මම ඉගෙන ගන්නවා
mama igena gannavā
The phrase "I am learning" in Sinhala is expressed as මම ඉගෙන ගන්නවා (mama igena gannavā).
This phrase is used to state that you are currently in the process of acquiring a new skill or gaining knowledge.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of මම (I), ඉගෙන (learning/study) and ගන්නවා (take/get), which literally translates to "I am taking learning".
How do you pronounce it?
mama igena gannavā
Did you know?
- The root of ගන්නවා is related to the Prakrit word 𑀕𑀡𑁆𑀳𑀇 (gaṇhaï), which connects Sinhala to a vast network of ancient Indo-Aryan languages.
- In a classroom setting, a student might add සර් (Sir) or මිස් (Miss) to the phrase to show respect to the teacher.
- Sinhala often omits the subject මම (I) in casual conversation because the verb ending already indicates who is speaking.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- නිමල්ෂි Nimalshiතරිඳු, ඔබ මොනවද කරන්නේ?tharindu, oba monavada karannē?Tharindu, what are you doing?
- තරිඳු Tharinduමම ඉගෙන ගන්නවා.mama igena gannavā.I am learning.
- නිමල්ෂි Nimalshiඔබ ඉගෙන ගන්නේ මොනවාද?oba igena gannē monavāda?What are you learning?
- තරිඳු Tharinduමම පරිගණක ඉගෙන ගන්නවා.mama pariganaka igena gannavā.I am learning computers.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ගන්නවා, CC BY-SA 4.0.
