Learning Guide for the
Sinhala Alphabet
The Sinhala alphabet, derived from the ancient Brahmi script, is an abugida writing system that has evolved to meet modern communication needs. It consists of 41 consonants and 18 vowels, although some sources cite slight variations due to additional characters used in classical or Sanskrit loanwords. The script includes both independent and dependent vowel forms, with the latter used in conjunction with consonants to form syllables. Consonants are modified by diacritical marks to represent different sounds, following an abugida structure where each character typically represents a consonant with an inherent vowel. This complex system allows for a rich phonetic representation, making Sinhala writing both intricate and versatile.
සිංහල අක්ෂර මාලාව
Contents
- Introduction
- How it works?
- Forming a syllable
- The Sinhala alphabet
- - Consonants
- - Vowels