Where does “Sinhala” come from?
Sinhala derives from Sanskrit सिंहल, from Sanskrit सिंह meaning "lion," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sinǵʰo- through Proto-Indo-Iranian sinȷ́ʰás and Proto-Indo-Aryan sinźʰás.
Sinhala (English): The indigenous language of the majority people of...
Definitions
- The indigenous language of the majority people of...
Ancestry of “Sinhala”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Sinhalese | සිංහල | — |
| 2 | Sanskrit | सिंहल | the island of Sri Lanka; name of a man; Sri... |
| 3 | Sanskrit | सिंह | the lion; the zodiacal sign Leo or its lagna;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-Aryan | sinźʰás | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | sinȷ́ʰás | lion |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | *sinǵʰós- | — |