Shopping and money in Maldivian
98 words Maldivian words on the topic “shopping and money”: ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟ — how much is it?, އަގު — price, ރުފިޔާ — rufiyaa (currency), ފިހާރަ — shop. 98 words can be played from recordings.
98 words on the topic
- ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟kihaa vareh?how much is it?Literally 'what measure'. For counting pieces there's a different question, kithah
- އަގުagupriceFrom it come the words for 'cheap' and 'expensive' — literally 'price good' and 'price big'
- ރުފިޔާrufiyaarufiyaa (currency)The currency of the Maldives; the hundredth part is the laari. The name shares a root with the Indian rupee
- ފިހާރަfihaarashopAny small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'
- މާރުކޭޓުmaarukeytumarketEnglish market. In Malé it names the fish and vegetable market by the port
- ކައުންޓަރުkauntarucounterNo stressed syllables in Dhivehi — the syllables come out even: ka-un-ta-ru
- ވިއްކާ މީހާvikkaa meehaasellerLiterally 'selling person': vikkaa is 'sells', meehaa is 'person'. There is no separate noun 'seller' in Dhivehi
- ގަންނަ މީހާganna meehaabuyerBy the same pattern as 'seller': ganna is 'buys'. The first word changes, the second stays
- މީޒާންmeezaanscalesmee-ZAAN, long ee in the first syllable
- ކިލޯkiloakilogramEnglish kilo. At the market people more often just say 'kilo', without the grams
- ތާޒާthaazaafreshBoth a's are long: TAA-zaa
- ދޮންdhonripeDental d — the tongue sits at the teeth, not at the ridge
- ޕްރައިސް ޓެގުprais teguprice tagEnglish price tag whole: in Malé shops the tags are often written in English too
- އަގުބޮޑުaguboduexpensiveTwo known words: agu, 'price' from unit two, plus bodu, 'big'. 'The price is big' — that's literally how it's said
- އަގުހެޔޮaguheyocheapThe mirror of 'expensive': heyo is 'good, kind'. Cheap in Dhivehi is not 'low' but 'kind of price'
- ޑިސްކައުންޓްdiskauntdiscountEnglish discount. Asking for one at the market is normal; at a price-tag shop, no
- ބާކީbaakeechange (money)Arabic baaqee, 'the remainder'. What stays of your money after the purchase
- ކޭޝްkeyshcashEnglish cash. The native word for money in general is faisaa, but cash specifically is usually called 'cash'
- ދޭންވީ ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟dheynvee kihaa vareh?how much do I owe?Literally 'how much will have to be given': the verb 'give' plus 'must'. The question is about what exactly you are to pay
- މާ އަގުބޮޑުmaa aguboduthat's too expensiveMaa before the adjective means 'too'. The opening line of any haggle
- އަގުހެޔޮ ކުރެވިދާނެތަ؟aguheyo kurevidhaanetha?can it be cheaper?Literally 'can the price be made kind'. The -tha particle at the end is the question itself
- މީތި ގަންނާނަންmeethi gannaananI'll take itMeethi is 'this thing', plus 'will buy'. The ending marks the future: the decision is made
- ބޭނުމެއް ނޫންbeynumeh noonI don't need itFrom beynun, 'want, need', and noon, 'no'. The polite refusal to a street seller
- އަދި އެއްadhi ehone moreAdhi is 'still, and', eh is 'one' from unit two. That's how you ask for a refill at the hotaa
- ސުޕަރު މާރުކޭޓުsuparu maarukeytusupermarketEnglish supermarket. The native maarukeytu, 'market', from unit three is the same word market — it just arrived earlier and wore itself smooth
- ވަށިގަނޑުvashigandubasketThe n before dh is written plain and sounds with a nasal twang: va-shi-GAAN-du
- ކިޔޫkiyooqueueEnglish queue. Three letters on paper, heard as 'kiyoo'
- ފައިސާ ދައްކާ ތަންfaisaa dhakkaa thancheckoutLiterally 'the place where money is paid': faisaa, 'money', dhakkaa, 'pays', than, 'place'
- ކޮތަޅުkothalhubag (plastic)The lh is said with the tongue curled back, duller than a plain l
- ހުޅުވިފައިhulhuvifaiopen (for business)From 'to open'. The -fai ending gives the state: not 'they open' but 'it is open'
- ބަންދުbandhuclosed (for the day)Both 'closed' and 'day off': 'bandhu day' is a non-working day. On Fridays much is bandhu
- ހޮވަނީhovaneeto chooseThe -nee form from unit four: choosing now. The same word speaks of elections
- ސައިޒުsaizusizeEnglish size. About clothes you ask 'what size?' with kon
- ދަބަސްdhabasbagA native word for any bag: a woman's, a school one, a travel one
- ފިޓިން ރޫމްfitin roomfitting roomEnglish fitting room. In Malé shops it's signed exactly so
- ލައިގެން ބަލަނީlaigen balaneeto try onLiterally 'having put it on, look': the participle 'having worn' plus the looking verb. Dhivehi likes such verb pairs
- ސައިޒު ހެޔޮވަރުsaizu heyovaruit fitsHeyovaru is 'just right, becoming', from 'good' out of unit five
- މާ ބޮޑުmaa bodutoo bigMaa before the adjective is 'too', as in 'too expensive'
- މާ ކުޑަmaa kudatoo smallThe partner of 'too big'. The request for another size is the polite 'give'
- ގެރެންޓީgerenteewarrantyA warranty on appliances. The word stands in a row with other shop words, Unit 16.
- މުދާ އަނބުރާ ދިނުންmudhaa anburaa dhinunto return an itemLiterally 'to give the goods back'. The bare n hums nasal before the b.
- އިޝްތިހާރުishthihaaruadvertisingThe s carries no vowel: ish-ti-HAA-ru
- އިޝްތިހާރު ވީޑިއޯishthihaaru veedioaTV commercialLiterally 'advertising video'. Veedioa came in Unit 15.
- ބްރޭންޑުbreyndubrandFrom English 'brand'. The native word for 'name' does not carry this sense.
- ލޯގޯloagoalogoBoth o's are long, both written with the long-o sign: loo-goo.
- ސޭލުseylusaleA discount on one item is the Unit 5 word; seylu is about the whole shop at once.
- ފައިދާހުރި ހުށަހެޅުންfaidhaahuri hushahelhuna good dealFaidhaahuri is 'in which there is benefit'; hushahelhun is 'an offer', the same word as filing an application, Unit 21.
- އަގުތައް އަޅާކިޔުންaguthah alhaakiyunto compare pricesAlhaakiyun is 'to lay side by side and read', that is, to compare. Aguthah is the plural of 'price'.
- ޕެކެޓުpeketupacketEnglish 'packet'. They are counted with it just like packets: 'two packets'.
- ބިއްލޫރިbillooriglassThe familiar 'glass' of the second wave is 'glassware', that is, exactly this word plus 'dish'.
- ދަގަނޑުdhagandumetalStrictly this is iron, but in talk it names any metal. Gold and silver get their own words.
- ޕްލާސްޓިކުplaastikuplasticEnglish 'plastic'. In Male this word is heard about the ocean more often than about dishes.
- ކަރުދާސްkarudhaaspaperA Persian-rooted word. A sheet of paper is 'a paper leaf'.
- ވަރުގަދަvarugadhasturdyLiterally 'strong by measure'. Said of a thing, of a person and of the wind: 'a sturdy wind'.
- ފެންވަރު ރަނގަޅުfenvaru rangalhuhigh-qualityFenvaru is 'level, quality', literally 'the measure of water'. There is no single-word adjective for it.
- ޝޮޕިން ސެންޓަރުshopin sentarumallMale has several; the small islands have none at all — there it is the Unit 3 'shop'.
- ފިހާރައިގެ ބިއްލޫރިގަނޑުfihaaraige billoorigandushop windowLiterally 'the shop's glass'. The tail turns the material into a big flat object, as in 'mirror'.
- ކޭޝިއަރުkeyshiarucashierEnglish 'cashier'. The place itself is the Unit 5 'cash desk'.
- ވިޔަފާރިviyafaarishoppingOne word for 'trade', 'a purchase' and 'a shopping trip': 'to go shopping'. The familiar 'own business' is the same root.
- ބޯނަސް ކާޑުboanas kaaduloyalty cardBoanas already appeared in Unit 23 as 'bonus': here the same word in its trading sense.
- ހަދިޔާ ބަންދުކުރާ ކަރުދާސްhadhiyaa bandhukuraa karudhaasgift wrappingLiterally 'the paper a gift is wrapped in'. Bandhukuraa is 'to close up, to wrap'; the same word means 'to arrest'.
- ފިހާރައިގެ ޓްރޮލީfihaaraige troleeshopping cartTrolee without the qualifier more often means an airport luggage cart, so 'shop' stands in front.
- މުދާ ބަދަލުކުރުންmudhaa badhalukurunto exchange an itemIt differs from the familiar 'return an item' in that the thing is swapped for a thing, not given back for money.
- ފައިސާ އަނބުރާ ހޯދުންfaisaa anburaa hoadhunto get a refundLiterally 'to get the money back'. Anburaa is the adverb 'back', from 'to turn'.
- އައިބު ހުރިaibu huridefectiveLiterally 'having a flaw'. Aibu is said of a thing and of a deed alike — then it means 'a disgrace'.
- ސައިޒު ނުފެތުނުsaizu nufethunuthe size does not fitFethunu is 'to fit, to suit', and it is exactly the verb used about size. The negative prefix is the Unit 11 one.
- ޗެކު ރައްކާކުރުންcheku rakkaakurunto keep the receiptRakkaakurun is 'to put away for keeping', the same word as putting money aside in Unit 21.
- މިއީ ފޭކެއްmiee feykehit is a fakeEnglish 'fake' with a tail. The native word for 'lie' is said of words, not of things.
- މުދާ ސްޓޮކުގައި އެބަހުރިmudhaa stokugai ebahuriin stockEbahuri is 'present right now': the prefix shows the speaker sees it with his own eyes.
- އެހެން ކުލައަކަށް ބަދަލުކުރުންehen kulaakah badhalukurunto change to a different colorThe tail on the color shows what it is changed into. 'Color' is known from Unit 8.
- އަތުކުރީ ގަޑިathukuree gadiwristwatchLiterally 'a watch on the wrist'. Gadi by itself is 'hour', 'clock' and 'a slot on the schedule' alike.
- ސެންޓުsentuperfumeFrom English 'scent'. Maldivian perfume is often oil, without alcohol, and it takes the same word.
- މޭކަޕް ސާމާނުmeykap saamaanucosmeticsLiterally 'supplies for makeup'. Saamaanu is 'things, gear', a wide word: fishing tackle is said the same way.
- ބޭނުންކޮށްފައި ހުރިbeynunkoffai hurisecondhandLiterally 'having been in use': a gerund plus 'having'. The familiar 'old' speaks of age, not of a previous owner.
- އަގު ހެޔޮކުރަން އެދެނީagu heyokuran edheneeto haggleLiterally 'asks the price to be lowered'. No separate verb, and haggling in the Maldives lives only at the market — in a shop the price is firm.
- ކަސްޓަމަރުkastamarucustomerEnglish 'customer'. A buyer at a shop gets the shop word; a client of a firm gets this.
- ވިއްކަނީvikkaneeto sellThe same root as 'seller', Unit 5. The pair to 'buys'.
- އޮންލައިން ފިހާރަonlain fihaaraonline storeEnglish 'online' plus the Unit 3 'shop'. On the islands the order travels from Male by boat, not by courier.
- ފޮތް ފިހާރަfoiy fihaarabookstore'Book' plus 'shop'. Compound shop names are built exactly so.
- ސްޓޮކްstokstockEnglish 'stock' — said at the shop and at home alike. The native description is longer: 'set-aside things'.
- ޕީސް އަކުންpees akunby the pieceColloquial, from English 'piece': 'by the item'. This is what price tags in Male say when goods are not sold by weight.
- ހޯލްސޭލްކޮށްhoalseylkohin bulkEnglish 'wholesale' plus a tail. No native word: bulk trade on the islands arrived together with the English name.
- ގެރެންޓީ މުއްދަތުgerentee muddhathuwarranty periodEnglish 'guarantee' plus the native term word. This is exactly what the shop receipt in Male writes.
- އޯޑަރަށްoadarahmade to orderEnglish 'order' in the dative: literally 'on order'. The bare order word the course already gives; here the case turns it into a phrase.
- ނަގަނީnaganeeto takeAlso 'to pick up' and 'to take a photo': foto naganee, 'take a picture'
- ދެނީdheneeto giveTo whom — the dative tail -ah: aharennah dhee, 'give me'
- ގަންނަނީgannaneeto buyTrap: gannanee is 'buy', vikkanee is 'sell'. Different roots — don't mix them
- ކިލޯއެއް ކިހާ އަގެއް؟kiloaeh kihaa ageh?how much per kilo?The course knows 'how much' and 'price'. Here both take the indefinite tail: one unit, one price. Politer with the -thoa particle
- ޑިސްކައުންޓެއް ލިބޭނެތޯ؟diskaunteh libeynethoa?is there a discount?Literally 'will a discount be gotten?': the question goes through 'to get', not 'to be'. The -thoa tail keeps the polite tone
- ތިޔަ ފިހާރައިގައި އެބަހުރިތޯ؟thiya fihaaraigai ebahurithoa?do you have it in stock?Literally 'in your shop, is it on hand?': thiya is the polite 'your'. Name the goods before this, and the eba- shows the question is about right now
- އަހަރެން މި ނަގާނަންaharen mi nagaananI'll take this oneThe tail marks the first-person future, a decision said aloud. At the counter that's exactly how it's said, finger on the goods
- އަހަންނަށް ކޮތަޅެއް ބޭނުންahannah kothalheh beynunI need a bagThe course knows 'bag' and 'need'. The one who needs stands with the -ah tail. Since 2021 the single-use bag is banned in the country and costs money
- ފައިސާ ދައްކާ ތަން ކޮބާ؟faisaa dhakkaa than kobaa?where is the checkout?The course knows the checkout as 'the place money is paid'. Kobaa is the everyday 'where'; politer is the -thoa form
- ދެން ނިމުނީdhen nimuneethat's allLiterally 'further — finished'. Nimunee the course knows from the end of the workday; at the counter it means the shopping is gathered
- ކޭޝުން ނޫނީ ކާޑުން؟keyshun noonee kaadun?cash or card?The -n tail here means 'with': 'with cash'. The seller asks; in Malé cards are taken almost everywhere, on a small island almost nowhere
- ބާކީ ބޭނުމެއް ނޫންbaakee beynumeh noonkeep the changeThe course knows the change as 'the remainder'. The negation is built through 'not needed': the noun takes its tail, and noon follows
- ވިޔަފާރި ލިސްޓުviyafaari listushopping listViyafaari is both trade and a shopping run — the course knows it as the name of a unit. A to-do list is built differently
- އިތުރު އެއްޗެއް ބޭނުންތޯ؟ithuru echcheh beynuntho?anything else?The polite question is assembled by the particle -tho on the end: beynun, 'needed', becomes beynuntho, 'do you need'
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
- މި ރޮށި ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟mi roshi kihaa vareh?How much is this flatbread?
- މީގެ އަގު ބޮޑުmeege agu boduThe price of this is high
- ދިހަ ރުފިޔާ ދޭންވީdhiha rufiyaa dheynveeYou need to pay ten rufiyaa
- މި ފިހާރަ ބަންދުmi fihaara bandhuThis shop is closed
- މާރުކޭޓުގައި މަސް ގަންނަނީmaarukeytugai mas gannaneeI buy fish at the market
- ކައުންޓަރު ކައިރިkauntaru kairiNext to the counter
What is worth knowing about these words
ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟ (kihaa vareh?) — how much is it?. Literally 'what measure'. For counting pieces there's a different question, kithah
އަގު (agu) — price. From it come the words for 'cheap' and 'expensive' — literally 'price good' and 'price big'
ރުފިޔާ (rufiyaa) — rufiyaa (currency). The currency of the Maldives; the hundredth part is the laari. The name shares a root with the Indian rupee
ފިހާރަ (fihaara) — shop. Any small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
- What is this word?
It is ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟ (kihaa vareh?) — how much is it?.
- What is this word?
It is ކައުންޓަރު (kauntaru) — counter.
- What is this word?
It is ތާޒާ (thaazaa) — fresh.
- What is this word?
It is ޑިސްކައުންޓް (diskaunt) — discount.
- What is this word?
It is އަގުހެޔޮ ކުރެވިދާނެތަ؟ (aguheyo kurevidhaanetha?) — can it be cheaper?.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “how much is it?” in Maldivian?
Literally 'what measure'. For counting pieces there's a different question, kithah
- How do you say “counter” in Maldivian?
English counter written in Thaana. The counter, the desk, the till — one word covers them all
- How do you say “fresh” in Maldivian?
From Persian taaza through Urdu — 'fresh'. About fish at the morning market this is exactly the word
- How do you say “discount” in Maldivian?
English discount. Asking for one at the market is normal; at a price-tag shop, no
- How do you say “can it be cheaper?” in Maldivian?
Literally 'can the price be made kind'. The -tha particle at the end is the question itself
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
How much it costs, whether there is a smaller one, whether cards are accepted. A shop forgives mistakes: miss a word and they will show you the thing with their hands anyway.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “how much is it?” in Maldivian?
«ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟», read “kihaa vareh?”. Literally 'what measure'. For counting pieces there's a different question, kithah. It is one of 98 words in the set “shopping and money” — the rest are in the table above.
How many shopping words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 98 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.
Is there audio?
Yes, 98 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.