Ayubowan
Origin
From Sinhalese ආයුබà·à·€à¶±à·Š (ÄyubÅvan)
Full definition of ayubowan
Interjection
- (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').