LingoflyHome and things in Maldivian
215 words in Maldivian on the topic “home and things”: ގެ — house, ވަށިގަނޑު (vashigandu) — basket, ކޮތަޅު (kothalhu) — bag (plastic), ހަލާކުވެފައި (halaakuvefai) — broken. 215 words can be played from recordings.
215 words on the topic
- ގެgehouseHouse and home in one. The same ge at the end of a word is the possessive ending — two different things
- ވަށިގަނޑުvashigandubasketThe n before ḍ (ޑ) is written plain and sounds with a nasal twang: va-shi-gan-du
- ކޮތަޅުkothalhubag (plastic)The lh is said with the tongue curled back, duller than a plain l
- ހަލާކުވެފައިhalaakuvefaibrokenArabic halaak, 'ruin', plus 'having become' — literally 'come to ruin'
- ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންdhiriulhey thanhousingLiterally 'the place where one lives': dhiri is life, ulhey comes from the verb for 'I live'
- ކޮޓަރިkotariroomAny room. A hotel room is also a kotari
- ބަދިގެbadhigekitchenThe second syllable is the same ge, 'house' — literally 'the house of fire'
- ފާހާނާfaahaanaabathroomFrom Urdu paakhaana. The dictionary spells it with the Arabic letter kh, pronounced as plain h; the simplified spelling is also common. One word for the bathroom and the toilet
- ބެލްކަނިbelkanibalconyEnglish balcony. In Malé the balcony is the main source of breeze in the flat
- ފަންގިފިލާfangifilaafloor (storey)The storey and the ceiling are one word. The first floor is the 'first fangifilaa'
- ލިފްޓުliftuliftEnglish lift. Malé houses are tall and narrow, so the word is in daily service
- ސިޑިsidistairsA native word, no relation to English. Both d sounds are sharp, with the tongue curled back
- މޭޒުmeyzutableThrough Urdu from Persian. In the neighboring languages it's the same word
- ގޮނޑިgondichairThe n here is written plain: it sounds with a nasal twang, in one flow
- އެނދުendhubedA bed and any sleeping place. The same nasal n as in 'chair'
- ކަބަޑުkabaduwardrobeEnglish cupboard squeezed into three syllables
- ކުޑަދޮރުkudadhoruwindowLiterally 'a small door': kuda, 'small', plus dhoru, 'door'. Dhivehi likes to fold new words out of simple ones
- ދޮރުdhorudoorThe door. The d is dental — the tongue at the teeth
- ތަޅުދަނޑިthalhudhandikeyFour syllables and two different d's: the dental dh and the sharp retroflex d
- ބައްތިbatthilampThe doubled t is audible: bat-ti
- ހޫނު ފެންhoonu fenhot waterHoonu, 'hot', plus fen, 'water'. On the islands hot water isn't always there — the phrase earns its keep
- ކަރަންޓުkarantuelectricityEnglish current. Light, electricity and current are all karantu
- ކުނިkunitrashTrash. The trash bucket is 'a basket for trash'
- ސާފުކުރުންsaafukuruncleaningSaafu, 'clean', plus 'the doing'. The -kurun ending turns a quality into a chore
- ހެދުން ދޮވުންhedhun dhovunlaundryHedhun is 'clothes', dhovun is 'washing' — literally 'the washing of clothes'
- ތަށިތައްthashithahdishesThashi is 'a plate', plus the plural ending. Dishes in Dhivehi are, literally, 'plates'
- ތުވާލިthuvaalitowelFrom English towel through Urdu towaliya
- ސައިބޯނިsaiboanisoapFrom Portuguese sabao — the same root the neighbors' word for soap has. The Portuguese were in the Maldives in the 16th century
- އަވަށްޓެރިޔާavahteriyaaneighborFive syllables: a-vah-te-ri-yaa
- ގޭގެ ވެރިޔާgeyge veriyaalandlordGeyge is 'of the house' (from ge), veriyaa is 'master, owner'. The same word names the head of the country
- ކުލިkulirentThe rent payment itself. 'To rent a place' is 'to take for pay'
- ފެނާއި ކަރަންޓު ބިލުfenaai karantu biluutility billFenaai is 'water and': the -aai ending links two words. Then come karantu, 'electricity', and bilu, 'bill'
- މަރާމާތުmaraamaathurepairArabic maramma — a mending. Both the flat's renovation and the motor's repair
- އަޑުގަދަadugadhanoisyAdu is 'sound', gadha is 'strong' — 'the sound is strong'. That's exactly how noisy neighbors are described
- މަސައްކަތެއް ނުކުރޭmasakkatheh nukureyit doesn't workLiterally 'the work it doesn't do'. The nu- prefix is the verb's negation
- ހަލާކުވެއްޖެhalaakuvejjeit brokeThe same halaaku as in 'broken', but with the ending that says the event has already happened
- ފެން ލީކުވަނީfen leekuvaneeit leaksEnglish leak plus the native ending — literally 'the water is leaking'
- މަރާމާތު ކުރާ މީހަކު ފޮނުވާmaraamaathu kuraa meehaku fonuvaasend a repairmanLiterally 'send the person who does repairs'. There's no single word for 'repairman' in use
- ކޮންއިރަކުން އަންނާނީ؟konirakun annaanee?when will you come?Kon is 'which', iru is 'time', -in means 'from, at' — literally 'from what time will you come'
- އަހަންނަށް ނުހުޅުވުނުahannah nuhulhuvunuI can't open itAhannah is 'to me', the shape of 'I'. In Dhivehi 'I couldn't' is built as 'it didn't open to me'
- އަހަރެން ގޭގައި މަސައްކަތްކުރަނީaharen geygai masakkaiykuraneeI work from homeLiterally 'I do work at home': geygai is 'at home', the -gai ending answers 'where'
- އަލިalilightOne word for 'light' and 'bright': the sun's light, a bright room. A lamp is lit differently — the lamp is 'lit up'
- ހޫނުކޮށްލަނީhoonukoshlaneeto warm upHoonu, 'hot', plus 'makes slightly'. The inserted -la- softens the action: heating through is hoonukuranee, and heating by itself is hoonuvanee
- ފޮށިfoshisuitcaseA native word: any box, chest and suitcase. From it also the 'train carriage' — the train's box
- ސާމާނުsaamaanubelongingsFrom Persian through Urdu — 'goods, stuff'. Of the things in a suitcase and of goods in a shop alike
- ބަގީޗާbageechaagardenFrom Persian — 'a little garden'. In Malé a garden is a few pots in the yard
- ފެން ދެނީfen dheneeto water (a plant)Literally 'give water': fen, 'water', plus 'give'. There's no separate verb for watering
- ދޮންނަނީdhonnaneeto washWashing dishes, washing clothes, washing hands — all one verb. The doubled n is written as two letters
- ވަޅިvalhiknifeA native word. The coconut billhook is 'the big valhi'
- ތެލިthelipotA native word; the same root as 'oil' — the vessel things are boiled and fried in
- ތަވާthavaagriddleThrough Urdu. The flat pan roshi is baked on
- އުނދުންundhunstoveA native word: hearth, oven, stove. The gas one is 'the gas undhun'
- ތަށިthashiplateA native word. The plural thashithah already means 'dishes' in general
- ޖޯޑުjoaducupA native word. A cup of tea is 'a tea joadu'
- ބިއްލޫރި ތަށިbilloori thashiglass (drinking)The doubled l: bil-luuri thashi
- ސަމުސާsamusaaspoonA native word. In the Maldives people eat with the hand more often, but a spoon stands on the table
- ފޯކުfoakuforkEnglish fork. A visitor's item — and a visitor's word
- ފުޅިfulhibottleA native word. A bottle of water is 'a water fulhi'
- ފްރިޖުfrijufridgeEnglish fridge. No native word: the fridge on the islands is younger than the language
- ކެޓްލިketlikettleEnglish kettle. The teapot is a different word
- ތަބައްthabahtrayThe final sign is alifu with sukun, not the t of baiy, 'rice': the vowel is cut off short, and Latin spelling writes that ending as h — 'thabah'
- ފުރާޅުfuraalhuroofLhaviyani at the end: fu-raa-lhu
- ފާރުfaaruwallA native word. Careful: with a short a the same word means 'reef' — only the length of the vowel tells them apart.
- ނިދާ ކޮޓަރިnidhaa kotaribedroomLiterally 'the room where one sleeps': the sleeping participle plus room. The dining room is built the same way.
- ގޯތިތެރެgoathithereyardGoathi is the plot of land with a house, there is 'the inside of it'. A Maldivian yard is raked white sand, swept every morning.
- ސީލިންseelinceilingFrom English 'ceiling', and the dictionary lists it. The roof above it is another word.
- ދޮރާށިdhoraashigateFrom 'door': the 'big door' in the yard wall. The English loan names the airport, not the house.
- ފެންސްfensfenceFrom English 'fence'. A stone yard wall goes by its own name — 'the plot's wall'.
- ގަރާޖުgaraajugarageFrom English 'garage'. It holds motorbikes, not cars: in Male there are more of them than people on some islands.
- ސިޓީ ފޮށިsitee foshimailboxLiterally 'a box for letters': sitee is a letter, foshi a box — the same box as a suitcase.
- ބިމު އަޑީ ބައިbimu adee baibasementLiterally 'the part under the ground': bimu is the earth, adee the bottom.
- ތަށި ދޮންނަނީthashi dhonnaneeto wash the dishesThashi is a plate, dhonnanee 'I wash'. The double n is written with two letters.
- ކުނިކަހަނީkunikahaneeto sweepKuni, 'rubbish', plus 'to scrape'. Sweeping is done with a palm-frond broom, a sound every island wakes to.
- ހެދުން ދޮންނަނީhedhun dhonnaneeto do the laundryThe same verb as for dishes: the language does not split washing clothes from washing plates.
- އިސްތިރި ކުރަނީisthiri kuraneeto do the ironingLiterally 'to do the iron': the tool's name is the root of the verb. Ironing a cat is a different verb entirely.
- ރޭގަނޑުގެ ކެއުން ކައްކަނީreyganduge keun kakkaneeto cook dinnerReygandu is night, keun is food: 'night food' is dinner. Kakkanee is 'I cook'.
- ކުނި ބޭރުކުރަނީkuni beyrukuraneeto take out the trashBeyru is 'out' and 'I take out'. On the islands the trash goes to a common ground.
- ވެކިއުމް ކްލީނަރުvekium kleenaruvacuum cleanerFrom English 'vacuum cleaner'. A rare beast in a house: sand is swept off the floor, not sucked up.
- ބުރުސްburusbrushFrom English 'brush'. The toothbrush is literally 'the brush for rubbing teeth'.
- ބާލިދީbaalidheebucketA native word. A bucket draws water from the well — every yard here has one.
- އިސްތިރިisthiriflatironFrom Persian. One word covers the tool and the action: 'I do the iron' means I iron.
- އެހީވަނީeheevaneeto helpFrom 'help'. The one helped takes a tail: 'I help mom'.
- ދޮރު ލައްޕާdhoru lappaaclose the doorLappaa is 'shut' for a door and a book. For a shop or a road, another word is used — 'closed'.
- ކުޑަދޮރު ހުޅުވާkudadhoru hulhuvaaopen the windowA window is literally 'a little door'. Hulhuvaa is 'open', the pair to 'shut'.
- އަހަންނަށް ދީބަލަahannah dheebalapass it to meAn infix softens an order into a request: 'give' becomes 'do give'. Even politer forms exist.
- އަޑު މަޑުކޮށްލަދީadu madukoshladheequieter, pleaseLiterally 'make the sound a bit quieter': adu is sound or voice, and the tail adds 'do it for me'.
- ކުއްޔަށް ހިފުންkuyyah hifunto rentThe doubled sign: kuy-YYah
- ކުއްޔަށް ދިނުންkuyyah dhinunto rent outThe pair to renting: there the tenant takes, here the owner gives.
- ކުލީގެ އެއްބަސްވުންkuleege ehbasvunrental contractThe possessive tail pulled at the end of the word, as it does in other pairs.
- މަހު ކުލިmahu kulimonthly rentLiterally 'month rent'. In Male it is paid in cash, three months ahead.
- ކުލީގެ މުއްދަތުkuleege muddhathulease termMuddhathu is the same 'term' as in the probation period.
- ގެދޮރުގެ އޭޖެންޓުgedhoruge eyjentureal estate agentGedhoruge is 'housing', a single word made of 'house' and 'door'.
- އެޕާޓްމަންޓު ބަލާލުންepaatmantu balaalunapartment viewingBalaalun is 'a glance', a short form of 'to look', with a shade of 'in passing'.
- ފަރުނީޗަރު ހުރި އެޕާޓްމަންޓުfaruneecharu huri epaatmantufurnished apartmentHuri is the 'present' participle: literally 'an apartment in which furniture stands'. The description again rides in front.
- ވަންނަނީvannaneeto move inThe doubled sign is written as two letters: van-na-nii
- ނުކުންނަނީnukunnaneeto move outThe pair to moving in: literally 'to go out'. Leaving a room is said the same way.
- ބަދަލުވުންbadhaluvunmovingLiterally 'a change'. What exactly changes, the talk makes clear: the same word means 'a modification'.
- ބަދަލުވަނީbadhaluvaneeto move houseFrom badhalu, 'a change'. The same word says 'to change' in general.
- މުދާ އުފުލާ މީހާmudhaa ufulaa meehaamoverLiterally 'a person who carries things'. There is no such trade on the islands: you call the neighbors.
- ޕެކުކުރަނީpekukuraneeto pack upEnglish 'pack' plus 'to do'. The same trick as in other borrowings.
- ޕެކު ނައްޓަނީpeku nattaneeto unpackThe doubled sign: nat-ta-nii
- އައު އެޑްރެސްau edresnew addressAu is 'new'. A Maldivian address is the name of the house, not a number.
- މުދާ އުފުލުންmudhaa ufulunmoving of belongingsUfulun is 'to carry, to lift'. Between islands, things travel on a cargo dhoani.
- ހަމަޖެހިލަނީhamajehilaneeto settle inHamajehun means 'to fall into place'. About a person who has calmed down, the same word is said.
- އައު ތަނަށް ހޭނުންau thanah heynunto get used to a new placeHeynun is 'to get used'. The tail on 'place' shows what one gets used to.
- ފަރުނީޗަރުfaruneecharufurnitureFrom English 'furniture'. A collective word: a single piece is not named with it.
- ސޯފާsoafaasofaFrom English 'sofa'. In a Maldivian house you more often find a woven rocking chair than a sofa.
- އަތްގޮނޑިaiygondiarmchairThe final th of the first word sounds like y: ay-gon-di
- ހަރުharushelfA short word, easily confused with 'hard' — it is the same root.
- ކާޕެޓުkaapetucarpetFrom English 'carpet'. On the floor of a Maldivian house there is more often a woven mat.
- ލޯގަނޑުloagandumirrorNoa is not a full n but a hum: loa-gan-du
- ފަރުދާfarudhaawindow curtainThe same word means 'a veil, a cover'.
- ބާލީސްbaaleespillowPersian balesh, by way of Urdu. One of the few household words that did not come from English.
- ރަޖާrajaablanketIn the tropics a blanket is needed only under the air conditioner, so the word is heard mostly about hotels.
- ޗާންދަލިއަރުchaandhaliaruchandelierA borrowing by way of Urdu. An ordinary lamp goes by the native bathi.
- ކުލަkulapaintThe same word as 'color': in Dhivehi paint is called color. The verb next to it shows what is meant.
- ފާރުގައި ކުލަ ލުންfaarugai kula lunto paint the wallsLiterally 'to put color on the wall'. Lun is 'to put', the most general verb of placing things.
- ވޯލްޕޭޕަރުvoalpeyparuwallpaperFrom English 'wallpaper'. A rarity in Maldivian houses: walls are painted.
- ޓައިލްސްtailstilesEnglish 'tiles', the plural taken whole. House floors are almost always tiled.
- ސްކްރޫ ޑްރައިވަރުskroo draivaruscrewdriverDraivaru is the same word as 'driver': both are 'turners'.
- ޑްރިލްdrildrillThree consonants in a row: dril. Into a coral wall a nail will not go without one.
- ހޮޅިholhipipekho-lhi with the tongue curled back
- ބޮކި ހަލާކުވެއްޖެboki halaakuvejjethe bulb has burned outBoki is a bulb, halaakuvejje is 'broke'. A burned-out lamp is spoken of as any breakdown.
- ހީޓަރުheetaruheatingThere is no heating in the Maldives: the word lives as the water heater in the shower.
- މަރާމާތު ކުރުންmaraamaathu kurunto renovateMaraamaathu is 'repair'. Salt in the air eats metal, so renovating is a constant affair here.
- މީޓަރުmeetarumeterThe same word as the unit of length; the context tells them apart.
- މީޓަރު ރީޑިނގުmeetaru reedingumeter readingEnglish 'reading'. The bare r before the t hums nasal.
- ފެން ބިލުfen biluwater billFen is 'water'. Fresh water is desalinated on the islands, and the bill is noticeable.
- ކަރަންޓު ބިލުkarantu biluelectricity billKarantu is 'electricity'. In summer the bill grows because of the air conditioner.
- ފެން ކަނޑާލައިފިfen kandaalaifithe water was cut offkan-daa-lai-fi: the r carries no vowel
- ކުނި ވަށިގަނޑުkuni vashigandutrash binVashi is 'basket'; kuni, 'rubbish', turns it into a bin.
- ސިޑިގޮޅިsidigolhistairwellLiterally 'the staircase cage'. There is no separate word for an entryway.
- އިންޓަކޮމްintakomintercomFrom English 'intercom'. New houses in Male have one, the islands do not.
- އަވަށްޓެރިންގެ އަޑުގަދަކަންavahteringe adugadhakannoise from the neighborsa-vah-te-rin-ge: the dh sounds like a breath
- ގޭގެ ގަވާއިދުgeyge gavaaidhuhouse rulesGavaaidhu is 'rules, charter'. Road rules and school order go by it too.
- އަވަންavanovenEnglish 'oven', long settled: the word looks and declines like a native one.
- މައިކްރޯވޭވުmaikroaveyvumicrowaveEnglish 'microwave'. A long word, often shortened in speech.
- ގާނާ އެތިgaanaa ethigraterLiterally 'the thing one grates with': the grater has no name of its own, but the verb 'to grate' does, and people make do with it.
- ބޮޑު ސަމުސާbodu samusaaladleLiterally 'a big spoon'. No separate word: 'spoon' plus 'big'.
- މަތިmathilidA homonym: the same mathi means 'top, surface', as in 'countertop'. A lid of what — is put in front.
- ކޮށާ ފިލާkoshaa filaacutting boardLiterally 'the board on which one cuts': the participle of koshanee, 'to cut', plus 'board'.
- އޭޕްރަންeypranapronEnglish 'apron'. A kitchen and restaurant word; at home it is almost never said.
- މޭޒުމަތީ ފޮތިmeyzumathee fothitableclothLiterally 'table cloth'. Fothi, 'cloth', also stands alone.
- ބްލެންޑަރުblendarublenderEnglish 'blender'. It makes coconut milk more often than juice.
- ކާތަކެތި އަޅާ ފޮށިkaathakethi alhaa foshifood containerLiterally 'a box into which food is put'. Foshi is the same box as when moving house.
- ފުނާfunaacombThe same word names the action: 'to comb one's hair'.
- ރޭޒަރުreyzarurazorEnglish 'razor' — the safety kind. A straight razor goes by another name.
- ޝޭމްޕޫsheympooshampooEnglish 'shampoo', which itself came into English from Hindi. The circle closed.
- ކަތުރުkathuruscissorsThe word is singular, though the object has two halves: 'one scissors' takes its own phrase.
- ފަހާ ކަށިfahaa kashineedleLiterally 'a sewing thorn': kashi by itself is 'bone, spike, prickle', as in 'fracture'.
- ރޮދިrodhithreadThe sewing kind. Rope and fishing line are other words.
- އުކާލަނީukaalaneeto throw awayThe tail adds 'for good'. The plain verb means 'to throw' — a ball included.
- ރައްކާކޮށް ބަހައްޓަނީrakkaakoh bahattaneeto storeLiterally 'having put into keeping, holds'. One word already means 'to save up money', so for things the pair with 'keep' is taken.
- ދޮންނަ މެޝިންdhonna meshinwashing machineLiterally 'a washing machine': the participle of the verb that means washing dishes and laundry alike.
- ތަށި ދޮންނަ މެޝިންthashi dhonna meshindishwasherThe same word plus 'dishes' in front — otherwise it cannot be told from the washing machine. A rarity in island homes.
- ފްރީޒަރުfreezarufreezerA separate freezer in the Maldives is a fisherman's thing: the catch lives in it.
- ފަންކާfankaafanA word of Indian root, long settled in Dhivehi. The ceiling fan is more at home in a house than the air conditioner.
- ރޫމް ހީޓަރުroom heetaruspace heaterThe Maldives simply has none: the word is for telling about a cold country. One word already means 'central heating'.
- އިސްތަށި ހިއްކާ މެޝިންisthashi hikkaa meshinhair dryerLiterally 'a machine that dries hair'. The English phrase is heard too, but the description is clearer.
- އެކްސްޓެންޝަން ކޭބަލުekstenshan keybaluextension cordek-sten-shan key-ba-lu
- ސުވިޗުsuvichuswitchEnglish 'switch'. The actions are 'to switch on' and 'to switch off'.
- ސްކްރޫskroowood screwSkroo draivaru, 'screwdriver', is literally 'that which leads the screw'.
- ސްޕެނަރުspenaruwrenchEnglish 'spanner', in the British way. Do not mix up with the key that opens doors.
- ޕްލަޔަރުplayarupliersLike scissors, the word is singular: one pair of pliers takes its own phrase.
- އިންސިއުލޭޝަން ޓޭޕުinsiuleyshan teypuelectrical tapeLong, but this is exactly what you ask for at the shop. A shorter phrase is understood too.
- ތެރަސްtherasglueA native word: originally tree resin, used to caulk boats.
- ސެލޯ ޓޭޕުseloa teyputapeFrom the brand Sellotape, the same way English turned Scotch tape into the everyday word. The plain short form is understood everywhere.
- ވާvaaropeA short and ancient word: everything in a boat hangs on it. Thin thread and fishing line are other words.
- ތަތްކުރަނީthathkuraneeto stickFrom 'sticky' plus 'to do'. Its pair is 'it sticks by itself'.
- ބާރުކުރަނީbaarukuraneeto tightenLiterally 'makes tight'. No separate verb for driving in a screw: people say 'make it tight'.
- މިނަނީminaneeto measureA native verb from 'measure'. Good for length, weight and temperature alike.
- އަމިއްލަ އަތުން މަރާމާތުކުރުންamilla athun maraamaathukurunto fix things yourselfLiterally 'to repair with one's own hand': 'hand' in its instrument form. On far islands there is no repairman, and this is the norm, not a hobby.
- ކޮޓަރި ބައިވެރިޔާkotari baiveriyaaroommate'Room', plus 'the one who has a share'. In crowded Male this is a very common word.
- ޝަވަރުshavarushowerEnglish 'shower', about the fixture itself. 'To wash up' is said with another word.
- އެލާމް ގަޑިelaam gadialarm clockLiterally 'a signal clock': 'clock and hour'. The word stands in a pair, because the bare clock word means any clock.
- ތަރްމޯމީޓަރުtharmoameetarufever thermometerEnglish 'thermometer'. At home it measures only a person's temperature: the outdoor one in Male is the same all year.
- ޓޯސްޓަރުtoastarutoasterEnglish 'toaster'. Note the ending: 'toa', not 'to'. The bread for it is faan, the baker's word.
- ފަހާ މެޝިންfahaa meshinsewing machineLiterally 'a machine that sews' — the same measure as the 'tailor'.
- އެލުވަނީeluvaneeto hang upTo hang so that it hangs. Laundry on a line, a picture on a wall — both with this word.
- ބިންގާbingaafoundationThe earth word. It fits a house's foundation and, figuratively, the basis of a business: 'to lay the basis'. The logical 'grounds' stands as another word.
- ފިނިޝިން މަސައްކަތްfinishin masakkaiyfinishing workEnglish 'finishing' plus work. No native word exists; a renovation ad writes exactly this.
- ތިރިކުރަނީthirikuraneeto lowerThire is 'the bottom, the low'. With the doing-verb it means 'make lower'
- ދުރަށް ޖައްސަނީdhurah jassaneeto moveDhuru is 'far'. 'To move closer' is said with 'near' in its place
- ވައްޓާލަނީvattaalaneeto dropFrom the verb 'to fall'; the -la- tail adds the one-off flavor
- ތަޅުމުން ނަގަނީthalhumun naganeeto pick up (from the floor)Thalhu is 'the floor'; the -in tail says where from
- އަޅުވަނީalhuvaneeto hangThe same verb hangs a thing on a hook and hangs up the phone
- ހަރުން ނަގަނީharun naganeeto take down (from a shelf)Haru is 'the shelf' — a Maldivian will just say 'take'
- ފަށްޖަހަނީfashjahaneeto foldFash is 'a layer, a fold'. Again with the universal verb 'to put'
- ފަތުރަނީfathuraneeto lay outTo spread over a surface. The same verb 'spreads' a piece of news
- އޮޅަނީolhaneeto wrap upTo wind around. The lookalike verb means 'tangled'
- ޕާރުސަލް ހުޅުވަނީpaarusal hulhuvaneeto unwrapA parcel is precisely 'opened'. Paarusal is 'parcel, bundle'
- ހުޅުވަނީhulhuvaneeto open (up)The same verb opens a shop in the morning and an account at the bank
- ލައްޕަނީlappaneeto shutThe same verb shuts an eye and a book
- ތަޅުލަނީthalhulaneeto lockThalhu is 'the lock'. Locking and shutting are kept apart, as in English
- ތަޅު ހުޅުވަނީthalhu hulhuvaneeto unlockNo separate verb: the lock is simply 'opened'
- ބައްތި ދިއްލަނީbatthi dhillaneeto switch on the lightBatthi is 'the lamp', the other verb is 'to light'. Said of a lamp and a lantern alike
- ބައްތި ނިއްވަނީbatthi nivvaneeto switch off the lightThe verb is 'to extinguish', the partner of 'to light'
- ފިއްތަނީfiththaneeto pressBoth 'press a button' and 'press down'. Fithi is 'a button'
- ދޮރުގެ ތަޅު އަނބުރަނީdhoruge thalhu anburaneeto turn the handleDhoru is 'the door'; the verb is the same one that turns and spins
- ޓަކިޖަހަނީtakijahaneeto knockTaki is 'a knock' — the word itself knocks. Again with the universal 'to put'
- ބެލް ޖަހަނީbell jahaneeto ring the doorbellEnglish bell in Thaana. A phone call is a different verb altogether
- ދޮރުފައިdhorufaithresholdLiterally 'the foot of the door'. Shoes come off at the threshold: island houses are entered barefoot
- ދޮރުގެ އަތްގަނޑުdhoruge athgandudoor handleAthgandu is 'the thing you take with a hand' — of a door, a suitcase and a pot alike
- ދޮރުގެ ތަޅުdhoruge thalhudoor lockThalhu is 'the lock'; the key to it is literally 'the lock's little stick'
- ދޮރުގެ ބެލްdhoruge belldoorbellEnglish bell in Thaana. A phone call is quite another word, 'call'
- ކުޑަދޮރުމަތިkudadhorumathiwindowsillKudadhoru is 'the window' — literally 'a small door'; the -mathi part is 'the top, what things stand on'
- ދޮރުފޮތިdhorufothicurtainLiterally 'door cloth': in an island house a curtain more often hangs in a doorway than on a window. A heavy drape takes another word
- ރޭގަނޑުގެ ބައްތިreyganduge batthinight lightLiterally 'the night lamp'. No dedicated word — the thing is new, so the phrase is descriptive
- އަތްދޮންނަ ތަށިathdhonna thashiwashbasinLiterally 'the vessel where hands are washed'. The kitchen sink goes by the borrowed 'sink'
- ބާތުޓަބްbaathutabbathtubEnglish bathtub. A Maldivian bathroom holds a shower, not a tub — the thing turns up in resort rooms
- ފާޚާނާ ތަށިfaakhaanaa thashitoilet bowlFaakhaanaa is the whole bathroom; the 'vessel' word narrows it to the bowl itself
- ފެން ހޯސްfen hoashoseEnglish hose on the native word for water. A rigid pipe has its own name
- ދިރިއުޅެންdhiriulhento liveThis is the dictionary form of the verb for 'I live': dhiri is 'alive', ulhen is 'to be about, to keep at'. The bare 'I live' also means 'to be busy with', so about residence people say the full word
- އުނދޯލިundholiundholiPartner to the joali seat: one stands on legs, the other swings on ropes
- ފަންގިfangifangi (palm-leaf mat)Fan is the palm leaf — the same one that's woven into roofing
Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet
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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
ގެ (ge) — house. House and home in one. The same ge at the end of a word is the possessive ending — two different things.
ވަށިގަނޑު (vashigandu) — basket. Vashi is a woven container, -gandu the tail meaning 'a whole thing, a piece'.
ކޮތަޅު (kothalhu) — bag (plastic). Any bag or sack. Plastic bags cost money in the Maldives, so you'll hear 'do you need a bag?' at every till.
ހަލާކުވެފައި (halaakuvefai) — broken. Arabic halaak, 'ruin', plus 'having become' — literally 'come to ruin'.
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 ގެ (ge) — house.
- What is this word?
It is ފާހާނާ (faahaanaa) — bathroom.
- What is this word?
It is އެނދު (endhu) — bed.
- What is this word?
It is ކަރަންޓު (karantu) — electricity.
- What is this word?
It is އަވަށްޓެރިޔާ (avahteriyaa) — neighbor.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “house” in Maldivian?
House and home in one. The same ge at the end of a word is the possessive ending — two different things
- How do you say “bathroom” in Maldivian?
From Urdu paakhaana. The dictionary spells it with the Arabic letter kh, pronounced as plain h; the simplified spelling is also common. One word for the bathroom and the toilet
- How do you say “bed” in Maldivian?
A bed and any sleeping place. The same nasal n as in 'chair'
- How do you say “electricity” in Maldivian?
English current. Light, electricity and current are all karantu
- How do you say “neighbor” in Maldivian?
From avah, 'quarter, village'. The -yaa ending marks a person, as in the word for 'master'
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Room, key, water, electricity. You will need them on your first day in a rented flat.
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 “house” in Maldivian?
«ގެ», read “ge”. House and home in one. The same ge at the end of a word is the possessive ending — two different things. It is one of 215 words in the set “home and things” — the rest are in the table above.
How many household words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 215 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, 215 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.