2016 Apr 19
by Anuki Premachandra
We Lankans have the absolute pleasure in claiming 100% authenticity for nearly most/all words we use in our day to day conversations. Some of these words have indigenous inceptions and can be traced to a root word in the English/Sinhala or Tamil language. But then there’s some words that are just impossible to be traced. Our team here at Pulse.lk came up with some words more than 99% of you use in your day to day conversations. If you are to keep tab, we’re pretty sure you use at least of one these words in every sentence you speak. Comment below and tell us if you’re a loyal user of the following few words and let us know if we’ve missed some. Being the diversely unique country we are, we’re pretty sure we might have missed some most commonly used words. Ela, unveil the list.
- Patta
This is a Sri Lankan equivalent to great or amazing. The origins of this word/slang however is impossible to be traced back to.
“Last night’s match was a patta game machan!”
“My god, he’s a patta fellow. I’ll introduce you to him next time for sure”
Being the super lazy nationality we are, we would try our best to use one word for multiple purposes. If we can maybe come up with a vocabulary of, let’s say 10 words to maybe mean a 100 different things, we’d be glad to stick to it. The word patta is also one of that sort. This is that one word with multiple meanings that can be used in a dozen number of ways. An evolution in our day to day vocabulary, in its true sense.
- Deffa
This is one of those words whose origins can be traced back to the English language. Deffa is derived from the English word definitely that mean, without doubt and in a clear, definite manner.
Following is an example of the use of the word most of you can relate to;
“Dinner at 7, you’ll be there?
“Deffa machan!”
- Shape
As English this word sounds, we Sri Lankans don’t use the word shape to only mean a geometric figure such as a square, triangle, or rectangle. Our use of the word in our day to day conversations actually confuses most of us, even the ones using the term. Shape is used to mean ‘okay’, for example, I’d use the word shape to talk about something that wasn’t too great nor too bad. Somewhere in the middle. How we Lankans used a word that means something very academic (in its true form) and use it as one that now means ‘okay’, is truly astonishing.
This is like the common and confusing Lankan head nods we use to acknowledge and use as a form of response to questions.
“How was the concert? Did the ladies keep their clothes intact?”
*nods head* *leaves person asking the question confused as to whether you signalled a “yes” or “no”*
This same amount of confusion is created with the word shape, but it’s not as bad as not saying anything at all!
- Bro
So it’s alright for Australians to call their friends/siblings/dogs “mate”, but its goday for Sri Lankans to call everyone their ‘bro’? Absolutely not. The word ‘bro’ is used more frequently by guys to address pretty much anyone and everyone they meet. Don’t get confused, in its typical sense, bro is the abbreviation of ‘brother’ but we like to use it to address other men/guys who necessarily aren’t our siblings (But, we like to consider them so). Bro is the posh version of the Lankan fave, machan. Our youth is characterized by warm hugs and the exceptional ability to make everyone feel comfortable around them, be it a stranger or not, by addressing them like you would address family.
- Aunty/Uncle
If you look at it, we can’t really draw our family trees if we claimed blood/lineage relationships based on how we address people. Now look at it this way, at the many Avurudu lunches/dinners you went to the past few days or the weddings or funerals you attended, how many ‘aunties’ did your mom introduce you to? I’m sure you’ll be as confused as hell if someone asked you to draw your family tree, this is why we Sri Lankans don’t even draw it in the first place while at primary school. Our trees are bound to have so many branches, it would end up looking like the Whomping Willows Tree from Hogwarts.
- Solla
The roots of this word though, can be traced back. The word solla derives from the English word ‘solid’ which means, ‘firm and stable in shape’. Solla in our day to day conversations directly translate to the word solid that indirectly translates to ‘exceptional, fascinating, and legit’. But you see, the irony is that neither do Americans nor do the Brits use the word ‘solid’ to mean the same thing that we use solla to mean. When we say that something is ‘solid’ we mean that it was proper and well executed. This is the meaning we transform into our use of the word solla.
- Athal
Surely, one of the most used terms in a man’s conversation. Athal, again is a word originated in the Sinhala language and commonly used to define the term ‘fun’. The prefix “full” is usually used before the word to mean ‘so much fun’.
This word is definitely one of the most commonly used terms by men in our country.
- Ela
I hear this word way too often in day to day conversations. The word ela means ‘good, superb or okay’. More than often it’s repeated (ela ela) to mean very good or amazing. ‘The suffix kiri (when translated means milk) is frequently used to suggest exceptionally good or amazing. Although, it’s very confusing to understand how a word that means milk can be used as a suffix that automatically makes the word a superlative adjective.’ Used its roots again, are impossible to be traced back to.
Think this article is solla? Comment below and let us know what we’ve missed. Given the creativity of us Lankans, I’m sure we might have missed some. Also, do us a favour and share this bro!
