Learn Sinhala Online: Counting from 1 to 100 in Sinhala
If you’ve ever wanted to learn Sinhala online, one of the easiest and most practical places to start is with numbers. Counting in Sinhala is a core skill that you will use daily, from shopping in Colombo to telling the time to just chatting with locals. Mastering how to count from 1 to 100 in Sinhala will give you confidence and a solid foundation for learning more complex parts of the language.
In this guide, you’ll not only see how Sinhala numbers work step by step but also discover the best ways to practice. Plus, once learn-sinhala.com fully launches, you’ll be able to learn Sinhala online through gamified quizzes that make learning interactive, fun, and free to get started.
Why Counting is the Best Place to Start When You Learn Sinhala Online
Many beginners ask: “Is Sinhala easy to learn?” The truth is, like any language, Sinhala has its challenges. But one area that’s surprisingly straightforward is numbers. Learning to count gives you immediate wins:
- Practical daily use – ordering food, paying bills, telling time.
- Quick confidence boost – you’ll start speaking Sinhala right away.
- Building blocks – numbers form part of bigger conversations (ages, dates, phone numbers).
And the good news? Once you understand the pattern, number counting in Sinhala becomes second nature.
Sinhala Numbers 1–10
Just like English, Sinhala numbers start with unique words for 1 through 10. Learn these first, because you’ll reuse them over and over again.
- 1 – ekə (එක)
- 2 – dekə (දෙක)
- 3 – tunə (තුන)
- 4 – hatərə (හතර)
- 5 – paha (පහ)
- 6 – hayə (හය)
- 7 – hatə (හත)
- 8 – aṭə (අට)
- 9 – naməyə (නවය)
- 10 – dahayə (දහය)
Pronunciation Tips
- The symbol ə (called schwa) is pronounced like a quick, relaxed, and unstressed “uh” sound, as in the first syllable of about.
- The symbol ṭ represents a retroflex “t,” made by curling the tongue back against the roof of the mouth.
Sinhala Numbers 11–20
Numbers between 11 and 20 are combinations built from 10 plus the next digit (with 11, 12 and 15 being exceptions).
- 11 – ekoləha (එකොලහ)
- 12 – doləha (දොලහ)
- 13 – dahatunə (දහතුන)
- 14 – dahahatərə (දහහතර)
- 15 – pahalovə (පහළොව)
- 16 – dahasəyə (දහසය)
- 17 – dahahatə (දහහත)
- 18 – dahaaṭə (දහඅට)
- 19 – dahanaməyə (දහනමය)
- 20 – vissə (විස්ස)
Sinhala Numbers 21–100
Here’s where the real fun begins. Sinhala uses the same system as English: combine the “tens” word with the smaller digit.
- 30 – tihə (තිහ)
- 40 – hatəlihə (හතලිහ)
- 50 – panəha (පනහ)
- 60 – hæṭə (හැට)
- 70 – hættǣvə (හැත්තෑව)
- 80 – asūvə (අසූව)
- 90 – anūvə (අනූව)
- 100 – sīyə (සීය)
Examples:
- 23 → vīsī-tunə (විසිතුන)
- 47 → hatəlis-hatə (හතලිස්හත)
- 56 → panas-hayə (පනස්හය)
Pronunciation Tips
-
The symbol æ is pronounced like a short “a” sound, similar to the vowel in the English word cat.
-
The symbol ǣ is pronounced like a long “a” sound, similar to the “a” in the English word cat, but held longer”
-
The symbol ū is pronounced like a long “u” sound, similar to the vowel in the English word “food.”
👉 With this system, counting in Sinhala becomes predictable. Learn the multiples of 10 first, then plug in 1–9 to form all the other numbers.
How to Memorize Sinhala Numbers Faster
- Use real-life examples: Try saying prices, time, or your phone number in Sinhala.
- Chunk practice: First master 1–10, then 11–20, then 21–100.
- Gamified learning: Quizzes and interactive challenges make memorization fun.
When learn-sinhala.com launches, you’ll have access to gamified quizzes designed to help you count to 100 in Sinhala effortlessly. These short exercises turn repetition into a game, so you’ll remember without the boredom of rote memorization. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn Sinhala online for free.
Learn Sinhala Online Free: Start With Numbers
If you’ve searched for phrases like learn Sinhala online free or “how to learn Sinhala online”, you’ve probably noticed there aren’t many structured resources out there. That’s exactly why we’re building learn-sinhala.com — a platform designed to make learning accessible and engaging.
When it launches, you’ll be able to:
- Practice counting to ten in Sinhala and beyond through quick daily quizzes.
- Track your progress with streaks and rewards, similar to popular apps like Duolingo.
- Build your skills step by step, starting with numbers, greetings, and useful everyday phrases.
And yes — you will be able to learn the basics and essentials for free, which is great if you want to learn Sinhala online without investing any money immediately.
Common Mistakes Learners Make When Counting in Sinhala
When people try to learn Sinhala online, these are the typical mistakes they encounter with numbers:
- Skipping 11–19: These have unique forms and can’t always be guessed.
- Forgetting pronunciation: Sinhala has subtle sounds that differ from English.
- Mixing formal and informal usage: Locals often shorten numbers in casual speech.
By practicing regularly and testing yourself with quizzes, you’ll avoid these pitfalls.
Final Thoughts: Learn Sinhala Online and Master Numbers
If you’re looking to learn Sinhala online, start with numbers. Counting from 1 to 100 gives you confidence, daily utility, and a strong base for expanding your vocabulary.
Here’s what to do next:
- Practice counting in Sinhala daily (start with 1–10).
- Memorize key milestones: 20, 30, 40, and so on.
- Combine tens + digits until 100 feels natural.
And remember: once learn-sinhala.com officially launches, you’ll have access to gamified quizzes that will help you learn how to count from 1 to 100 in Sinhala the easy way - interactive, fun, and effective.
So don’t just study passively. Turn learning into a game, and soon you’ll be counting like a native.
👉 Another great free resource for learning sinhala numbers is Omniglot

About the Author
I'm the creator behind Learn‑Sinhala.com. Raised in an English-medium school in Colombo, I could get by in Sinhala, but I lacked the confidence for real conversations. After completing a B.Sc in Psychology and an M.Sc in Computer Science at the University of Bath, I decided to build a free and engaging app to help others learn Sinhala more easily. Through this blog, I share the story and the tech behind the scenes — all to make Sinhala learning fun, accessible, and culturally meaningful.