නැහැ
næhæ
The English word 'no' is translated into Sinhala as නැහැ (næhæ).
නැහැ is a particle used to express negation or to show disagreement with a statement.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is næhæ.
Did you know?
- While නැහැ is the standard negation, the word එපා is used when 'no' means 'I don't want it' or 'don't do that', creating a strict distinction between existence and desire.
- In Sri Lanka, a 'no' is often communicated through a subtle side-to-side head tilt or a slight shake that can be easily mistaken by English speakers for a 'yes' or a sign of uncertainty.
- The word නැහැ is related to the concept of 'not being' or 'non-existence' in many linguistic contexts. It doesn't just mean 'no' as a refusal, but can imply that something simply does not exist.
Examples in context
- මම ඒක දන්නේ නැහැ.mama eka danne nehe.I don't know that.
- දැන් මට වෙලාවක් නැහැ.den mata welawak nehe.I don't have time now.
- එයා මෙතන නැහැ.eya methana nehe.He is not here.
Example conversation
Tharindu asks Ishani if she likes the food.
- තරිඳු Tharinduඔයා මේකට කැමතිද?oyā mēkaṭa kæmatida?Do you like this?
- ඉෂානි Ishaniනැහැ, මම කැමති නැහැ.næhæ, mama kæmati næhæ.No, I don't like it.
- තරිඳු Tharinduඇයි එහෙම කියන්නේ?ayi ehemā kiyannē?Why do you say that?
- ඉෂානි Ishaniමේක ගොඩක් සැරයි.mēka goḍak særayi.This is too spicy.
