• Ayubowan

    Origin

    From Sinhalese ආයුබෝවන් (āyubōvan)

    Full definition of ayubowan

    Interjection

    1. (Sri Lanka) Salutation wishing the recipient a long life, typically as a greeting or a goodbye.
      • 1963, Punyakante Wijenaike, The third woman and other stories - Part 1963, page 48:"Ayubowan, I am looking for a yam for my Suduhamy." I said.
      • 2007, Vidushi Seneviratne, "Echo of Koggala cradle", in The Sunday Times (June 3, 2007).Charming girls dressed in the traditional, low-country reddha and hattaya, welcomed the invitees at the regal Galle Face Hotel, with a customary ayubowan.
      • 2008, Royston Ellis, Sri Lanka: The Bradt Travel Guide, page 27:The cabin crew are all Sri Lankan and passengers are greeted on boarding with the traditional ayubowan ('may you have long life').
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