Sri Lankan words Avurudu, kottu roti, kiribath, watalappam now listed in Oxford English Dictionary

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially included several popular Sri Lankan words in its latest update, marking a significant moment for the country’s linguistic and cultural recognition on the global stage.   

Accordingly, well-known Sri Lankan culinary terms such as kottu roti and kiribath have been added to the OED, alongside cultural expressions like Baila and Papare.   

Kottu roti, a staple of Sri Lankan street food, is made by chopping flatbread together with meat, vegetables, and spices — prepared on a heated griddle with a distinctive rhythmic sound. The word originates from the Tamil term Kottu (meaning ‘chopped’) and the Sinhala roti (meaning ‘bread’).   

The update also includes a range of Sri Lankan English words reflecting local traditions, clothing, celebrations and historical concepts.

Newly added entries include:   

Asweddumize, Avurudu, Baila, Kiribath, Kottu Roti, Mallung, Osari, Papare, Walawwa, and Watalappam.   

In addition to the new entries, the OED has revised several existing Sri Lankan English words to better reflect modern usage. Updated entries include:   

Ceylon Coffee, Ceylon Tea, Ceylonese, Colombo, Dagoba, Kangany, Sinhala, Tamil, UNP, Vedda, Vihara, and others.   

This update underscores the expanding global influence of Sri Lankan language and culture, and its integration into the broader English lexicon.