Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

sinhalese

 - 3 dictionary results
Sri Lanka Photo Gallery
Tour Sri Lanka in Photos. Get 2 Nat Geo Subscriptions for $17.95!
NationalGeographic.com

Sin⋅ha⋅lese

  [sin-huh-leez, -lees] adjective, noun, plural -lese for 2.
Use sinhalese in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to Sri Lanka, its native people, or their language.
–noun
2. a member of the Sinhalese people.
3. an Indic language that is the language of the majority of the population of Sri Lanka, including Colombo.
Also, Singhalese.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sinhalese
Sri Lanka Photo Gallery
Tour Sri Lanka in Photos. Get 2 Nat Geo Subscriptions for $17.95!
NationalGeographic.com
Sin·ha·lese   (sĭn'hə-lēz', -lēs')   
n.   pl. Sinhalese or Singhalese

  1. A member of a people constituting the majority of the population of Sri Lanka.

  2. The Indic language of the Sinhalese that is the chief language of Sri Lanka.

adj.  Of or relating to Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese, or their language or culture.

[Sanskrit Siṁhalam, Sri Lanka + -ese.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

Sinhalese 
"pertaining to Sri Lanka," 1797, from Skt. Sinhala "Sri Lanka, Ceylon," from simhala-, lit. "of lions," from simhah "lion." As the name of a language spoken there, it is attested from 1801.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see sinhalese on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way