Back when I was studying in Sri Lanka I made sure that the first lesson in Dhivehi language that my new acquaintances got was in the use of swear words. In so doing sometimes I replaced a few words for common pleasantries with expletives of the worst kind so that when asked “kihineh?” (how are you?) my unsuspecting hosts would say, with a kind smile, “kaley amaa fui” (your mother’s genitals). All this to my great amusement, of course.
So it wasn’t long before classmates caught up with the expletives side of Dhivehi. The similarities between Sinhalese and Dhivehi make it easy for the Sinhalese and Dhivehin to learn each other’s languages in a short time. While school colleagues mastered the barrage of the strange Dhivehi swear words (like fadaboe), you can find housemaids who have mastered the language to an astounding level. The same goes for some Dhivehin who show exemplary fluency when conversing Sinhalese.
It is thought that Dhivehi and Sinhalese have a common ancestral vernacular. That would certainly explain the similarities. There is however one joke that the Sinhalese can laugh about and it has to do with a particular Dhivehi word. It could be the most cruel joke ever pulled in our long history together as neighbours and linguistic siblings.
In the most confounding and unfortunate turn of linguistic mix-ups, the Dhivehi word used in agreement or acknowledgement – especially when speaking to royalty, people of higher authority or parents – specifically means the male genitals in Sinhalese.
That Dhivehi word is “labba”.
Could it be that centuries ago some Ceylonese jokester substituted a regular word with an expletive when he or she introduced the language to an unsuspecting Dhivehi person and watched, in great amusement, as the word was imported into Dhivehi language in its full phallic glory?
Have we been swearing at our fathers and mothers, landlords and bosses, ministers and presidents, kings and queens for centuries? It certainly is fact from the point of view of the Sinhalese even today.
Whether this particular word is just a freak coincidence, an oddity or indeed a great practical joke, we may never know. But one thing is certain; the Sinhalese still laugh their labbas off as we unwittingly swear in our most respectful of moments.
[...] have us by the balls! Posted By Hilath Why a Maldivian should never again use the word ‘labba‘ (either out of courtesy or not) to another [...]
“labba” origin is arabic word labbaika. so there is nothing to do with labba in singahala .. dhivehi many words are similar to singhala and also there are many words that is from arabic language too…
Hi Abdulrahym,
That’s very insightful. So what exactly does labbaika mean?
Labbaika means….AT YOUR SERVICE….(not hundred percent sure)
I have seen in one of your posts which you attempted to delete comments when some words were in Arabic.
I couldn’t figure it out why you so hate Arabic language and its culture but if someone studies Arabic they will know how beautiful and eloquent the language is. For your information, Arabic is rooted from Aramaic and Hebrew and English came into existence at much later stage.
While reading some of your articles and comments it seems you know everything within and beyond of our human imaginations! It’s like your way is always the right way and the rest goes to the high-way.
This is not the right way to win the hearts of the people. Indeed, you make others to hate you. The educated people do not act in such away…or else, you might have been thought gaining some little knowledge could own the world for the rest of your life.
You need to understand that some people may be good at writing or good at talking or good at doing things or may be good at something but everyone has got be involved when you are communicating with the rest of the world. This is INTERNET and CALLED WORLD WIDE WEB aka www (everyone knows this including you). A language or religion shouldn’t be a barrier. Someone might be a Muslim or Christian or Jew but they might be beneficial in your life at some point in time.
You guys always promote your first commandments – The Freedom of Expression…though, when it comes to your emotions it got to be breached and manipulated for your own demands but when it comes to others the phrase should be safe and sound and act/worship upon it! What a bias phrase.
I would suggest you to learn interpersonal skills and learn not to be proud of yourself but rather getting respect from others while appreciating their faiths, beliefs, culture, language and knowledge….etc
Also, I have seen some of your writings by praising yourself and how generous with your philanthropic (giving) acts. Again, you don’t need to appreciate and praise yourself for what you do to others but rather give a chance to others to praise you. There are millions of people who help others. There are millions of scholars and educated people around the world, there are millions of people who help others but most of them keep silent and do their things. You need to learn a lot just by writing few articles wouldn’t make you a better person/knowledgeable. Your knowledge couldn’t help others when you praise yourself a lot! Mate take a U-TURN or just follow the gloomy path! Cheers
RanXXX,
You wrote: “This is not the right way to win the hearts of the people.”
I am not out to win people’s hearts on this blog.
Thank you.