Dhivehi (ދިވެހ Divehi ) is the official language of the Maldives . A dialect of it is also spoken in Maliku (Minicoy) Island in the Lakshadweep islands of India , where it is known as Mahal (މަހަލް महल्) or Mahl . Neglect of Mahal and lack of recognition of Mahal as an official language in Lakshadweep, has rendered this language to a colloquial language. Influence of neighbouring languages like Malayalam of Kerala and Urdu and Hindi of the mainland India is changin its diction at a very fast rate. There has been hardly any production of literature in Mahal since the begining of the last quarter of the twentieth century. A single person manned radio broadcasting, for about half an hour or so, from Kozhikode station of All India Radio is the only radio broadcasting available in Mahal. There are no newspapers or television broadcasting in Mahal language from any regional news paper or television station in India, as on April 2013.
[edit ] Pronunciation guide Dhivehi romanization is somewhat inconsistent. This phrasebook uses the Malé (Nasiri) Latin standard used in the Maldives, with SAMT (Indic) spellings in parentheses when different.
[edit ] Vowels a as in u p
aa (ā) as in a rm
i as in i f
ee (ī) as in ee l
u as in pu t
oo (ū) as in cartoo n
e as in e gg
ey (ē) as in hey
o as in o f
oa (ō) as in bor n
ai
au
[edit ] Consonants [edit ] Common diphthongs [edit ] Phrase list Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase .
[edit ] Basics
Common signs
OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN
Hello. Assalaamu alaikum. ( )
Hello. (informal ) . ( )
How are you? Haalu kihineh?
How are you? (informal ) Kihineh? ( ? )
Fine, thank you. Ran'galhu, shukuriyaa. ( )
What is your name? Kon nameh kiyanee? ( ? )
My name is ______ . Aharenge namakee ______. ( _____ . )
Nice to meet you. Baddhalu vee thi varah ufavejey. ( )
Please. Adhes kohfa. ( )
Thank you. Shukuriyaa. ( )
You're welcome. Maruhabaa. ( )
Yes. Aan. ( )
No. Noon. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention ) . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon ) Ma-aaf kurey. ( )
I'm sorry. Ma-aafu kurey. ( )
Goodbye (vakivelan)
Goodbye (informal ) Dhanee. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well]. [ ]ahanakha thi bahe negey. ( [ ] )
Do you speak English? Ingireysin vaahaka dhakkan ingeytha? ( ? )
Is there someone here who speaks English? Mithaa ingireysin vahaka dhakan ingey mehaku eba huri tha? ( ? )
Help! Salaamai! ( ! )
Look out! Balaa balashey! ( ! )
Good morning. Bajaveri hendhune. ( )
Good evening. Bajaveri haveer eh. ( )
Good night. baajaveri reygade. ( )
Good night (to sleep ) Ufaaveri nidhume. ( )
I don't understand. Ahannakah neyngunu. ( )
Where is the toilet? Faahanaa kobaitha? ( ? )
[edit ] Questions where? kobaa?
why? keevve?
who? kaaku?
what? koacheh?
there ethaa
here mithaa
this mi
that e
[edit ] Problems Leave me alone. aharen ekani dhukoh laa . (... )
Don't touch me! aharen gaiga aie nulaa (... )
I'll call the police. aharen fuluhun nah gulhaanan. (... )
Police! sifain! (... )
Stop! Thief! huttey! vageh! (... )
I need your help. ahanah thibaage eheetheri kan beynun. (... )
It's an emergency. mee kulli haalatheh. (... )
I'm lost. aharen miulhenee gelligen. (... )
I lost my bag. aharen ge dhabas gelije. (... )
I lost my wallet. aharenge laari dhabas gellije. (... )
I'm sick. aharen miulhenee balive. (... )
I've been injured. aharennah haanika vejje . (... )
I need a doctor. aharen doctor eh beynun. (... )
Can I use your phone? ahannah thi phoanu beynun kollevi dhaane tha? (... )
[edit ] Numbers 1 one (Ekeh )
2 two (Dehyh )
3 three (Thineh )
4 four (Hathareh )
5 five (Faheh )
6 six (Hayeh )
7 seven (Hatheh )
8 eight (Asheh )
9 nine (Nuvaeh )
10 ten (Dhihaeh )
11 eleven (Egaara )
12 twelve (Baara )
13 thirteen (Theyra )
14 fourteen (Saadha )
15 fifteen (Fanara )
16 sixteen (Soalha )
17 seventeen (Sathaara )
18 eighteen (Ashaara )
19 nineteen (Navaara )
20 twenty (Vihi )
21 twenty one (Ekaavees )
22 twenty two (Baavees )
23 twenty three (Theyvees )
30 thirty (Thirees )
40 forty (Saalhees )
50 fifty (Fansaas )
60 sixty (Fasdholhos )
70 seventy (Haiydhiha )
80 eighty (Addiha )
90 ninety (Nuvadhiha )
100 one hundred (Satheyka )
200 two hundred (Dhuisaththa )
300 three hundred (Thin Satheyka )
1000 one thousand (Enchaas' )
2000 two thousand (Dhehaas )
1,000,000 one million (Ehmilian )
1,000,000,000 one thousand million in UK , one billion in USA
1,000,000,000,000 one billion in UK , one trillion in USA
number _____ (train, bus, etc. ) number _____ (... )
half eh bai
less madhu
more gina
What time is it? Gadin kihaa ireh?
now mihaaru
later fahun
before kurin
morning hendhunu
afternoon mendhuru
evening haveeru
night reygandu
[edit ] Clock time one o'clock AM dhanvaru ekeh jahaifi
two o'clock AM dhanvaru dheyh jahaifi
noon mendhuru
one o'clock PM mendhuru ekeh jahaifi
two o'clock PM mendhuru dehyh jahaifi
midnight mendhan
[edit ] Duration _____ minute(s) _____ minute(s) (... )
_____ hour(s) _____ gadi-iru
_____ day(s) _____ dhuvas
_____ week(s) _____ hafthaa
_____ month(s) _____ mas
_____ year(s) _____ aharu
today miadhu
yesterday iyye
tomorrow maadhan
this week mi hafthaa
last week midhiya hafthaa
next week anna hafthaa
Sunday aadhittha
Monday hoama
Tuesday angaara
Wednesday budha
Thursday buraasfathi
Friday hukuru
Saturday honihiru
[edit ] Months January January (... )
February February (... )
March March (... )
April April (... )
May May (... )
June June (... )
July July (... )
August August (... )
September September (... )
October October (... )
November November (... )
December December (... )
[edit ] Writing time and date Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
[edit ] Colors black (kalhu)
white (hudhu)
gray (alhi)
red (raiy)
blue (noo)
yellow (reendhoo)
green (fehi)
orange (niyadhuru)
purple (dhambu)
brown (mushi)
pink (fiyaathoshi)
[edit ] Transportation How much is a ticket to _____? _____ ah ticket eh kihaavara kah? (... )
One ticket to _____, please. _____ ah ticket eh, please. (... )
Where does this go? mi dhany kon thaakah? (... )
Where is the boat to _____? ______ ah dhaa boatu kobaa? (... )
Does this boat stop in _____? _____ah mi boat hutaa tha? (... )
What time are we leaving? Aharemen dhanee kon irakun? (... )
How long does it take? Kihaa ireh nagaanee? (... )
[edit ] Directions How do I get to _____ ? kehene aharen _____ ah dhanee? (... )
...the airport? ...airport ah or vaige bandharah? (... )
...downtown? ...rashuthere ah? (... )
...the youth hostel? ...zuvaanunge marukazah? (... )
...the _____ hotel? ...the _____ hotel? (... )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (... )
Where are there a lot of ______? konthaaku emme gina _______ hunnany? (... )
...hotels? ...hotaa? (... )
...restaurants? ...restaurants? (... )
...bars? ...bars? (... )
...sites to see? ...balaane thanthan? (... )
Can you show me on the map? mi chaatun aharen dhakaba? (... )
street magu
Turn left. vaathah eburey
Turn right. kanaathah eburey
left vai
right kanaai
straight ahead kuri ah
towards the _____dhimaal ah _____ (... )
past the _____ ethan dhukoha fa _____ (... )
before the _____ kuri mathin _____ (... )
Watch for the _____. ethanah balamun
intersection intersection (...
north Uthuru (... )
south Dhekunu (... )
east irumathi (... )
west hulhangu (... )
uphill uphill (... )
downhill downhill (... )
Taxi! Taxi! (... )
Take me to _____, please. aharen gengos faanan tha _____, please. (... )
How much does it cost to get to _____? ethanah dhaan kihaavareh nagaa tha _____?
Take me there, please. ethanah gengos dheefanan tha?
[edit ] Lodging Do you have any rooms available? Evves kotarieh liben ebahuri tha? (... )
How much is a room for one person/two people? ekakah/ dhemeehunah kotari huree kihaavarkah tha?
Does the room come with... Kotariaai eku veytha... (... )
...bedsheets? Edhu fothigan'du? (... )
...a bathroom? Faakhaanaa? (... )
...a telephone? Foanu? (... )
...a TV? TV ? (... )
May I see the room first? Furatham ahannah kotari balaa levidhaanetha? (... )
Do you have anything quieter? Miah vure hama himeyn thaneh neytha? (... )
...bigger? Bodu? (... )
...cleaner? Saafu thaahiru? (... )
...cheaper? Agu heyo? (... )
OK, I'll take it. Massala eh ney, aharen mikotari nagaanan. (... )
I will stay for _____ night(s). Aharen hunnaanee _____ rey vandhen. (... )
Can you suggest another hotel? Kaley ahannah ehen hotaleh bunedheefaanantha? (... )
Do you have a safe? Thijooree eh hureytha? (... )
...lockers? ...lockers? (... )
Is breakfast/supper included? Hedhunuge naasthaa/reygadu keumaai ekkohtha? (... )
What time is breakfast/supper? Kaa gadi thakakee kobaa? (... )
Please clean my room. Kotari saafukoh dhevvaa. (... )
Can you wake me at _____? | Kaley ahannah govaa dheefaanantha _____ iru? (... )
I want to check out. Aharen mithanun dhaan beynun (... )
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? Kaley, Amerikaa/Australia/Kenedaa ge dollaru gaboolu kurantha? (... )
Do you accept British pounds? Kaley, In'gireysi Pound gaboolu kurantha? (... )
Do you accept credit cards? Kaley, credit card gaboolu kurantha? (... )
Can you change money for me? Kaley ahannah faisaa maarukoh dheefaanantha? (... )
Where can I get money changed? Konthaakun, aharen faisaa maarukuraanee? (... )
Can you change a traveler's check for me? Kaley, ahannah Travellers chequeh maarukoh dheefaanantha? (... )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? Konthaakun, Aharen Travellers chequeh maaru kuraanee? (... )
What is the exchange rate? Faisaa maaru kuraa reytakee kobaa? (... )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? Kobaa faisaa nagaa mashinu(ATM)? (... )
[edit ] Eating A table for one person/two people, please. A table for one person/two people, please. (... )
Can I look at the menu, please? Ahannah menu balaalevidhaanetha? (... )
Can I look in the kitchen? Badhige there balaalevidhaanetha? (... )
Is there a house specialty? Mithanuge khaassa keumeh veytha? (... )
Is there a local specialty? Is there a local specialty? (... )
I'm a vegetarian. Ahannakee mas nukaa meeheh. (... )
I don't eat pork. Aharen ooru maheh nukan. (... )
I don't eat beef. Aharen geri maheh nukan. (... )
I only eat kosher food. Aharen hama ekani kanee kosher (Yahoodhee keumeh) kaanaa. (... )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard ) (theyo/bataru)madun alhuhvaa (... )
fixed-price meal fixed-price meal (... )
a la carte a la carte (... )
breakfast Hedhunuge naasthaa (... )
lunch Mendhuru keun (... )
tea (meal ) Sai (keun) (... )
supper supper (... )
I want _____. Aharen beynun _____. (... )
I want a dish containing _____. I want a dish containing _____. (... )
chicken Kukulhumas (... )
beef Gerimas(... )
fish Mas (... )
ham ham (... )
sausage sausage (... )
cheese cheese (... )
eggs Kukulhu Bis (... )
salad Satani (... )
(fresh) vegetables (Thaazaa) Tharukaaree (... )
(fresh) fruit (Thaazaa) Meyvaa (... )
bread Paan (... )
toast toast (... )
noodles noodulus (... )
rice Baiy (... )
beans Tholhi (... )
May I have a glass of _____? Ahanna ______ thatteh libidhaane tha? (... )
May I have a cup of _____? Ahanna _____ joadeh libidhaane tha? (... )
May I have a bottle of _____? Ahanna _____ fulhi ey libidhaane tha? (... )
coffee coffee (... )
tea (drink ) Sai (Buin ) (... )
juice Joos (... )
(bubbly) water Fen (... )
water Fen (... )
beer beer (... )
red/white wine red/white wine (... )
May I have some _____? May I have some _____? (... )
salt Lonu (... )
black pepper Aseymirus (... )
butter bataru (... )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server ) Excuse me, waiter? (... )
I'm finished. Aharen nimmijje. (... )
It was delicious. Varah meeru. (... )
Please clear the plates. Thashi thah nagaa dheebal. (... )
The check, please. Check génes dheebal. (... )
Do you serve alcohol? Mithaaga raa vihkan tha? (... )
Is there table service? Is there table service? (... )
A beer/two beers, please. Biareh/dhe Biaru, libidhaanetha. (... )
A glass of red/white wine, please. A glass of red/white wine, please. (... )
A pint, please. A pint, please. (... )
A bottle, please. A bottle, please. (... )
_____ (hard liquor ) and _____ (mixer ), please. _____ and _____, please. (... )
whiskey whiskey (... )
vodka voduka (... )
rum rum (... )
water fenn (... )
club soda club soda (... )
tonic water tonic water (... )
orange juice orange juice (... )
Coke (soda ) Coke (... )
Do you have any bar snacks? Do you have any bar snacks? (... )
One more, please. One more, please. (... )
Another round, please. Another round, please. (... )
When is closing time? When is closing time? (... )
Cheers! Cheers! (... )
[edit ] Shopping Do you have this in my size? Meetheege aharenge sizuge ebahuritha?(... )
How much is this? Meege agu kihaavareh? (... )
That's too expensive. Thi maa agu bodu! (... )
Would you take _____? Nangavaa nantha ........? (... )
expensive Agu bodu (... )
cheap Agu heyo (... )
I can't afford it. Ahannakah nuganeveyne thieh? (... )
I don't want it. Aharen thiyeh beynumeh nun (... )
You're cheating me. Kaley Ahannah olhuvaalaneetha? (... )
I'm not interested. Aharen shauguveri eh nun (..)
OK, I'll take it. Massalaeh ney aharen thi gendhaanan (... )
Can I have a bag? Kothalheh libidhaanetha? (... )
Do you ship (overseas)? Ehen Gaumuthakah kan;du magun fonuvaa dhentha? (... )
I need... Aharen beynun (... )
...toothpaste. Dhaiy ugulhaa beys. (... )
...a toothbrush. Dhaiy ugulhaa burus. (... )
...tampons. ...tampons. (... )
...soap. Saiboani. (... )
...shampoo. ...shampoo. (... )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen ) Thadhu kan'duvaa beys. (... )
...cold medicine. Aridhafuhuge beys. (... )
...stomach medicine. Badah thadhuvaathee kaa beys. (... )
...a razor. ...Reyzaru. (... )
...an umbrella. Kuda. (... )
...sunblock lotion. Avi bahdhaa loashan. (... )
...a postcard. ...Postcardeh. (... )
...postage stamps. isteympu. (... )
...batteries. Beteri. (... )
...writing paper. Liyaa karudhaas. (... )
...a pen. Galameh. (... )
...English-language books. In'gireysi foythah. (... )
...English-language magazines. In'gireysi Majallaathah. (... )
...an English-language newspaper. ...In'gireysi nooheh. (... )
...an English-English dictionary. ...In'gireysi basfotheh. (... )
[edit ] Driving I want to rent a car. Aharen beynun vanee Kaareh kuyyah hifan(... )
Can I get insurance? Insurance kurevidhaanetha?(... )
stop (on a street sign ) Huttey (... )
one way Eh kolhah dhuvvaa mageh (... )
yield yield (... )
no parking Park kurun manaa (... )
speed limit speed limit (... )
gas (petrol ) station gas station (... )
petrol petrol (... )
diesel diesel (... )
[edit ] Authority I haven't done anything wrong. Alhugandu kusheh nukuran. (... )
It was a misunderstanding. Thee olhumeh. (... )
Where are you taking me? Alhugandu kon thaakah thigendhanee? (... )
Am I under arrest? Aharen mihiree hahyarukohfa tha? (... )
I am a or (an) Maldivian/Iraqi/Pakistani/Saudi Arabian citizen. I am an Maldivian/Iraqi/Pakistani/Saudi Arabian citizen. (Ahannakee dhivehiraahjege /iraquge/pakistaanuge/saudi arabiyaage Raiyyitheh... )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (... )
I want to talk to a lawyer. I want to talk to a lawyer. (Aharen Qaanoonee Vakeelakaa vaahaka dhakkan beynun )
Can I just pay a fine now? Can I just pay a fine now? (Aharennah Joorimanaa akun mikan ninmidhaanetha... )
[edit ] Learning more This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take, or pointers to a dictionary or two.
How do you say _____ ? Kihineh bunaanee _____ ? (... )
What is this/that called? miah/eah kiyany keekay? (... )
[edit ] Learning more
how do ____ say?
____ kihineh bunaanee?
place here the pronouns.in the blanks.
i-means- aharen. we-mean- aharumen.
you-means- kaley. you all- means- kaleymen.
it- ehethi. all of it-means- eh hourihaa ehceh.
he-means- eyna.
she-means-ehanhenaa.
they-means-eh meehun.
