LingoflyBasic words in Maldivian
310 words in Maldivian on the topic “basic words”: ރަނގަޅު (rangalhu) — fine, well, ބަރާބަރު (baraabaru) — great, excellent, އާދެ (aadhe) — yes (polite), އާން (aan) — yes (casual). 310 words can be played from recordings.
310 words on the topic
- ރަނގަޅުrangalhufine, wellThe standard answer to kihineh. One word serves both the adverb 'well' and the adjective 'good': rangalhu dhuvahuge, 'a good day'
- ބަރާބަރުbaraabarugreat, excellentStronger than rangalhu: everything in perfect order, nothing missing. One shape serves both adverb and adjective
- އާދެaadheyes (polite)The polite yes, for elders and strangers. Between friends people say the short aan instead
- އާންaanyes (casual)A short, conversational yes for friends and people your own age. With elders and strangers, aadhe is the better choice
- ނޫންnoonnoDhivehi puts the predicate at the end of the phrase, so the negation often lands as the last word you hear
- ވަރަށްvarahveryStands before the quality it boosts — the main intensifier of everyday speech: varah bodah, 'very big'
- ބައިbaihalfOne syllable: the a and i blend, close to 'bye'
- އަދި އެއްadhi ehone moreAdhi is 'still, and', eh is 'one'. That's how you ask for a refill at the hotaa
- ފުދޭfudheyenough (stop)The verb 'it suffices'. One word stops a seller who keeps piling it on
- ޖުމްލަjumlain totalArabic jumla — 'the sum, all together'. The last line of the bill
- ބޮޑަށްbodahbiggerThe final t releases as a light h: 'bodah', almost 'boda'
- ކުޑަކޮށްkudakohlessPartner to 'bigger': from kuda, 'small'. It also means 'a little, just a bit'
- ބަރުbaruheavyHeavy in weight. About a hard day or a hard conversation people say something else
- ލުއިluilight (not heavy)Dictionaries split it lu-i; in quick speech the u and i run together
- އައުaunewWritten with two alifus in a row: the first holds the a, the second the u. About a new thing
- ބާbaaold (used)Old about a thing — worn, second-hand. About a person you don't say it: there the 'aged' word stands
- ހަލާކުވެފައިhalaakuvefaibrokenArabic halaak, 'ruin', plus 'having become' — literally 'come to ruin'
- ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ރަނގަޅުhurihaa kameh rangalhuall is wellHurihaa is 'all', kameh is 'a matter' — literally 'all matters are good'
- އަތްaiyhandNot 'ath' but 'ai' with a held, clipped end
- ފައިfaifootBoth foot and leg. The second sign is an i-carrier, a stand for the vowel
- ސަމާލުވޭsamaaluveycareful!Arabic 'attention'. Literally 'be attentive' — road signs are worded exactly so
- ނުރައްކާnurakkaadanger!Danger and dangerous are one word. The double sign lengthens the kk: nu-rak-kaa
- ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ބަރާބަރުhurihaa kameh baraabarueverything is fineThe same opening as in 'all is well', but with 'excellent'
- އަތް ނުލާaiy nulaadon't touch!Literally 'don't put the hand': the hand plus the negative form of 'to put'
- މީހާmeehaapersonThe word appears inside 'seller' too: the final -aa marks 'that very one'. Just 'some person' takes an indefinite tail, and 'people' is the plural
- އެގާރަegaaraelevenFrom Sanskrit ekaadasha via Pali — the same eka root as 'one'. The eleven-to-nineteen row is native and doesn't split into ten-plus-unit
- ބާރަbaaratwelvebaa-ra, with a long a in the first syllable
- ތޭރަtheyrathirteenLinked to thin, 'three', only by history: you can no longer hear the three inside it
- ސާދަsaadhafourteenThe full-moon night is called saadhaveerey, 'the night of the fourteenth' — the lunar month lives inside the word
- ފަނަރަfanarafifteenThe fifteenth is the usual payday, so the word comes up often
- ސޯޅަsoalhasixteensoa-lha, with the tongue curled back on the last syllable
- ސަތާރަsathaaraseventeenDon't mix it up with satheyka, 'hundred': the openings match, the endings part ways
- އަށާރަashaaraeighteenThe start from ah, 'eight', is audible; the -aara ending is the same as in baara, 'twelve', and sathaara, 'seventeen'
- ނަވާރަnavaaranineteenNuva, 'nine', plus the same -aara tail. The last of the row: after it comes vihi, 'twenty'
- ވިހިvihitwentyIts own word that doesn't split into 'two tens' — the tens row never became transparent
- ތިރީސްthireesthirtyThe start from thin, 'three', is audible; the -ees ending is shared by thirty and forty
- ސާޅީސްsaalheesfortyA partner to thirees by the same -ees tail. The tens after that are built differently
- ފަންސާސްfansaasfiftyRelated to fas, 'five', though you can barely hear it
- ފަސްދޮޅަސްfasdholhassixtyHere the fas, 'five', is visible plainly, though it's the sixth number: the old count went differently
- ހަތްދިހަhahdhihaseventyHaiy, 'seven', plus dhiha, 'ten'. From seventy to ninety the tens stack up transparently
- އަށްޑިހަahdihaeightyAh, 'eight', plus dhiha, with the d hardening into a retroflex one — written with the retroflex letter, not the plain one
- ނުވަދިހަnuvadhihaninetyNuva, 'nine', plus dhiha; here the d of dhiha stays in place, unlike in eighty
- ސަތޭކަsatheykahundredThe hundreds are built by putting the number in front: dhuisatthaa, 'two hundred'; thinsatheyka, 'three hundred'
- ހާސްhaasthousandA number always stands in front of it: eh haas, 'one thousand'; fas haas, 'five thousand'
- މިލިއަންmilianmillionEnglish million. There is no native word: the old count never reached such magnitudes
- ސުމެއްsumehzeroThe Arabic sifr gave sumeh; in a phone number it's read as English zero
- ފުރަތަމަfurathamafirstThe same word as 'at first': Dhivehi doesn't split the ordinal from the adverb
- ދެވަނަdhevanasecondDhe, 'two', plus -vana. From the second on, all ordinals take this tail; only 'first' stands apart
- ތިންވަނަthinvanathirdThin plus -vana. By the same pattern come fourth, fifth and so on forever
- އެންމެ ފަހުenme fahulastLiterally 'the most behind': enme is the superlative, fahu is 'after'. No separate word exists
- ކިތައްkithahhow many?How many — about counting pieces. For price there's the other question, kihaavareh
- ޖޯޑުjoadua pairA pair of shoes or of people. The same word means 'cup': the neighbor word decides
- އެތިethipiece (item)A piece, a thing. In counting, ethi stands where English 'pieces' goes: fas ethi, 'five pieces'
- އިންސައްތަinsatthapercentLiterally 'in the hundred': in is 'from', satthaa is 'hundred'. In speech people more often say the English 'percent'
- ކޮންމެkonmeeach, everyStands before the noun and never changes: konme dhuvahaku, 'every day'; konme meehaku, 'every person'
- ކާކުkaakuwho?kaa-ku, long a in the first syllable
- ކީއްވެkeevvewhy?Comes apart into 'what' and 'became': literally 'from what did it become'. The fuller form sounds longer and more polite
- ކީއްކުރަންkeehkuranwhat for?Literally 'do what'. Dhivehi has no separate 'what for': the cause gets the why-question, the purpose gets this link with the verb 'do'
- ކޮންކަހަލަkonkahalawhat kind of?About a quality: 'what is it like?'. Choosing from a known set is plain kon before the noun: 'which ferry'
- ކާކުގެkaakugewhose?Kaaku with the same -ge ending that makes 'my' out of 'I'. It doesn't change for gender or number: whose, of whom — one word
- އެއްވެސް މީހަކުehves meehakunobodyThere is no standalone 'nobody' at all. This is 'even one person', and it only works with a negative predicate. Without the negation the sentence falls apart
- ކޮންމެވެސް އެއްޗެއްkonmeves echchehsomethingKonmeves is 'some kind of', echcheh is 'a thing'. About a person by the same pattern: 'some person or other' — someone
- ދެމީހުންވެސްdhemeehunvesbothLiterally 'two people too': there is no separate 'both', just 'two' plus a noun plus ves. About things and days the noun changes
- އަހަންނަކަށް ނޭނގެahannakah neyngeI don't knowKnowledge in Dhivehi isn't 'mine' but 'to me': the knower stands with the -ah ending. The short form is the same thing without 'to me'
- ފެންނަނީfennaneeto seeLiterally 'is seen'. The seer stands with the -ah ending: 'to me it appears'. Looking on purpose is another verb, balanee
- އިވެނީiveneeto hearBuilt like 'to see': the hearer takes the ending, and the sound is the subject. Listening on purpose is another verb
- ނިދަނީnidhaneeto sleepThe same root as in 'bedroom'. 'I want to sleep' is literally 'sleep is coming'
- ގެންދަނީgendhaneeto carryThe ndh sounds fused, with a nasal twang: gen-dhaa-nee
- ބަހައްޓަނީbahattaneeto set (down)To set and to place are one verb: Dhivehi doesn't distinguish positions of a thing. The same root is in the left-luggage room
- ހަލާކުކުރަނީhalaakukuraneeto breakHalaaku is 'ruin', kuranee 'makes'. When it breaks by itself one says halaakuvejje, 'it broke': only the second verb changes, 'do' into 'become'
- ބިނާކުރަނީbinaakuraneeto buildAbout a house and a bridge. The same root is in 'builder'. About construction as a business another word is used
- ގިނައިންginaina lotA lot about action: 'eats a lot', 'goes often'. Before a noun the short gina stands: 'many people'
- މަދުންmadhunlittle (not much)The mirror of 'a lot', in meaning and in build: the short madhu stands before a noun, the long madhun with a verb
- މަޑުmadusoftThe retroflex d — a sharp d with the tongue curled back, not the dental dh
- ހަރުharuhard (to the touch)A perfect twin of the word for 'shelf' — Dhivehi simply has no second word here. The neighbor word decides: with 'flatbread' it means the bread has gone hard
- ތެތްtheiywetThe final t doesn't give a t but a glide: 'they' with a held ending
- ހިކިhikidryA twin of the word for 'thin (of a person)': about a thing it's 'dry', about a person 'skinny'. Dried fish, the country's main export, wears the same word
- ތުނިthunithinOf a leaf, fabric or book. About a person you don't say it — there the 'skinny' word stands. Thick about a thing is another word again
- ފުންfundeepOf the sea, a well and a wound. The noun 'depth' shares the root plus the measure ending
- ވަށްvahroundWritten with the retroflex letter but heard as 'vah': the final cluster sounds as a breath. The circle as a shape takes a longer word
- ކޮންތާކަށްkonthaakahwhere to?Literally 'to which place': which + place + to. There is no separate word for 'whither' — 'where' is built quite differently
- ހުރިހާ ތަނެއްގައިhurihaa thanehgaieverywhereLiterally 'in all places'. There is no one-word 'everywhere' in Dhivehi — the phrase does the job
- އެއްވެސް ތަނެއްގައިehves thanehgainowhereBuilt like 'nobody': 'in even some place' plus an obligatory negation at the end. Without the negation the phrase doesn't mean 'nowhere'
- ނުރައްކާnurakkaariskLiterally 'unprotectedness': 'not' plus 'safety'. The same word warns of danger.
- ދެވަނަ ރޭވުންdhevana reyvunbackup planLiterally 'a second plan'. Reyvun is the action noun of 'to plan', and it also names the plan itself.
- ދަތިކަންdhathikansetbackThe ending turns a quality into a thing: 'tightened' becomes 'a tightening'. About a real disaster people say another word.
- ސަބަބުsababucauseOne word for the cause of an act and of a thing. How cause ties to effect is shown by the verb's tail, not by this word.
- ނަތީޖާnatheejaaresultThe result of an affair, of an exam, the score of a match. It usually comes with 'turned out'.
- އެހެންވެehenvethereforeOne of the few Dhivehi link words that stand separately, and it opens the SECOND part, after the cause: 'the rain came, therefore we did not go'.
- ސަބަބަކީsababakeethe reason isThere is no plain 'because'. Either the cause closes with a tail on its verb, or sababakee — 'the cause is that' — stands in front.
- އެކަމުގެ ސަބަބުންekamuge sababunbecause of thisLiterally 'by the cause of that matter'. The tail on 'matter' gives 'because of'; the word also signals the cause was named earlier.
- ބިނާވެފައިވުންbinaavefaivunto depend onLiterally 'to be built on'. What one depends on stands in front with a tail: 'depends on the weather'.
- ސަބަބު ބުނެދިނުންsababu bunedhinunto explain the reasonBunedhinun is 'to say-give', that is, to spell out. Nearby lives the word 'explanation': same build, other root.
- ލަނޑުދަނޑިlandudhandilong-term goalBoth n's are bare, without a vowel: lan-du-dan-di
- މާނަmaanameaningMeaning as value: 'the meaning of this word'. Meaning as the point of a deed is another word.
- ނިންމުންnimmunconclusionThe n before the m merges: nim-mun
- ފުރުސަތުfurusathuopportunityOnly a lucky opening, a chance: 'an opportunity came up'. Possibility as likelihood is not this word — that takes a verb.
- ވެދާނެvedhaanepossiblyIn Dhivehi not an adverb but a verb form: 'it may come to pass'. It closes the phrase, as every predicate does.
- ނުވާނެnuvaanecannot be doneAlso a verb, not an adverb: 'it will not come to pass'. It closes the phrase: 'this is impossible'.
- ބޭނުންތެރިކަންbeynuntherikannecessityA quality name from 'necessary'. Living speech mostly gets by with the verb 'to have to' — the noun is bookish.
- ކޮންމެހެންkommehencompulsoryThe same n-plus-m pair as in enme: kom-me-hen
- އަހަންނަށް ޖެހޭނެahannah jeheyneI will have toImpersonal: not 'I must' but 'it falls to me'. To whom — with a tail; what to do — a verb in front of it.
- ހުއްދަhuhdhapermittedIn Dhivehi not an adjective but the noun 'permission': the predicate is built as 'photographing is permission'.
- މަނާmanaaprohibitedThe word from every sign. Also not an adjective: what is prohibited goes in front as an action name, and manaa closes the phrase.
- އިޚްތިޔާރުikhthiyaaruchoiceThe kh carries no vowel: ikh-ti-yaa-ru
- އެހެން ގޮތެއްehen gothehoptionLiterally 'another way'. No word 'variant' exists: where English says variant, Dhivehi says 'way, manner'.
- ޝައްކުshakkudoubtThe doubled sign doubles the next sound: shak-ku
- ޝައްކުކުރަނީshakkukuraneeto doubtIn whom or what — with a tail; without it you get 'I suspect in general'.
- ޔަގީންyageencertainIt stands as the predicate, at the end: 'I am certain'. The adverb 'of course' is this same word with a tail.
- ނުވާނެހެން ހީވަނީnuvaanehen heevaneeunlikelyLiterally 'it seems it will not come to pass'. There is no adverb for it: the doubt is carried by the verb, with 'as if' clinging behind.
- ފަހަރެއްގައިfaharehgaiprobablyThe doubled sign before the gh: fa-ha-reh-gai
- ސީދާseedhaaexactlyThe same seedhaa as 'straight' about a road: straight and exact are one. 'Exactly' as 'surely' is another word.
- އަހަންނަށް ހީވަނީahannah heevaneeit seems to meImpersonal: the person does not act here but receives an impression, hence the tail. The thought stands BEFORE the phrase and closes with a particle.
- ހަގީގަތުގައިhageegathugaiin factLiterally 'in the truth': the word for truth with a place tail. It opens the phrase and almost always contradicts what was said.
- ލަފާކުރަނީlafaakuraneeto estimateTo guess and to size up by eye: 'an estimated hundred people'. The object of the guess closes with a particle.
- އަހަންނަކަށް ޔަގީނެއް ނޫންahannakah yageeneh noonI am not certainThe negation of a noun predicate is not a prefix but a separate word at the very end.
- ތަޖުރިބާthajuribaaexperienceOne word for three senses: life experience, work record and a scientific experiment. Only the word in front tells them apart.
- ހާލަތުhaalathucaseA case as a state of affairs: 'in that case'. A case as an incident is another word, and a case as luck a third.
- މިސާލުmisaaluexampleAn example for explaining and a model to copy: 'a good example'. An example in a math textbook is another phrase.
- މިސާލަކަށްmisaalakahfor exampleThe same misaalu with a tail: 'as an example'. It opens the part it illustrates.
- ތަފާތުthafaathudifferenceBoth the noun 'difference' and the adjective 'different' — one word in two roles. Between what — both things take a tail.
- އަޅާކިޔުންalhaakiyuncomparisonLiterally 'to lay together and read'. Comparison as grammar is an ending; this word is about the act.
- ތަފާތުވުންthafaathuvunto differThafaathu plus 'to become' — the usual way to make a verb from a noun. From what — with a tail.
- ވައްތަރުvaththarusimilarThe doubled sign doubles the th: vat-tha-ru
- އެއްގޮތްކަންehgothkanresemblanceThe final th before the k is not a t but a short y: eh-goi-kan
- ބަދަލު އައުންbadhalu aunchangeLiterally 'the coming of a change'. One badhalu means both 'a change' and 'compensation' — the neighbor word tells them apart.
- ފުރަތަމަ ކަމަކީfurathama kamakeefirst of allLiterally 'the first matter is that'. One of the few devices standing AFTER its part: Dhivehi enumeration opens rather than closes.
- ދެވަނަ ކަމަކީdhevana kamakeesecondlyThe pair to 'first of all', and the count goes on the same way: the number in front, the matter word after.
- އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަemme furathamaabove allLiterally 'the very first': 'most', plus the ordinal. It opens the phrase and marks order of actions, not importance.
- އޭގެ އިތުރުންeyge ithurunbesidesLiterally 'in addition to that'. It opens the SECOND part and looks back at what was said.
- އަދި އެއް ވާހަކަadhi eh vaahakaby the wayLiterally 'and one more talk'. There is no plain 'by the way': this formula opens the aside and always comes first.
- ޖުމްލަކޮށްjumlakohall in allFrom 'in total' plus the manner tail. It stands before the summary, not after it.
- ކުރުކޮށް ބުނަނީނަމަkurukoh bunaneenamain shortLiterally 'if speaking briefly': the conditional tail hangs on the verb at the end of the phrase.
- އެހެން ބަހުން ބުނާނަމަehen bahun bunaanamain other wordsLiterally 'if said with another word'. The instrumental tail sits on the word for 'word, language'.
- މުހިންމު ކަމަކީmuhimmu kamakeethe main thingThe n before the m hums: mu-him-mu
- ކޮންމެއަކަސްkommeakasin the endLiterally 'however it may be'. It draws the line under an argument and opens the final part.
- ވިޔަސްviyasalthoughIt stands NOT in front but at the end of the concession, right after its verb: 'although expensive'.
- އެކަމަކުވެސްekamakuvesbut thenBuilt from two known words: 'but' and 'also'. It comes out as 'but all the same' — the shade that sets it apart from a plain 'but'.
- އެއާ ޚިލާފަށްeaa khilaafahon the contraryLiterally 'against that'. It opens the second part and requires the first to be said already.
- ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސްkamugai viyasdespiteIt stands AFTER what is defied: 'the rain, despite'. The English preposition leads; the Dhivehi phrase trails.
- ނަމަވެސްnamaveshoweverThe third of the standalone links. It opens the second part and sounds bookish next to the talkative 'but then'.
- އެއް ފަރާތުންeh faraathunon the one handLiterally 'from one side': 'side' with a tail. It opens the first half of a comparison and demands a pair.
- އަނެއް ފަރާތުންaneh faraathunon the other handAneh is 'the other of two', not 'another at large': for that there is another word. The phrase opens the second half.
- އެހެންނަމަވެސްehennamavesneverthelessThe double n at the seam: e-hen-na-ma-ves
- އޭގެ ބަދަލުގައިeyge badhalugaiinsteadLiterally 'in the place of that'. Instead of what — in front with a tail: 'instead of the car'.
- ކޮންމެ ގޮތެއް ވިޔަސްkomme gotheh viyasno matter whatThis is 'all the same' as in 'however it turns out'. 'All the same' as 'I do not care' is quite another phrase.
- ގަސްދަކާ ނުލައިgasdhakaa nulaiby accidentThe s carries no vowel inside: gas-dha-kaa
- ގަސްދުގައިgasdhugaion purposeLiterally 'with intent' — the direct pair to 'without intent'. It stands before the verb and almost always sounds like an accusation.
- ނާކާމިޔާބުnaakaamiyaabufailureFrom 'success' with the Persian 'not-' prefix. That prefix lives only in borrowed words.
- ފިޔަވަޅަކަށްފަހު ފިޔަވަޅެއްfiyavalhakahfahu fiyavalhehstep by stepLiterally 'after a step, a step': fiyavalhu is both a footstep and a measure taken by authorities.
- ކަންކުރާނެ ތަރުތީބުkankuraane tharutheebuorder of stepsLiterally 'the order in which to do the deeds': an Arabic word for order and sequence.
- ތަފްސީލުކޮށްthafseelukohin detailFrom 'detail' plus the manner tail — the same ending as in 'tastily'.
- އަމިއްލަ ބަހުންamilla bahunin my own wordsLiterally 'with one's own word', in the singular: the plural would sound strange. Do not mix it up with the 'to put it another way' turn.
- ފަސޭހަކޮށް ބުނާނަމަfaseyhakoh bunaanamasimply putLiterally 'if said easily': the conditional tail. Dhivehi introduces an explanation with a condition, not an adverb.
- މިސާލެއް ދީބަލަmisaaleh dheebalagive an example'Example'. The little tail softens the command into a 'do, please'; without it the bare verb sounds sharp.
- ކިހިނެއްކަން ދައްކާލަބަލަkihinehkan dhakkaalabalashow how it is done'How' plus the tail that turns a question into a sub-clause. 'How it is done' fits into one Dhivehi word.
- ދޭހަވެއްޖެތަ؟dheyhavejjetha?is that clear?The final particle makes the question; to an elder or a stranger a politer particle is taken instead.
- މިހާރު ދޭހަވެއްޖެmihaaru dheyhavejjenow it is clear'Now' plus the ending that means 'has already become'. That ending is exactly what the English 'now' carries.
- އަހަރެން އޮޅިއްޖެaharen olhijjeI got confusedThe same root as in 'misunderstanding': to get confused and to mix up are one word in Dhivehi.
- ހަނދާންވަނީhandhaanvaneeto recallNo dictionary form — the present stands instead. The ending means 'by itself': it recalls itself to the person, and the person stands with a tail.
- ހަނދާން ނެތެނީhandhaan netheneeto slip one's mindLiterally 'for the memory not to be': Dhivehi has no verb 'to forget', only a negation of memory.
- ނިޔަތްniyaiyintentionThe final th is not a t: ni-yai
- ޚިޔާލު ބަދަލުވަނީkhiyaalu badhaluvaneeto change one's mindIn Dhivehi not a verb but a noun plus a helper: 'thought' plus 'changes'. The thought changes by itself — hence the involuntary form.
- ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ރޭވުމާ އެއްގޮތަށްhurihaa kameh reyvumaa ehgothaheverything according to planLiterally 'everything in the manner of the plan': the 'same as' word demands a tail before it.
- ވެވިއްޖެއްޔާvevijjeyyaaif it works outThe 'succeed' ending plus the conditional. One word where English needs three.
- އަދި ނުނިންމަންadhi nunimmanI have not decided yetAdhi is 'still, so far'; the negation sits inside the verb as a prefix. Here it means 'to decide', not 'to finish'.
- ހުރިހާ ކަމެއް ބަދަލުވެއްޖެhurihaa kameh badhaluvejjeeverything has changed'Every matter' — this is the Dhivehi 'everything' about events. About things, another phrase is said.
- ރަނގަޅު ގޮތަކަށްrangalhu gothakahfor the betterLiterally 'into the good side': 'manner, side' with the direction tail.
- ގޯސް ގޮތަކަށްgoas gothakahfor the worseThe pair to rangalhu gothakah, 'for the better': 'bad, spoiled' instead of 'good'. The word also means 'mistaken'.
- އަދަދުadhadhuamountArabic for 'number, quantity'. About money it means 'the amount'; jumla is 'in total', the last line of a bill.
- މިލްކުވަނީmilkuvaneeto belongFrom Arabic 'property'. In speech people more often use the tail: 'mine'.
- އެހެން މީހެއްގެehen meehehgesomeone else'sLiterally 'of another person'. There is no adjective 'foreign': someone else's thing is always somebody's in particular.
- ހިއްސާވާhissaavaasharedFrom 'share, part': 'that in which everyone has a share'. About a shared yard or a shared bill.
- ދެ ބަޔަށް ބަހަނީdhe bayah bahaneeto split in halfLiterally 'divides into two parts': 'part, share'. The word for 'part' by itself means 'half'.
- ކޮއްޕަނީkoppaneeto pushA native word. The pair to 'pull'; on doors in Male it is written in English exactly so.
- ދަމަނީdhamaneeto pullIt means 'to pull', 'to drag' and 'to drag on a cigarette' alike. The pair to 'push'.
- ޖަހަނީjahaneeto hitOne of the widest verbs of the language: to hit, to hammer in, to switch on, to play a ball, to strike the hour. The object carries the sense.
- މީޓަރުmeetarumetreThe same word as the 'utility meter': in Dhivehi it is both the unit of length and the device on the wall. The context tells them apart; there are no other words.
- ސެންޓިމީޓަރުsentimeetarucentimeterEnglish 'centimetre' whole. The prefix does not live separately in Dhivehi: the word is learned as one.
- ކިލޯމީޓަރުkiloameetarukilometer'Kilo' plus 'metre'. On the atolls distances are more often measured in boat-minutes, but on the map and in the taxi the kilometre stands.
- ލީޓަރުleetaruliterEnglish 'litre'. Drinking water on the islands is sold by the litre and in five-litre bottles.
- ގްރާމުgraamugramEnglish 'gram' with a compulsory little tail: English loanwords ending in a bare consonant usually get one added, as in 'bank' or 'taxi'.
- ބަރުދަންbarudhanweightFrom 'heavy': the same idea as other measures, weight plus tail, but its own tail. Barudhan ithuruvun, 'to gain weight', is built from this word.
- ދިގުމިންdhiguminlength'Long' plus 'measure'. All four measures are built by this pattern — see the grammar note.
- ފުޅާމިންfulhaaminwidth'Wide' plus 'measure'. A wide street is said with one phrase, its width with this word.
- އުސްމިންusminheight'High' plus 'measure'. In a country whose highest point is two and a half metres, the word is about houses more often than mountains.
- ފުންމިންfunmindepth'Deep' plus 'measure'. This is the measure the Maldives knows best of all: the depth of the lagoon and of the channel through the reef.
- ގާތްގަނޑަކަށްgaaiygandakahapproximatelyLiterally 'about a bundle': 'close'. It stands BEFORE the number. The talkative twin stands after.
- ދާދިdhaadhialmostIt stands before the word it belongs to: 'quite recently'. Unlike its twin, it is hardly ever used with numbers.
- ބަރާބަރަށްbaraabarahpreciselyFrom 'in order, fine' with a tail. It means 'to the letter, with nothing left over'; about a straight line another word is said.
- އެވްރެޖްކޮށްevrejkohon averageEnglish 'average' plus the native 'having done so'. A native word exists, but newspapers and reports print this.
- ދެ ގުނަdhe gunatwice as muchGuna is 'times' in the sense of multiplication, not of occasions. Any number fits: 'thrice as much'.
- ނަންބަރުnanbarudigitThere is no separate word for the sign: the number word means a digit, a number and a numeral alike. Foanu nanbaru, 'phone number', is built from it.
- ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައިhatharubaikulha ehbaiquarterLiterally 'one part of that divided into four'. Fractions are pronounced out in full; only 'half, share' has a short word.
- ކިރަނީkiraneeto weighIt is written and sounds like 'milk' with a verb tail, but they are different words. At the quay this word is said about the catch: fish is handed in by weight.
- ބޭކާރުbeykaaruextraFrom Persian for 'out of work'. It means 'unneeded, in vain': the same word will give 'for nothing'.
- ހުސްhusemptyThe same word as 'free': 'a free room', 'an empty bottle'. The language has no second word.
- ދުރުހެލިވަނީdhuruhelivaneeto avoidLiterally 'distances itself': 'far'. What is avoided is put into the tail meaning 'from what'.
- ޙަޤީޤަތްhaqeeqaiyfactArabic. It means fact, truth and the real gist of the matter alike: 'in fact'.
- ސުވާލުsuvaaluquestionArabic. Suvaalukurun, 'interrogation', is built from this same word — with its tail the word turns harder.
- މުހިންމުmuhinmuimportantArabic. The m before the h reads as m, so the word sounds almost 'muhimmu'. The adverb 'importantly' is the same word unchanged.
- ޕޮޒިޓިވްpozitivpositiveEnglish 'positive'. The native word means 'benign' and does not fit a test result or a review.
- ނެގެޓިވްnegetivnegativeEnglish 'negative'. The pair to 'positive', learned with it: in medicine and reviews only this is said.
- އަޅާބަލާއިރުalhaabalaairucompared toLiterally 'when looking, having laid side by side': 'having laid', 'looking', and the 'when' tail. What is compared with stands before the phrase.
- ހަމަ އެފަދަhama efadhathe sameLiterally 'just of such a kind': 'just' intensifies, 'of the kind'. Full identity is 'that very one'; resemblance is 'similar'.
- ރަނގަޅު ފަރާތްrangalhu faraaiyadvantageLiterally 'a good side': 'side'. No separate word 'advantage' exists; the profit word means gain and does not fit a design's pluses.
- ދެރަ ފަރާތްdhera faraaiydrawbackLiterally 'a weak side' — the pair to 'a good side'. A lack of something gets another word, a defect in a thing a third.
- ނަތީޖާތައްnatheejaathahconsequencesThe plural of 'result' with an ending. No separate word exists: it is the same result, only plural and usually unpleasant.
- ވިސްނުމަށް ގެންނަނީvisnumah gennaneeto factor inLiterally 'brings to thought': 'reflection'. There is no separate verb 'to take into account', and the turn is worth learning whole.
- ބޮޑަށް ބެލެވެނީbodah beleveneemost likelyLiterally 'it is seen more': the passive of 'to look'. Who reckons so is not said — and that is the whole point of the turn.
- ޔަގީނުން ވެސްyageenun vesfor sureA strengthened 'of course': the addition means 'certainly indeed'. The difference from 'most likely' is the degree of certainty, not the verb form.
- ވެދާނެކަންvedhaanekanprobabilityLiterally 'what may come to pass': 'may it happen' plus the tail that turns a verb into a thing. Probability as a number does not exist in Dhivehi.
- ލަފާކުރުންlafaakurunassumptionLafaakurun means both advice and a reckoning. Hence two senses: 'to give advice' and 'to guess, to size up'.
- ހީވަނީheevaneeit seemsFrom 'a guess' plus a particle. Ahannah heevanee, 'it seems to me', is the same word with a recipient; without one it is 'it seems'.
- ވާނީvaaneemust beA future form of 'to be', but about the present: 'he must be at home'. Dhivehi expresses a confident inference with the future, like saying 'he will be at home'.
- ވާނެ ގޮތެއް ނޫންvaane gotheh noonit cannot beLiterally 'not the manner in which it happens'. The negation stands at the end, like all negation of a noun predicate.
- މަދުވެގެންmadhuvegenat leastLiterally 'having become less', that is, 'at the least'. It stands before the number. The opposite is 'at the most'.
- ކޮންމެ ހާލެއްގައި ވެސްkonme haalehgai vesin any caseLiterally 'in whatever state it be': 'state, condition'. A similar phrase already stands for 'no matter what', and the shade is what tells them apart.
- ފަހަރެއްގައި ބޭނުންވެދާނެތީfaharehgai beynunvedhaanetheejust in caseLiterally 'because it may suddenly be needed': the tail gives the cause. Faharehgai, 'probably', stands at the start.
- ވީ ނަމަvee namaif it wereNama is 'if'; vee puts it into the past and makes it unreal. The answer part then gets its own tail.
- ޝަރުތަކާއެކުsharuthakaaekuon conditionLiterally 'together with the condition': sharuthu, 'condition', plus 'together with'.
- ކަމަށްވިޔަސްkamahviyaseven if'That' plus 'although'. Compare 'although' and the long variant; the difference is subtle, and the fused one heard more often is taken here.
- އެހެންވެއްޖެއްޔާehenvejjeyyaain that eventLiterally 'if it has become so': 'so' plus the conditional form.
- ނޫންނަމަnoonnamaor elseLiterally 'if not': the negation plus the conditional. 'Otherwise' in the sense of 'differently' is another phrase — these are different words.
- ދެންdhenin that caseIt means 'later, then' and 'then, in that case'. It opens the phrase. The past 'at that time' is another word.
- ވުމަށްޓަކައިvumahtakaiso as toAn action name plus 'for the sake of'. It attaches straight to the verb: 'in order to learn'.
- ވާ ހެންvaa henas ifThe 'as' particle stands after the verb form. It often goes in a pair: 'it seems, as if'.
- ބަދަލުގައިbadhalugairather thanLiterally 'in the replacement': 'replacement, exchange'. What is replaced stands in front with a tail: 'instead of going'.
- ގިނަ ފަހަރުgina faharumostlyLiterally 'in many times': 'many' plus 'time'. About a share of a whole ('mostly of wood') another phrase is said — 'the greater part'.
- އާދައިގެ މަތިންaadhaige mathinas a ruleLiterally 'by habit': 'custom, habit'. Compare 'usually'; this phrase sounds a little more written.
- ދާދި ހުރިހާdhaadhi hurihaaalmost everyone'Almost' plus 'all'. The word order never inverts: the modifier always comes first.
- އިސްތިސްނާisthisnaaexceptionArabic. Only about an exception to a rule; being expelled from school is another word, being struck off a list a third.
- އަދި މިހެން ގޮސްadhi mihen gosand so onLiterally 'and going so further'. It closes a list, like 'and so on'; Dhivehi almost never uses abbreviations in writing.
- ޚިލާފަށްkhilaafahunlikeArabic for 'opposite' with an ending. What is contrasted stands in front with a tail.
- ފިޔަވައިfiyavaiexceptIn Dhivehi this word stands AFTER what is excluded. 'Besides that' in the sense of 'in addition' is another word.
- މުޅިއަކުން ނޫންmulhiakun noonnot quiteLiterally 'not wholly': 'whole, entire'. It softens disagreement, and in talk it is politer than a bare 'no'.
- ކޮންމެވެސް ވަރަކަށްkonmeves varakahmore or lessLiterally 'in some measure': 'measure, degree'. The same word after a number gives approximation — 'about'.
- އުނދަގުލުންundhagulunwith effortFrom 'hard, awkward' plus a tail. The n here is without a vowel — a nasal hum, barely heard in speech.
- ތަޖުރިބާކޮށްލުން ރަނގަޅުthajuribaakohlun rangalhuworth a tryLiterally 'to try — is good'. There is no word 'worth' in Dhivehi: advice is built as an appraisal — 'it is good to do so-and-so'.
- ކުރަން ޖެހުނީސްkuran jehuneesshould haveThe tail marks the unfulfilled: 'would have had to, but did not'. It is the second half of the ...nama condition pair.
- އެންމެ ރަނގަޅު ގޮތަކީenme rangalhu gothakeethe best thingLiterally 'the best way is that': the superlative word, plus the linking tail. This is a construction, not one word.
- އެންމެ ދެރަ ގޮތަކީenme dhera gothakeethe worst thingThe pair to enme rangalhu gothakee, 'the best thing': 'bad, weak, sad'. Built the same way, and the two phrases hold together.
- ވީހާވެސް އަވަހަކަށްveehaaves avahakahas fast as possibleLiterally 'as soon as it will become'. The pattern works with any adjective: 'as much as possible'.
- ބޭކާރު ގޮތުގައިbeykaaru gothugaiin vainLiterally 'in a useless manner': the 'in vain' word plus the manner turn. In English an adverb; in Dhivehi a turn with a noun.
- ކުޅަދާނަވަނީkulhadhaanavaneeto copeKulhadhaanu is 'capable, able'. It means 'to turn out to have the strength'; about finishing a task to the end another verb is said.
- މަސައްކަތްކުރުންmasakkaiykurunattemptLiterally 'the doing of work'. No separate word 'attempt' exists in Dhivehi: effort, work and attempt are one word, and only the context tells them apart.
- އެބަހީebaheethat isLiterally 'this word means': 'that' plus 'word'. Compare the 'to put it another way' turn; this is shorter and opens the clarification.
- ވީ ގޮތަކީvee gothakeeit turned outLiterally 'it became so that'. There is no subject: an impersonal turn, exactly how Dhivehi conveys 'it turned out'.
- ނަތީޖާއެއްގެ ގޮތުންnatheejaaehge gothunas a resultLiterally 'in the manner of a certain result'. The turn with the ending runs through all written Dhivehi.
- މެދުވެރިވަނީmedhuverivaneeto lead toLiterally 'becomes the middleman': 'middle'. The subject here is not the cause but the outcome: 'the illness happens by reason of stress'.
- ސަބަބުންsababunthanks toFrom 'cause' plus a tail. The same word means 'because of' and 'thanks to': the grading is not in it, it is carried by the rest of the phrase. It stands AFTER the noun, with a tail.
- ފުރަތަމަ ފަހަރުންfurathama faharunon the first tryLiterally 'with the first time': again the instrumental tail, 'by what means'. Without it the phrase simply means 'the first time'.
- އެބަހުރިebahurithere is (available)Presence: 'there is, on hand'. The eba- prefix says it's right now. The negation is nethee: 'there is no water'
- އަދިadhiandJoins sentences and lists. Two nouns are more often linked by the -aai ending: 'rice-and fish'
- ދުއިސައްތަdhuisatthaatwo hundredThe odd one out: not 'two hundreds' but a fused dhui- + satthaa. Every other hundred is built regularly — number plus satheyka
- ތިންސަތޭކަthinsatheykathree hundredThin, 'three', plus satheyka, 'hundred'. The special counting rows — for people, for things — never reach the hundreds: a hundred is counted the same way for everyone
- ހަތަރުސަތޭކަhatharusatheykafour hundredHatharu plus satheyka, with no change in the stem
- ފައްސަތޭކަfassatheykafive hundredThe only hundred where the stem changes: fas before satheyka shortens instead of doubling
- ހަސަތޭކަhasatheykasix hundredHa, 'six', plus satheyka. The short ha is easy to lose on paper — listen for the vowel length
- ހަތްސަތޭކަhaiysatheykaseven hundredHaiy plus satheyka. The final t of haiy sounds as a brief hold before the s
- އަށްސަތޭކަahsatheykaeight hundredAh plus satheyka; in speech it comes out close to 'assatheyka'
- ނުވަސަތޭކަnuvasatheykanine hundredThe last hundred before haas, 'thousand': nuva plus satheyka
- ހަތަރުވަނަhatharuvanafourthThe number plus -vana. The ordinal stands before the noun and never changes for gender — there are no genders
- ފަސްވަނަfasvanafifthFas plus -vana; unlike five hundred, the stem isn't doubled here
- ހަވަނަhavanasixthHa plus -vana. One of the shortest words — three letters
- ހަތްވަނަhaiyvanaseventhHaiy plus -vana. The same word names the seventh day of the week
- އަށްވަނަahvanaeighthAh plus -vana. The final t sounds as a slight hold
- ނުވަވަނަnuvavananinthNuva plus -vana. Two va letters in a row aren't a typo: the first from the number, the second from the tail
- ދިހަވަނަdhihavanatenthDhiha plus -vana. The row keeps building the same way forever
- ސަތޭކަވަނަsatheykavanahundredthSatheyka plus -vana. The tail hooks onto thousands too: 'thousandth'
- ނުވަތަnuvathaorThe bookish conjunction. In conversation people more often just list things with pauses, no conjunction at all
- ވެސްvestoo, alsoFollows the word it refers to: aharen ves, 'me too' — the order runs opposite to English
- ހަމައެކަނިhamaekanionlyA long word, but a single one. Inside it you can see ekani, 'one'
- ކުރިންkurinalreadyLiterally 'before, earlier'. There is no separate word for 'already': the past tense does the job
- އަދިވެސްadhivesmore, stillAssembled from adhi, 'and', and ves, 'too'. 'One more' is ithuru eh
- މާބޮޑަށްmaabodhahtoo (excessive)Literally 'too big': maa means 'over-, super-' and bodu is 'big'
- އެކުގައިekugaitogetherFrom eku, 'with, together', plus the place tail -gai: ekugai is literally 'in togetherness'
- ނުވާނެnuvaanenot allowedLiterally 'it will not be'. On signs you'll see manaa, 'forbidden', instead
- ޖެހޭjeheyhave to, need toFollows the verb: kuran jehey, 'it needs doing' — the reverse of English word order
- ދިރިއުޅުންdhiriulhunlifeFrom dhiriulhen, 'to live'. The action noun and the state noun coincide here
- ބޭނުންbeynunto wantFormally a noun, 'need'. It stands after the thing needed: kofee beynun
- ކުރެވޭkureveynecan, be ableAbility is a passive shape of the verb: kureveyne is literally 'it will get done'
- ބަސްbaswordTrap: the same letters mean 'bus' and 'language'. Three lives for three letters
- ކަންތައްkanthahmatter, businessThe plural of kan, 'a thing, an affair'. In Dhivehi you talk about doings in the plural
- ގޮތްgoiymethodOne of the most heavily loaded words in the language: a manner, a kind, a state, a circumstance
- ފަސޭހައިންfaseyhaineasilyFrom faseyha, 'light, easy', plus the tail -in. That's how adverbs are made from qualities
- އުނދަގުލުންundhagulunwith difficultyFrom undhagoo, 'hard', with the same -in tail. Partner to 'easily'
- ވެގެންvegenin order toThere is no single word for 'in order to'. Speech frames purpose as a verb plus vegen: 'came in order to look'
- ނަމަnamaifFollows the verb, not precedes it: 'if it rains' comes out as 'rains if'. In speech the tail -ahvaa is more common
- ހާ ހިނދަކުhaa hindhakuwhileLiterally 'as much time as': hindhu is a moment, a spell, and it clings to the verb from behind. Compare the word for 'until' — there you wait for an end, here things last together
- ވީއިރުveeirunow thatLiterally 'at the moment it became so': iru is a time, a moment. It links not cause and effect but circumstance: now that things stand so
- ވިއްޔާ ރަނގަޅުviyyaa rangalhuas long asLiterally 'if it is so — then fine': the casual if-tail viyyaa plus rangalhu. Everything else doesn't matter to the speaker
- އެހެންވީމާehenveemaaso, thereforeLiterally 'since it became so'. It opens the second sentence and carries the conclusion
- ދޭތެރޭގައިdheythereygaibetweenLiterally 'in the inside of two': dhe is 'two', there is 'inward'. It stands after both objects, not before them
- ކައިރީގައިkaireegainearFrom kairi, 'near': with the tail -gai it becomes a preposition that follows its object — 'at the school's nearness'
- ބަދަލުގައިbadhalugaiinstead ofbadhalu is 'replacement'; before a thing it takes the possessive tail: 'in the tea's replacement'
- އިދިކޮޅަށްidhikolhahagainstidhikolu is 'the opposite side'; in newspapers idhikolu paarti means the opposition. With the tail -ah it becomes 'against'
- ނުލައިnulaiwithoutFollows its object, which takes the tail -aa: 'salt-aa without' — literally 'not having applied', from lai, 'to put on'
- ޓަކައިtakaiforRarely stands alone: it attaches to a noun with the tail -ah, 'for the child'. In speech people usually manage with -ah alone
- ބެހޭ ގޮތުންbehey gothunaboutLiterally 'in the manner that concerns': behey is 'relating to', gothun is 'in the way of'. The object goes first with the tail -aa
- ފަހުfahuafterFahun means 'later'; the preposition is shorter and attaches to a noun with -ah: 'after the tea'
- ވަގުތުގައިvaguthugaiduringvaguthu is 'time'; with -gai it means 'at the time of'. The object goes first with the possessive tail: 'of eating, at the time'
- ހެދިhedhibecause ofThe everyday favorite: the object takes -aa and hedhi, 'made', follows — 'rain-made', because of the rain. In documents you'll see sababun instead
- ވަށައިގެންvashaigenaroundFrom vashaa, 'round, encircling'. The object goes first: 'island, having gone around'
- ހުރަސްކޮށްhuraskohacrosshuras is a crossbeam, an obstacle; 'to cross' is huraskuranee. Across a bridge, a road, the sea — always this word
- އެތެރެއިންethereyinfrom the insideThe same ethere as in 'inside', but with the tail -in that answers 'from where'. Its partner is berein, 'from outside'
- ކައިރި ހިސާބުގައިkairi hisaabugainearbyLiterally 'in the nearby surroundings': hisaabu is a district — and the same word means arithmetic. It answers not 'where exactly' but 'somewhere close'
- މައްސަލަmassalaproblemCompare 'no problem' and 'to quarrel'. In the police station and the court the same word means 'a case', and in the notebook 'a task'
- ރަނގަޅެއް ނޫންrangalheh noonnot well, badDhivehi has no plain adverb for 'bad': people say it as a negation of rangalhu, 'well', plus noon, 'no'. Bare gos means 'wrong' more than 'bad'
- އެކަމަކުekamakubutOpens the second clause rather than sitting between words. Add ves and you get ekamakuves, 'still, though' — the same conjunction with a note of compensation
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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.
What is worth knowing about these words
ރަނގަޅު (rangalhu) — fine, well. The standard answer to kihineh. One word serves both the adverb 'well' and the adjective 'good': rangalhu dhuvahuge, 'a good day'.
ބަރާބަރު (baraabaru) — great, excellent. Stronger than rangalhu: everything in perfect order, nothing missing. One shape serves both adverb and adjective.
އާދެ (aadhe) — yes (polite). The polite yes, for elders and strangers. Between friends people say the short aan instead.
އާން (aan) — yes (casual). A short, conversational yes for friends and people your own age. With elders and strangers, aadhe is the better choice.
Test yourself
First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “fine, well” in Maldivian?
The standard answer to kihineh. One word serves both the adverb 'well' and the adjective 'good': rangalhu dhuvahuge, 'a good day'
- How do you say “one more” in Maldivian?
Adhi is 'still, and', eh is 'one'. That's how you ask for a refill at the hotaa
- How do you say “new” in Maldivian?
Written with two alifus in a row: the first holds the a, the second the u. About a new thing
- How do you say “danger!” in Maldivian?
Danger and dangerous are one word. The double sign lengthens the kk: nu-rak-kaa
- How do you say “fourteen” in Maldivian?
The full-moon night is called saadhaveerey, 'the night of the fourteenth' — the lunar month lives inside the word
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Yes, no, good, bad, very. The small change of a language — and no sentence assembles without it.
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.
- Study spread over days wins 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 “fine, well” in Maldivian?
«ރަނގަޅު» (rangalhu), read “rangalhu”. The standard answer to kihineh. One word serves both the adverb 'well' and the adjective 'good': rangalhu dhuvahuge, 'a good day'. It is one of 310 words in the set “basic words” — the rest are in the table above.
How many basic words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 310 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.
Is there audio?
Yes, 310 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.