List of Sinhala words of Portuguese origin

Note: For information on the transcription used, see National Library at Calcutta romanization. Exception from the standard are the romanization of Sinhala long "ä" ([æː]) as "ää", and the non-marking of prenasalized stops.

Sinhala words of Portuguese origin came about during the period of Portuguese colonial rule in Sri Lanka between 1505–1658. This period saw rapid absorption of many Portuguese words into the local language brought about by the interaction between Portuguese colonials and the Sinhalese people, mainly in the coastal areas of the island. A wide variety of words were adopted from administrative terms to military terms, which reveals several points of contact between the two groups. In addition to influences on language, the Portuguese introduced the Catholic religion to Sri Lanka, various forms of western clothing and also contributed to the formation of Baila, a Sri Lankan form of music.

Types of loanwords

Borrowings

The words pertaining to the fields of commerce, administration, botany, food and military are the most numerous; this is to be expected because of many new innovations and goods that reached Sri Lanka via the Portuguese.

However it is important to note that the range of borrowings goes beyond the scope to be expected for a situation where two neighbouring peoples exchange material goods: Firstly, there are many Portuguese loanwords pertaining to everyday and social life (kinship terms, ordinary activities etc.); secondly, many lexical words (nouns, adjectives and verbs) have also been borrowed.

The borrowing process

Portuguese loanwords in Sinhala rarely appear in the same form as the original word, the vast majority of them having undergone naturalization. Usually, a word has undergone some kind of modification to fit into the Sinhala phonological (e.g. bandeja becomes bandesiya because the sound of the Portuguese /j/, does not exist in the Sinhala phoneme inventory) or morphological system (e.g. lenço becomes lensuva because Sinhala inanimate nouns (see grammatical gender) need to end with /a/, [ə], in order to be declineable).

These are the main ways Portuguese words are incorporated into the Sinhala lexicon with different endings:

• With an /ma/ or /na/ or /va/ added to Portuguese words ending in /o/ (e.g. gancho > gāncuva).
• With an /aya/ or /uva/ added to Portuguese words ending in consonants (e.g. lençol > lensōluva).
• With a /ya/ added to words ending in /a/ or /e/ or /i/ (e.g. diamante > diyamantiya).
• With the animate ending /yā/ or /vā/ added to Portuguese words signifying living beings or (e.g. burro > būruvā).

Adjectives that end in vowels are generally preserved in the original form.

There are over 100 words in the following list.

Sinhala	සිංහල	Meaning	Portuguese	Meaning	Type
āyā	ආයා	Dry nurse	aia	Nurse	Daily
äbäärtuva	ඇබෑර්තුව	Vacancy	aberto	Open, Vacant	Trade
äänduru	ඈඳුරු	Dill	endro	Dill	Food
agōstu	අගෝස්තු	August	agosto	August	Daily
akol	අකොල්	akol	álcool	Alcohol	Daily
alavaṃguva	අලවංගුව	Crow-bar	alavanca	Lever	Daily
almāna	අල්මාන	Germany	Alemanha	Germany	Daily
almāriya	අල්මාරිය	almirah, wardrobe	armário	Wardrobe, Cabinet	Daily
almiya	අල්මිය	Storax	almea/almeia	Storax	Daily
almōsa, alumōsuva	අල්මෝස, අලුමෝසුව	Breakfast	almoço	Breakfast	Daily
alpenetta	ඇල්පෙනිත්ත	Pin	alfinete	Pin	Daily
alugōsuvā	අලුගෝසුවා	Executioner	algoz	Executioner	Administration
āmā	ආමා	Wet nurse	ama	Nurse	Daily
amandäl/mandäl	අමන්දැල්	Almond	amêndoa	Almond	Food
amēsi	අමේසි	Plum	ameixa	Plum	Fruit
anjuvā	අන්ජුවා	Angel	anjo	Angel	Daily
annāsi	අන්නාසි	Pineapple	ananás	Pineapple	Fruit
arumōsam	අරුමෝසම්	Decorative, fancy	armação	Setting, Truss	Daily
avāna	අවාන	Fan	abano	Fan	Daily
avel (aeṭaya)	අවෙල්	hazel (nut)	avelã	hazelnut	Food
asēnti	අසේන්ති	Absent	ausente	Absent	Daily
asnu	අස්නු	Rude	asno	Ass	Daily
bankōtiya	බංකෝතිය	Banquet	banqueta	Banquet	Daily
bolot	බොලොත්	Acorn	bolota	Acorn	Daily
bāldiya	බාල්දිය	Bucket	balde	Bucket	Daily
bambuva	බම්බුව	Bamboo, 'bullcrap'	bambu	Bamboo	Daily
bankalot	බංකලොත්	Bankruptcy	bancarrota	Bankruptcy	Daily
baṃkuva	බංකුව	Bench	banco	Bench	Daily
bandēsiya	බන්දේසිය	Tray	bandeja	Tray	Daily
bastama	බස්තම	Walking stick	bastão	Stick	Daily
bāsu	බාසු	Dim	baço	Dim	Daily
battala	බත්තල	Lighter	batelão	Lighter	Daily
bayinettuva	බයිනෙත්තුව	Bayonet	baioneta	Bayonet	Military
bēbaddā, bebeyā	බේබද්දා	Drunkard	bêbado	Drunkard	Daily
bīraluva	බිරළුව	Bobbin	bilro	Bobbin	Daily
bispuvā	බිස්පුවා	Bishop	bispo	Drunkard	Daily
bōnikkā	බෝනික්කා	Doll	boneca	Doll	Daily
bora	බොර	Dreg	borra	Dreg	Daily
bōrdaya	බෝර්දය	Border	borda	Brim, Border	Daily
bostāduva	බොස්තාදුව	Slap	bofetada	Slap	Daily
bottama	බොත්තම	Button	botão	Button	Daily
bula	බුල	Bullet	bala	Bullet	Military
būliya	බූලිය	Round jar	bule	Teapot	Daily
būruvā	බූරුවා	Donkey	burro	Donkey	Animal
būsi	බූසි	Wad	bucha	Wad	Military
cinēlaya	චිනේලය	Slipper	chinela	Slipper	Clothing
dāduva	දාදුව	Dice	dado	Dice	Daily
dāta	දාත	Date	data	Date	Daily
didālaya	දිදාලය	Thimble	dedal	Thimble	Daily
diyamantiya	දියමන්තිය	Diamond	diamante	Diamond	Daily
don	දොන්	Sir/Lord	dom	Sir/Lord	Daily
dōnā	දෝනා	Dame	dona	Dame	Daily
dōsi	දෝසි	sweet	doce	Sweet	Daily
dusima		Dozen	dúzia	Dozen	Daily
emōsiya	එමෝසිය	Emotion	emoção	Emotion	Daily
ēra	ඒර	Ivy	hera	Ivy	Bottanical
esmeri	එස්මෙරි	emery	esmeril	Emery	Daily
esmuva	එස්මුව	a Guess	esmo	Random	Daily
espāciya	එස්පාචිය	Corset	espartilho	Corset	Daily
espētuva	එස්පේතුව	Roasting spit	espeto	Spit	Daily
espiyā	එස්පියා	Spy	espião	Spy	Daily
galappattiya	ගලප්පත්තිය	Caulking	calafetagem	Caulking	Daily
gāncuva	ගාන්චුව	Hook (of a belt, bracelet)	gancho	Hook	Daily
garādiya	ගරාදිය	Window grill	grade	Grill	Daily
gāstuva	ගාස්තුව	Fee	gasto	Expense	Daily
gääruppuva	ගෑරප්පුව	Fork	garfo	Fork	Daily
gorōsu	ගොරෝසු	Coarse	grosso	Thick	Descriptive
gōvaa	ගෝවා	Cabbage	couve	Cabbage, Sprouts	Food
hōrāva	හෝරාව	Hour	hora	Hour	Daily
intēru	ඉන්තේරු	Entire	inteiro	Entire	Daily
iskōlaya	ඉස්කෝලය	School	escola	School	Daily
ispāsuva	ඉස්පාසුව	Space	espaço	Space	Daily
janēlaya	ජනේලය	Window	janela	Window	Construction
Jēmis	ජේමිස්	James	Jaime	James	Proper Name
Juse	ජුසේ	Joseph	José	Joseph	Proper Name
Juwam	ජුවාම්	John	João	John	Proper Name
kabāya	කබාය	Coat	capa	Cloak	Daily
kabuk		Laterite	cabouco	Laterite	Daily
kābuva	කාබුව	Cable	cabo	Cable	Daily
kaisa	කයිස	Platform	cais	Platform	Daily
kaju	කජු	Cashew	caju	Cashew	Food
kandalēruva	කඳලේරුව	Chandelier	candelabro	Chandelier	Daily
kaldērama	කල්දේරම	Cauldron	caldeirão	Cauldron	Daily
kaldu	කල්දු	Broth	caldo	Broth	Food
kalisama	කලිසම	Pants	calção	Shorts	Clothing
kamisaya	කමිසය	Shirt	camisa	Shirt	Daily
kappādu		Castrated	capado	Gelding	Daily
kappittā, kappitiyā, kapiyā	කප්පිත්තා	Captain	capitão	Captain	Daily
kāpiri	කාපිරි	African (origin)	cafre	Kaffir	Daily
kavalāru	කවලාරු	Cavalier	cavaleiro	Cavalier	Food
karadamungu	කරදමුංගු	Cardamom	cardamomo	Cardamom	Food
karadāsi, kaḍadaāsi	කරදාසි	Paper	cartaz	Card	Daily
karattaya	කරත්තය	Carriage, Cart	carreta	Carriage	Daily
kasādaya	කසාදය	Marriage	casada	Married	Daily
kāskuva	කතියා	Hull	casco	Hull	Daily
Katolika	කතෝලික	Catholic	Católica	Catholic	Religious
katiyā	කතියා	Slave, captive	cativa	Captive	Daily
kayila	කයිල	Peg	cavilha	Peg	Daily
kendiya	කෙන්දිය	Candle	candeia	Lamp	Daily
kēju	කේජු	Cheese	queijo	Cheese	Food
kēntiya	කේන්තිය	Anger	quente	Hot	Daily
kīliya	කීලිය	keel	quilha	keel	Daily
kompāsuva		Compass	compasso	Compass	Daily
kōndēsiya	කොන්දේසිය	Condition	condição	Condition	Daily
kōntaraya	කෝන්තරය	Grudge	contra	Against	Daily
koral	කොරල්	Coral	coral	Coral	Daily
Korosma	කොරොස්ම	Lent	Quaresma	Lent	Religious
kusima	කුසිම	Cushion	coxim	Cushion	Daily
kosuva	කොසුව	Trough	cocho	Trough	Daily
kōvaya	කෝවය	Pipe	cova	Pipe	Daily
kuluna	කුලුන	column	coluna	Trough	Military
kūññaya	කූඤ්ඤය	Wedge	cunha	Wedge	Daily
kurusaya	කුරුසය	Cross	cruz	Cross	Religious
kussiya	කුස්සිය	Kitchen	cozinha	Kitchen	Daily
lasariya	ලසරිය	Flourish/ornamentation	laçaria	Flourish	Daily
landēsi	ලන්දේසි	Dutch	holandês	Dutch	Administration
lansaya	ලන්සය	Lance	lança	Lance	Military
lantääruma	ලන්තෑරුම	Lantern	lanterna	Lantern	Daily
lāpila	ලාපිල	Lapel	lapela	Lapel	Clothing
lēndi	ලෙන්ඩි	Nit	lêndea	Nit	Daily
lensōluva	ලෙන්සෝලුව	Bedsheet	lençol	Bedsheet	Daily
lēnsuva	ලේන්සුව	Handkerchief	lenço	Handkerchief	Clothing
lingusa, linguyisa	ලිංගුස	type of dried sausage	linguiça	Sausage	Food
lisa	ලිස	List	liça	List	Daily
liyal	ලියල්	Loyal	leal	Loyal	Daily
lusa	ලුස	Light	luz	Light	Daily
Lusiyā	ලුසියා	Lucy	Lúcia	Lucy	Proper Name
mantuva	මාන්තුව	Cloak	manto	Mantle	Clothing
madiriññā	මාදිරිඤ්ඤා	Godmother	madrinha	Godmother	Daily
mamol	මමොල්	Marble	mármore	Marble	Daily
mantaya		Blanket	manta	Blanket	Fruit
mantēga	මන්තේග	Butter	manteiga	Butter	Daily
manyokkā	මන්යෝක්කා	Manioc	mandioca	manioc	Daily
Mariyā	මරියා	Mary	Maria	Mary	Proper Name
masan	මසන්	Apple	maçã	Apple	Fruit
mēs	මේස්	Socks	meias	Socks	Daily
mēsaya	මේසය	Table	mesa	Table	Daily
mīsama		Mission	missão	Mission	Daily
mōsuvā		Servant	moço	a young man	Daily
mūnissama	මූනිස්සම	Munition	munição	Munition	Military
navāla	නාබු	Clasp Knife	navalha	Clasp Knife	Daily
nābu	නාබු	Turnip	nabo	turnip	Food
nattala	නත්තල	Christmas	Natal	Christmas	Religious
nōnā	නෝනා	Lady	dona	Lady	Daily
nōs	නෝස්	Nutmeg	noz	nutmeg	Food
notīsiya	නොතීසිය	Notice	notícia	Notice	Administration
olam	ඔලම්	Elm	olmo	Elam	Botanical
oliva	ඔලිව	Olive	oliva	Olive	Food
ōlanda	ඕලන්ද	Holland	Holanda	Holland	Administration
ostensōriya		Monstrance	ostensório	Monstrance	daily
padāsa		Portion	pedaço	Piece	Daily
padēruvā	ටම්පුව	Baker	padeiro	Baker	Daily
pādiliyā	පාදිලියා	Father	padre	Father	Daily
pādōla	පාදිලියා	Hand barrow	padiola	Hand barrow	Daily
pagāva	පගාව	Pay/Salary	paga	Pay/Salary/Wages	Administration
palmita		Spatula	palmeta	Spatula	Daily
palēta		Palette	paleta	Palette	Daily
pān	පාන්	Bread	pão	Bread
paraisuva	පරයිසුව	paradise	paraíso	Paradise	Daily
pāskuva	පාස්කුව	Easter	Páscoa	Easter	Religious
pāttayā	පාත්තයා	Goose	pato	duck	Daily
padiriññā	පාදිරිඤ්ඤා	Godfather	padrinho	Godfather	Daily
painēruva	පයිනේරුවා	Pioneer	pioneiro	Pioneer	Daily
pastääla	පස්තෑල	Pie	pastel	Pastry	Food
pavila	පරයිසුව	pavilion	pavilhão	Pavilion	Daily
Pawulu	පාවුළු	Paul	Paulo	Paul	Proper Name
pedarēruvā	පෙදරේරුවා	Mason	pedreiro	Mason	Daily
Peduru	පේදුරු	Peter	Pedro	Peter	Proper Name
penēraya	පෙනේරය	Sieve	peneira	Sieve	Daily
peragam	පෙරගම්	Banns	proclamas	Banns	Daily
perakadōruvā	පෙරකදෝරුවා	Proctor	procurador	Proctor	Daily
perakalāsiya	පෙරකලාසිය	Warrant of Attorney, proxy	procuração	Proxy	Daily
perōla	පෙරෝල	Pearl	pérola	Pearl	Daily
pigura	පිගුර	Figure	figura	Fiver	Daily
pikama	පිකම	Pickaxe	picão	Pickaxe	Military
pīkudu	පීකුදු	Liver (of animals)	fígado	Liver	Daily
pinu	පිනු	Pine	pinho	Pine	Botanical
pinsaya		Tweezer	pinça	Tweezer	Daily
pintāruva	පින්තාරුව	Painting	pintura	Painting, Picture	Daily
pintūraya	පින්තූරය	Picture	pintura	Painting, Picture	Daily
pinsela		Paintbrush	pincel	Brush	Daily
pīppaya	පීප්පය	Cask/Barrel	pipa	Cask	Daily
pipiññā	පිපිඤ්ඤා	Cucumber	pepino	Cucumber	Food
pistōlaya	පිස්තෝලය	Pistol	pistola	Pistol	Army
pīrisiya	පීරිසිය	Saucer	pires	Saucer	Daily
pīttaya	පීත්තය	Ribbon	fita	Ribbon	Clothing
poloiyya		Flounce	folho	Flounce	Daily
pōranuwa	පෝරණුව	Oven, kiln	forno	Oven	Daily
pōrtaya	පොර්තය	Porthole	porto	Door	Daily
prāskuva	ප්රාස්කුව	Flask	frasco	Flask	Daily
puliya	පුලිය	Pulley	polia	Pulley	Daily
punīlaya	පුනීලය	Funnel	funil	Funnel	Daily
rābu	රාබු	Radish	rábano	Radish	Food
raivaya	රයිවය	Anger	raiva	Anger	Daily
rancuva		Herd, group	rancho		Daily
rāttala	රාත්තල	Pound (measurement)	arrátel	Pound	Daily
rēndaya	රේන්දය	Lace	renda	Lace	Clothing
rōdaya	රෝදය	Wheel	roda	Wheel	Daily
rōmānu	රෝමානු	Roman	romano	Roman	Daily
rōsa	රෝස	Rose, Pink	rosa	Rose, Pink	Daily
rūbiya	රූබිය	Ruby	rubi	Ruby	Daily
rulan		Semolina	rolão	Semolina	Food
rusu	රුසු	Grey	ruço	Grey	Daily
saban	සබන්	Soap	sabão	Soap	Daily
sakōla	සී	Satchel	sacola	Satchel	Daily
sākkuva	සාක්කුව	Pocket	saco	Sack	Daily
salādaya	සලාදය	Salad	salada	Salad	Food
Santhiyago		James	Santiago	James	Proper Name
sāntu	සාන්තු	Holy	santo	Holy	Daily
santuvāriya		Sanctuary	santuário	Sanctuary	Daily
sapatēruvā	සපතේරුවා	Shoemaker	sapateiro	Shoemaker	Food
sapattuva	සපත්තුව	Shoe	sapato	Shoe	Clothing
sarampa	සරම්ප	Measles	sarampo	Measles	Daily
saruvāla		Pyjama	ceroulas	Pants	Daily
sātan		Satan	satã	Satan	Daily
setim	සෙතිම්	Satin	cetim	Satin	Clothing
sāvāla	සාවාල	sável	sabão	Shad	Daily
sāvōdiya	සවෝදිය	a toast saúde	health	Daily
sāya	සාය	Skirt	saia	Skirt	Clothing
sēda	සේද	silk	seda	silk	Clothing
senil	සේනිල්	senile	senil	senile	Daily
sēriyā	සේරියා	mermaid	sereia	mermaid	Daily
säsiya	සැසිය	session	sessão	session	Daily
sidādiya	සිදාදිය	City	cidade	City	Administration
silima	සිලිම	Shilling	xelim	Shilling	Daily
sinyō	සින්යෝ	Sir	senhor	Sir	Daily
simenti	සිමෙන්ති	Cement	cimento	Cement	Daily
sināla		Signal	sinal	sinal	Daily
sinsēruva	සින්සේරුව	ashtray	cinzeiro	ashtray	Daily
sintuva	සින්තුව	Belt	cinto	belt	Daily
sīnuva	සීනුව	Bell	sino	Bell	Daily
siññō	සිඤ්ඤෝ	Sir	senhor	Sir	Daily
sitāsi	සිතාසි	Summons	citação	Monition	Administration
sokolat		Chocolate	chocolate	Chocolate	Food
soldāduvā	සොල්දාදුවා	Soldier	soldado	Soldier	Military
stōlaya		Stole	estola	Stole	Daily
sumānaya	සුමානය	Week	semana	Week	Daily
sumāsu	සුමාසු	Padding	chumaço	Wadding	Military
sukiri	සූකිරි	Sugar	açúcar	Sugar	Food
tācciya	තාච්චිය	Frying pan	tacho	Pan	Daily
tambōruwa	තම්බෝරුව	Tambourine	tambor	Drum	Daily
täbääruma	තැබෑරුම	Tavern	taberna	Tavern	Daily
tampuva		Envelope	tampo	Cover	Daily
tapa	තප	Slap	tapa	Slap	Daily
täva	තැව	Tower	torre	Tower	Daily
tapēsiya	තපේසිය	Carpet	tapete	Carpet	Daily
tasa	තස	Cup	taça	Cup	Daily
tāppaya	තාප්පය	Parapet wall	taipa	Parapet wall	Daily
testamēntuva	තෙස්තමේන්තුව	Testament	testamento	Testament	Daily
tōntuva	තෝන්තුව	dizziness	tonto	dizzy	Daily
toppiya	තොප්පිය	hat	topo	Cap	Clothing
tīnta	තීන්ත	Ink, paint	tinta	Ink, paint	Daily
tiringu	තිරිඟු	Wheat	trigo	Wheat	Food
tīruva	තීරුව	Customs duty	tiro	Customs	Administration
tōmbuva	තෝම්බුව	Register	tombo	Register	Administration
tuvāya	තුවාය	Towel	toalha	Towel	Daily
vala	වළ	Pit	vala	Ditch	Military
ventu	වෙන්තු	Windy	vento	Wind	Daily
vestiya	වෙස්තිය	Waistcoat	véstia	Waistcoat	Daily
vindima	වින්දිම	Vintage	vindima	Vintage	Daily
villuda	විල්ලුද	Velvet	veludo	Velvet	Daily
vinākiri	විනාකිරි	Vinegar	vinagre	Vinegar	Food
vīduruva	වීදුරුව	Glass	vidro	Glass	Daily
visita	විසිත	Visit	visita	Visit	Daily
viskōtuva	විස්කෝතුව	Biscuit	biscoito	Biscuit	Food
visita		Visit	visita	Visit	Daily
vīvā, viyavā		Widow	viúva	Widow	Daily
viola		Guitar	violão	Guitar	Music

Proper Names

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Chaminda Vaas is one of many Sinhalese with a surname of Portuguese origin.

Many Sinhalese adopted Portuguese names, especially surnames. Some are very common (e.g. Perera, De Silva). The names, however, do not necessarily denote Portuguese ancestry or religious affiliation, with many Buddhist Sinhalese having Portuguese-origin surnames.

Sri Lankan Form	සිංහල	Portuguese
Cabral	කබ්රාල්	Cabral
Corea	කෝරියා	Correia
Croos	ක්රූස්	Cruz
De Abrew	ද අබ්රිව්	Abreu
De Alwis	ද අල්විස්	Alves
De Mel	ද මෙල්	Melo
De Saram		Serra
De Silva, Silva	ද සිල්වා, සිල්වා	Da Silva
Dias	දිඅස්	Dias
Fonseka	ෆොන්සේකා	Fonseca
Fernando	ප්රනාන්දු	Fernandes
Gomes	ගෝමෙස්	Gomes
Gonsalkorale	ගොන්සල් කෝරලේ	Gonçalves
Mendis	මෙන්ඩිස්	Mendes
Perera	පෙරේරා	Pereira
Peiris	පීරිස්	Peres
Rodrigo	රොද්රිගෝ	Rodrigues
Vaas	වාස්	Vaz

See also

• Dutch loanwords in Sinhala
• English loanwords in Sinhala
• Tamil loanwords in Sinhala

External links

• Portuguese words in Sinhala