Three levels of politeness
In Divehi the choice of the word for "you" is a social decision, not grammar. - ކަލޭ (kaley) — only with peers and close people; to a stranger it will sound rude. - ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ (thiya beyfulhaa) — neutral-polite, the safe choice for a traveler. - Address to elders and officials is built from a special polite vocabulary (ދެއްވާ instead of ދީ). For example: “ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ ކިހިނެއްތޯ؟” — How are you getting on?. A rule…
How it works
In Divehi the choice of the word for "you" is a social decision, not grammar. - ކަލޭ (kaley) — only with peers and close people; to a stranger it will sound rude. - ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ (thiya beyfulhaa) — neutral-polite, the safe choice for a traveler. - Address to elders and officials is built from a special polite vocabulary (ދެއްވާ (dhevvaa) instead of ދީ (dhee)).
A safe rule: while in doubt — use the polite form and the particle -ތޯ (-tho).
By example
- ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ ކިހިނެއްތޯ؟thiya beyfulhaa kihinehthoa?How are you getting on?
- ފެން ދެއްވާfen dhevvaaGive me some water, please (polite)
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How to say you in Dhivehi?
In Divehi the choice of the word for "you" is a social decision, not grammar. - ކަލޭ (kaley) — only with peers and close people; to a stranger it will sound rude. - ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ (thiya beyfulhaa) — neutral-polite, the safe choice for a traveler. - Address to elders and officials is built from a…
Levels of politeness in Dhivehi?
A safe rule: while in doubt — use the polite form and the particle -ތޯ.
How not to sound rude in the Maldives?
A safe rule: while in doubt — use the polite form and the particle -ތޯ.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ތިޔަ ބޭފުޅާ ކިހިނެއްތޯ؟” (thiya beyfulhaa kihinehthoa?) — How are you getting on?. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.