Vedda

C2 Topic:People & Society

Also spelled Veddahs

US /ˈvɛdə/ UK /ˈvedə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a member of an Indigenous minority people of Sri Lanka, also known by the self-designation Wanniyalaeto

A Vedda community leader described current efforts to protect ancestral lands.
2

noun
the endangered language variety traditionally associated with Vedda communities in Sri Lanka

The recording preserves songs and vocabulary in Vedda.
3

adj
relating to the Vedda people, their language, or their culture

The exhibition was revised after consultation with Vedda representatives.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a member of an indigenous... Wanniyalaeto

2 noun · the endangered language... Vedda language

Word family

Related forms Sri LankaIndigenousWanniyalaetoSinhalese

Etymology

Borrowed through Sinhala or Tamil forms meaning 'hunter,' ultimately related to Sanskrit vyadha, 'hunter.' Vedda is the common modern English spelling; Veddah and the plural Veddahs are historical variants. Some communities use the self-designation Wanniyalaeto.

Topics

People & Society

External links

# Vedda

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈvɛdə/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvedə/

## Meanings
1. a member of an Indigenous minority people of Sri Lanka, also known by the self-designation Wanniyalaeto
2. the endangered language variety traditionally associated with Vedda communities in Sri Lanka
3. relating to the Vedda people, their language, or their culture

## Examples
- A Vedda community leader described current efforts to protect ancestral lands.
- The recording preserves songs and vocabulary in Vedda.
- The exhibition was revised after consultation with Vedda representatives.

## Synonyms
- Wanniyalaeto

## Related Forms
- Sri Lanka
- Indigenous
- Wanniyalaeto
- Sinhalese

## Etymology
Borrowed through Sinhala or Tamil forms meaning 'hunter,' ultimately related to Sanskrit vyadha, 'hunter.' Vedda is the common modern English spelling; Veddah and the plural Veddahs are historical variants. Some communities use the self-designation Wanniyalaeto.

## Topics
- People & Society

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