sinhalese
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to the Sinhalese people: Of or pertaining to the majority ethnic group of Sri Lanka.
- Relating to the Sinhalese language: Of or pertaining to the official language of Sri Lanka.
Noun:
- A member of the Sinhalese people: A native or inhabitant of Sri Lanka belonging to the Sinhalese ethnic group.
- The Sinhalese language: The Indic language spoken by the Sinhalese people.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The Sinhalese community celebrated the traditional New Year.
- She is studying Sinhalese grammar.
Noun (Person):
- He is a Sinhalese from the southern province.
- The Sinhalese have a rich cultural heritage.
Noun (Language):
- Sinhalese is written using its own script.
- Can you understand Sinhalese?
Advanced Usage
- Demonymic Use: The term can function as a demonym (a word for the people of a place).
- The Sinhalese constitute the largest ethnic group on the island.
- Linguistic Classification: Used in academic contexts to classify the language within the Indo-Aryan branch.
- The Sinhalese language has been influenced by Pali and Sanskrit.
Variants and Related Words
- Sinhala: An alternative name for the Sinhalese language and, less commonly, for the people. Often used in more formal or linguistic contexts.
- The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil.
Synonyms
- Sinhala (for the language).
- Sri Lankan (a broader national term that includes all citizens, not exclusively Sinhalese).
Notes on Different Meanings
- The primary distinction is between the ethnic group (noun: person, adjective: relating to people) and the language (noun, adjective: relating to language). Context usually makes the meaning clear.
- Ethnic: Sinhalese culture, a Sinhalese family.
- Linguistic: Sinhalese literature, to speak Sinhalese.
Adjective
- of or relating to the Sinhalese people
- Sinhalese rebels fighting the Tamils
- of or relating to the Sinhalese languages
- the Sinhalese versions of the Ramayana
Noun
- the Indic language spoken by the people of Sri Lanka
- a native or inhabitant of Sri Lanka