Brother, and I have had at home, usually during our Christmas reunions when everyone comes home for the holidays.
Of course, it’s a damn good single-malt too.
Useless Trivia: Did you know that my brother and I have special glasses that we take out only for our Scotch sessions? Did you also know that we actually have special names for them too?
You know you’ve got problems when you and your brother have actually named your Scotch glasses “The Senators”.
In terms of wines, back when I was in Monaco, I would have a glass of wine every night with my dinner. I’m not even talking about any fancy wine. Just the regular, inexpensive, but nevertheless, GREAT wines I used to buy from the local Carrefour.
Since moving to Sri Lanka though, I had to sadly (weep weep) let go of that habit since the wines are so expensive! Or let me put it another way, I’m paying way too much for what could only be described as a mediocre wine. Those that are a couple of steps above a high-quality vinegar (Ooh, you’re harsh…).
And the good ones, well, I can’t afford them at these prices. Not yet.
Just to, as my French buddies would say, “close the parenthesis”, let me also talk about non-alcoholic drinks that I like.
In Europe, I used to love love love Orangina (pronounced ‘oranjeena’ not ‘orangyna’ as I once embarrassingly found out). My fridge was always well-stocked with a six-pack of Orangina.
Recently though, owing to my frequent visit to India, I’ve now discovered Limca, or as Mrs. Smart would sing the jingle “lime & lemony Limcaaa”. But of course I try not drink too many of them. One search on youtube will show you how much sugar soda drinks in general contain. I’m an old man now. I need to be watchful of these things, right?
(Dilshan, I don’t remember me asking you anything about your favorite drinks. I came to improve my Sinhala, you rambling mad doofus!)
Rude but fair enough. On to the Sinhala learning section then:
What We’ll Do In Part 3
- Main drink items: Learn the words for common drink items that you can start to use
- All you need to remember from Part 1: Revisit some of the old phrases we saw
- Using them in the phrases we saw: Very much like what we did in Part 2
- Combining phrases: Finally, combine some of the old sentences to form new ones.
Let us begin.
1. Main Drink Items
| Tea | thḗ | |
| Sri Lankan tea | lan∙kaa∙vé thḗ | |
| Green tea | green tee (“green tea”) | |
| Coffee | kō∙pi | |
| Milk | ki∙ri | |
| Tea with milk | ki∙ri thḗ | |
| Coffee with milk | ki∙ri kō∙pi |
| Water | va∙thu∙rȧ | |
| Bottled Water | bō∙thal va∙thu∙rȧ | |
| Warm/Hot water | u∙nu va∙thu∙rȧ | |
| Cold water | see∙thȧ∙lȧ va∙thu∙rȧ | |
| Iced water | ayis (“ice”) va∙thu∙rȧ |
| Fruit juice | pa∙lȧ∙thu∙ru bee∙mȧ | |
| Orange juice | dho∙dam bee∙mȧ1 | |
| Mango juice | ambȧ bee∙mȧ1 | |
| Lemonade | lé∙mȧ∙nḗd (“lemonade”) |
Notes:
1 In these 2 cases, you could replace the word ‘bee∙mȧ’ with “juice”
| Alcohol / Liquor | li∙kȧr (“liquor”) | |
| Arrack | a∙rak∙ku | |
| Beer | bi∙yȧr (“beer”) | |
| Whiskey/Scotch | wis∙kee (“whiskey”) / skoch (“scotch”) | |
| Vodka | vod∙ka (“vodka”) | |
| Gin | jin (“gin”) | |
| Rum | ram (“rum”) |
2. All You Need To Remember From Part 1
- ma∙mȧ ka∙nȧ∙va = “I eat”
- ma∙mȧ kan∙né nǣ = “I don’t eat”
- ma∙tȧ kǣ∙mȧ ō∙né = “I want food”
- ma∙tȧ kǣ∙mȧ ō∙né nǣ = “I don’t want food”
- ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ kǣ∙mȧ ō∙né = “I want food”
- ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ kǣ∙mȧ ō∙né nǣ = “I don’t want food”
- ma∙tȧ thi∙ba∙hayi = “I’m thirsty”
- ma∙tȧ thi∙ba∙ha nǣ = “I’m not thirsty”
2. Using Them In Phrases We Already Saw (Using “Tea” As An Example)
| I drink tea | ma∙mȧ thḗ bo∙nȧ∙va | |
| I don’t drink tea | ma∙mȧ thḗ bon∙né nǣ |
| I want tea | ma∙tȧ thḗ ō∙né | |
| I don’t want tea | ma∙tȧ thḗ ō∙né nǣ2 |
| I want more tea | ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ thḗ ō∙né | |
| I don’t want more tea | ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ thḗ ō∙né nǣ2 |
Notes:
2 You can replace ‘ō∙né nǣ’ with ‘é∙paa’
3. Combining Phrases
| I’m thirsty, I want more tea | ma∙tȧ thi∙ba∙hayi, ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ thḗ ō∙né | |
| I’m not thisrty, I don’t want more tea | ma∙tȧ thi∙ba∙ha nǣ, ma∙tȧ tha∙wȧ thḗ ō∙né nǣ2 |
Notes:
2 You can replace ‘ō∙né nǣ’ with ‘é∙paa’
If you’d like to receive a one-page summary (in PDF) of Part 3, write me a comment below and let me know.
Also tell me what your favorite drink is?
Teaser Preview Of The One-Page Summary
Tell me below if you want it…
If you found this post AMAZING (or even marginally “ok”)…
Please use the social media buttons to share this around so that I become ridiculously famous and get invited onto Oprah. I promise I’ll mention you.
Thanks!
Thanx ?
Your welcome but you’re going to have to do better than that :) What’s your favorite drink?
Good work…keep them going….
Thanks man!
My favorite drink are ginger tea, masala tea, mint tea, aerated cold drinks…..
Oh, how on earth did I forget to mention masala tea?!! Me too, big fan.
Just tried them out on my partner during our weekly skype call and i must have been saying them right cose he understood me every time.
Yay! Well done Tracey! His reaction must have been priceless.
Mama kiri the walata kaemathi.
And I would appreciate the summary.
Good work, Dilshan.
Thank you. It is greatly appreciated.
Thanks Stephanie. Shall send it as soon as I’m back home, ok?
And by the by… I too like kiri thé. With sugar or without sugar for you?
Without sugar. But with cake or biscuit!
I hear you! I’m the same. In Sri Lanka I would buy “butter cake” from a particular pharmacy (yes, pharmacy. Not many people know about this secret source of mine). And in India, I’ve got accustomed to Parle-G biscuits with tea. Great, now I’m craving tea.
Thanks for the useful words and phrases about drinks. Please send me the PDF summary. My favorite drink in summer is buttermilk with all parahrenalia, i.e. ginge,curry leaves and so on!
I meant paraphrenalia of buttermilk!
Yes, I understood :)
Thanks Jose. I’ve also started drinking a lot of buttermilk since recently, or as my wife’s family call it “Chaas’. Sending you the PDF now.
Well done Dilshan and congratulations for your recent wedding. It happened while I was in SL and l only just read about it. And what is my favourite drink? It has got to be cold black beer after a hot busy day.
Thanks for the wishes, Eeva. How was SL and how long did you stay this time. A lady who enjoys black beer? That is awesome, I don’t think I have an female friends who do!
Count me in :) hari hari seethela biyar!!!
Thanks for that Dilshan, very helpful.
Now how would I ask for Elephant Ginger Beer? My favourite drink in Sri Lanka, after arrack and Lion Beer of course ;-)
Arrack and lion beer, feels like ages since I had it (will be almost 2 months that I’ve not been to SL)! To ask for a ginger beer you’d say “ma∙tȧ ginger beer é∙kak dhé∙nȧ∙va∙dhȧ?” (“Would you give me a ginger beer?”). Do you know that now the cool way to refer to Elephant House Ginger Beer is “EGB”??
It is great work. I am a swiss resident living in sri lanka.
Hi Koni, welcome. Which part of Switzerland? I have once lived in Geneva for 3 years.
Hi! Thank you for the post :) love to get the pdf! As for drinks: my alltime favorite soft drink is black tea, no milk, no sugar (but lot’s and lot’s of cookies)…as for alcohol…I love bitter, sour stuff so I’d say a good margarita (tequila, triple sec, lime juice and salt) is the best ;)
Take care!
Hi Laura, you are definitely invited to “Dilshan’s Drinking Party” (if and when I decide to have it someday) and you’ll be in charge of margaritas :) But unfortunately, I don’t know if I can invite you to my tea party. I just can’t drink black tea without sugar, haha. Sending you the PDF now. Thanks again for your comment.
Hi,
Many useful words and phrases, thanks. My favourite drink is water, limejuice or green/mint tea. Would of course love to get the summary (and of Part 2 also if possile).
Congratulations, Happy married life!:)
Thanks Sofie. Shall send you both PDFs now. I don’t drink green tea but I take green tea capsules twice a day.
It’s great as usual Dilshan ,I managed to simply run through only but I have filed it with all the rest in a special file and go through them when I can …..I have been faithfull to all the studies but am on complete leave this month. …being the school holidays ..I have my grandchildren here demanding my attention…..and with Christmas I am very busy ……I bake all sorts of cakes and have a load of Christmas cake orders. My time is with the grandchildren ,cooking and baking…..
I will love to get the pdf and my favourite drink is a nice hot cup of milk coffee and occasionally a glass of red wine. …. thanks and God bless you
Hi Ivybenedicta, thanks for the comment. Yes, this is indeed the time for baking and spending time with family. Have a great time with the grandkids. Shall send you the PDF now.
Hi dilshan, you are great teacher, I told about it today my students at our college in ambalangoda :) nice, clear and neat work you did… and my favourite drink is gaslabu beema (papaya juice )
Hi Helena, i love gaslabu even simply to eat as a fruit. And the juice is also good. Thanks for the compliment, please say hello to your students from “Uncle Dilshan” :) Sending you the PDF now.
Mama kiri thé bonava. Thanks for more great lessons.
You’re welcome, Arielle.
Belated congratulations on your marriage and wishing both of you joy and blessings in the days, months and years ahead, Dilshan.
Would appreciate a copy of the PDF – Mama ingguru kopi walata kaemathi (with hakuru) +
ek para VSOA (to start with). Served in a Senator, naetang!
Haha, inguru kopi with hakuru. That’s a classic! And a VSOA in a Senator, can’t ask for more :)
Sending you the PDF now. Thank you for the wedding wishes my friend.
Hey Dilshan,
Again thank you for making the Sinhalese language a wee bit easier to follow! I have your summaries all over my bathroom wall to practice while I’m brusing my teeth morning and night (except when I am too lazy to brush)
My favourite drink is Pimms and lemonade, which I was introduced to at the pool bar of Mt Lavinia Hotel – I love that place!
Cheers!
Pimms and lemonade, never tried it. And considering I live close to Mt. Lavinia hotel. Adding that to my to do list right now.
All over your bathroom wall? Wow! You HAVE to mail me a pic!!!
kō∙pi and vathura !!!!
Maria-Helena
Simple and sweet :)
Thks for giving valuable information on Sinhala. After leaving Srilanka also I am able to remember Sinhala , because of yr lessons.
Glad to hear that. You’re very welcome.
Hello Dilshan, Interesting and useful words there, along with some smiles.You are brilliant.
Cold drinks my favourite in ambȧ bee∙mȧ and water
Hot drinks kiri théand total adict to kopi.
I love wines also, mainly whites , Chardonnay one of my favorites.
Looking forward to the the PDF please, have a great time.
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Shirley
P.S: What is your new wifes first name?
I’m a bit of kopi addict myself. My brother just yesterday told me that he’s on his 12th day without coffee, he’s trying to curb his kopi addiction too. I’m not much a white wine drinker. I mean I like it but I’d choose red over white on most occasions. Will send you the PDF. And about my wife’s name, hehe, let’s stick to calling her Mrs. Smart for now ;-)
Thanks. My favourite drink is ginger beer.
Yes, I saw someone else mention it too. When I was a kid whenever we went out for a Chinese dinner, this is what my parents would order for me. Now I’ve replaced ginger beer with lion beer :)
Thanks for yet another supplement. When I lived in Sri Lanka (it was more than 30 years ago my sister loved passion fruit juice. I liked Elephant house soda. I haven’t been back since 1983 but I plan to go next year and need to relearn Sinhala. I would love the PDF. Thanks!
Johanna
Finally! I was surprise why no one had mentioned passion fruit juice yet. My mom loves it. Shall send you the PDF shortly.
Thanks as always Dilshan! I would love the PDF to add to the collection. I find them very useful to refer to as it keeps all the information in one place. My favorite drink would be a Caramel Macchiato… tea being a close 2nd. Looking forward to your next post! Combing what you teach with conversations with my Sri Lankan friends and family I have hope that maybe one day I will actually be able to learn Sinhala…
Hi Clarissa, glad to hear that you find the PDFs helpful. I discovered caramels macchiato for the first time in my life at the Dubai airport while in transit! I had never been to a Starbucks before that. For many years after that it became my own little tradition to always have that caramel macchiato whenever I was in transit in Dubai (which was quite frequent). I’m thrilled to hear that you’re using the material on your friends. That’s the best way to expedite your learning. Sending you the PDF soon.
Thank you again.
My favourite drinks are water, tea and red wine
Like, like, and like :)
Hi Dilshan, That’s very helpful and I would like the PDF.
How do I ask for local gin or whisky ?
Hi Tony, you’d say something like “mata lankaavé gin ekak dhenavadha?” (“Would you give me a Sri Lankan gin?”. Or you could even just use the word “local”. Most people use it very widely even in Sinhala.
Dilshan
Good post as always!!!
My favourite drink in Sri Lanka is Lion Larger, but I have a drinking buddy in Colombo he loves Black label whisky!!!!
I agree the wine is not good in Lanka!!! Would be nice to have some cool white wine though if made available at the right price!!!
I know, man! Black Label is huge in Sri Lanka. I remember being quite surprised whenever I used to come to SL for my holidays, every party served Black Label and Chivas. About the wine, if you find a good supplier, please inbox me the details.
Dearest Sir:
We reference you often at our Sinhala class at our school!! Our teacher Haris says he has been in contact with you, yes?
Thank you for you fun, witty, simplistic approach always!!
My favourite drink is Chai, but I have not seen it much outside Australia…
Steve
Hi Steve, great to hear that I’m being referenced over there in your school. I’m sure your teacher has been in contact with me, it’s just that I have 4 Tribesters with the name “Haris”, so I don’t know which one he is.
So how come you’re learning Sinhala in school?
INGURU THEEEE!!!
:)
Yeah! Ginger tea. I had one just an hour ago, made by my better half.
Dear Sir,
I greatly enjoy your LBSS tutorials. Bohoma isthuthi. Magay Sinhala podak samahara tamai.
Karunakerala Bonus ekak mata arinava. :-)
Hi, glad to hear that you enjoy the tutorials. Great effort but I don’t think ‘samahara’ is the right word there, I can’t figure out what you were wanting to say. In the second sentence instead of ‘arinava’ “sending”, you should say ‘évanna’ (“send” as a polite command). Sending it to you now.
Thank you Dilshan. Bohoma isthoothi
You’re welcome, Jayamathan.
Awesome work!! Needed tis like for a loooooooooooong time. Thanks!!
Thanks Shabilah
Thank you for another great lesson! My favourite drink is a cold, fresh Sri Lankan thambilli with the insides scooped out and added to the glass for texture and decoration… there are no coconuts in the world quite like Sri Lanka’s.
Agreed, they’re delicious. I’ve found a place in Mumbai that makes what they call a “Coconut Punch” where the scooped insides of the tender coconut juice is thrown into a blender with the juice. Very tasty!
Thanks! I would love a summary, Dilshan.
Quick question:
Is there a “pure” (non loan-word) sinhala version of vathura?
My favourite drinks are chilled water, iced tea, and ginger tea!
Yes, the words is ‘ja∙lȧ∙yȧ’ but you’ll probably never hear it in day-to-day spoken Sinhala. Stick to vathurȧ
A writer friend of mine in Michigan (US state) is an aficionado of single malts and concurs with your taste for Glenmorangie, although he prefers the peatier, smokier Islay examples. He’s been to the Glenmorangie distillery and even described their aging casks. Not a fan of scotches in general, I prefer bourbon, sour mash (Jack Daniels) or sake (酒), but I’m thinking about trying a higher-shelf scotch. (As a 69-year-old father of a 4-year-old daughter, I need a stiff drink every now and then.)
On a Sinhala-related note, admittedly I haven’t done an exhaustive search on your site, but do you offer lessons on a CD? Plugged into a player in the Jeep, it would keep the language forefront in me feeble mind while dodging less-than-attentive drivers and maybe even prevent me from cussing as much.
Thanks and the best to you and to Mrs. Smart.
Bill
Hi Bill, your friend has exquisite taste… Your comment just gave me a new item to add my brother’s and my common bucket list: to visit the Glenmorangie distillery. Must bring it up with him when I see him at home for the holidays.
I don’t have anything on CD. A little too lazy and not enough smart to want to deal with tangible goods right now. Instead, I do have some some premium products with downloadable mp3 that can be : http://www.lazybutsmartsinhala.com/1500p
Speak again soon. Take it easy while driving your jeep, you hear? :)
Dilshan, thanks for the words & phrases.
you may not believe this, my favourite drink is coffee and ginger/lemon tea.
cheers
Max
I believe you, my friend :)
Productive one !!!
Hellooo Dilshan :) I would be so happy to tell you my favorite drinks, but since that’s what we’re talking about, it would be great to know how to say “favorite.” Is it somewhere in the post and I missed it? I also checked through the phrasebook among foods, drinks, adjectives … Without “favorite,” I can only say “Mage beema,” and while I’d be happy to have *all* the seethela kiri kopi, my bada would probably pop. :D ~ k
My favourite drink is red wine, but will happily drink arrack, vodka, gin, rum or brandy. How do you say ‘red wine’ in Sinhala (I’m sure you’ve done this in another lesson but I can’t remember 😔)? Also, I like my food spicy and would love a way to tell the waiters to ignore any preconceived ideas about what English people can / do eat and just whack in as many chilies as they would for a chilli-loving Sri Lankan! So, how can I say ‘I like my devilled seafood extra spicy please’?
Bohema isthoothi,