LingoflyThe city and its places in Maldivian
100 words in Maldivian on the topic “the city and its places”: ފިހާރަ (fihaara) — shop, މާރުކޭޓު (maarukeytu) — market, ބޭސްފިހާރަ (beysfihaara) — pharmacy, ބޭންކު (beynku) — bank. 100 words can be played from recordings.
100 words on the topic
- ފިހާރަfihaarashopAny small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'
- މާރުކޭޓުmaarukeytumarketEnglish market. In Malé it names the fish and vegetable market by the port
- ބޭސްފިހާރަbeysfihaarapharmacyBeyss is 'medicine', fihaara is 'shop'
- ބޭންކުbeynkubankEnglish bank with a vowel glued on — how Dhivehi fits foreign words to its rhythm
- ކައުންޓަރުkauntarucounterStress in Dhivehi is weak — the syllables come out even: ka-un-ta-ru
- މީޒާންmeezaanscalesmee-zaan, long ee in the first syllable
- ސުޕަރު މާރުކޭޓުsuparu maarukeytusupermarketEnglish supermarket. The native maarukeytu, 'market' is the same word market — it just arrived earlier and wore itself smooth
- ކިޔޫkiyooqueueEnglish queue, and the dictionary lists it. Two letters with two vowel signs, heard as 'kiyoo'
- 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
- ދިރިއުޅޭ ތަންdhiriulhey thanhousingLiterally 'the place where one lives': dhiri is life, ulhey comes from the verb for 'I live'
- ހޮސްޕިޓަލްhospitalhospitalEnglish hospital. The country's main hospital, in Malé, wears a native name
- ފުލުހުންނަށް ގުޅާfuluhunnah gulhaacall the police!Fuluhun is 'the police' (a plural), gulhaa is 'call'. Literally 'call the police officers'
- އޮފީސްofeesofficeEnglish office with a long ee. In Malé the office day usually runs from eight to two
- ޕޯސްޓުpoastupost officeEnglish post. The country's service is called 'Maldives Post'
- އިންޓަނެޓުintanetuinternetEnglish internet. On the far islands it's mobile and slow
- މީހުންގަނޑުmeehunganducrowdMeehun, 'people', plus -gandu, 'a solid mass, a piece' — the same ending as in vashigandu, 'basket'
- ޓްރެފިކް ލައިޓުtrefik laitutraffic lightEnglish traffic light, written in Thaana
- ބައިސްކަލުbaiskalubicycleEnglish bicycle. Don't mix it with 'cycle': in the Maldives that's the motor scooter, and it's on every corner
- ބަސް ސްޓޮޕުbas stoputhe bus-stop signBus, stop from English. Careful: bas with a different vowel ('word, language') is written the same — only the neighbor word tells them apart
- ބަސް ކާޑުbas kaadua transit cardLiterally 'the bus card': in Malé the fare is paid by card, and the single ticket is the ticket word
- ރޫޓުrootuthe routeEnglish route. The ferry's way between islands is spoken of differently — as a 'trip, run'
- ޒީބްރާ ކްރޮސިންzeebraa krosincrosswalkEnglish zebra crossing whole, written in Thaana
- ޓްރެފިކް ޖާމްtrefik jaama traffic jamEnglish traffic jam. Malé is one of the densest cities on earth
- ޕާކިންpaakinparkingEnglish parking. The 'no parking' sign reads with the same 'forbidden' as the bans
- ޕެޓްރޯލް ޝެޑުpetroal sheduthe petrol stationLiterally 'the petrol shed': both words are English
- ޕާކުpaakuparkEnglish park. In Malé it's a few benches under trees — the two named gardens of the capital
- ލައިބްރަރީlaibrareelibraryEnglish library. The national library's bookish name is Arabic, but in speech the short loanword lives
- މިއުޒިއަމްmiuziammuseumEnglish museum. On the national museum's sign stands the Arabic 'house of antiquities', but directions are asked with this word
- ތިއޭޓަރުthieytarutheaterEnglish theatre. There is one theater in the country; more often the word names the hall where films and concerts are shown
- ސިނަމާsinamaacinemaEnglish cinema through Urdu. The film itself is the English 'film'; the hall is this word
- ކްރިސްޓިއަން ފައްޅިkristian fallhichurchFallhi is any non-Muslim temple, so the Christian one takes the qualifier. There are no churches in the Maldives; the word is for telling of another city
- ސްޓޭޑިއަމްsteydiamstadiumEnglish stadium. The main one is in Malé; the field word means 'field', and on the islands the football ground is called exactly that
- ހަތަރު އަނގޮޅިhatharu angolhicrossroadsLiterally 'four corners': 'four' plus 'street corner'. In Male it is also a proper name — the city's best-known crossing.
- ފުޓުޕާތުfutupaathusidewalkEnglish 'footpath' spelled in Thaana. No native word, because there are almost no sidewalks on the islands: streets are narrow and shared by all.
- ބޮޑު މަގުbodu maguavenueLiterally 'big street'. Male is small, and an 'avenue' here is simply a street that carries cars both ways.
- ގޯޅިgoalhialleyA narrow passage between houses; Male has hundreds, and an address often consists of the name of one.
- ގޮނޑުދޮށު މަގުgondudhoshu maguwaterfrontLiterally 'beach road': 'beach', plus 'road'. In Male such a road rings the whole island.
- ބްރިޖުbrijubridgeEnglish 'bridge' spelled in Thaana. The country has, in essence, one — between Male and Hulhumale — and it is called just that, no qualifier.
- ޓަނަލްtanaltunnelEnglish 'tunnel' spelled in Thaana. The Maldives has not a single tunnel: there is nothing to dig through — the land is thin and lies on water.
- މަގުބައްތިmagubatthistreetlightLiterally 'street lamp': 'street' plus 'lamp'. A pocket flashlight is named differently.
- ޖޯލިjoalibenchNot any bench but the Maldivian kind: a woven seat on a frame, by the house or by the beach.
- ކުނި ފޮށިkuni foshipublic trash binThe household bucket is another word; the street bin is closed, hence 'box'.
- ބަސް ޑްރައިވަރުbas draivarubus driver'Driver' plus 'bus'. Careful: the bus word also means 'word, language' — context sorts it out.
- އެންމެ ފަހު ސްޓޮޕުemme fahu stopulast stopLiterally 'the very last stop': the superlative. Stopu is the same as in bas stopu, 'bus stop'.
- ރޫޓު ނަންބަރުrootu nanbaruroute number'Route', plus 'number'. Male's routes are numbered but more often named by their last stop.
- ބާރު ބޮޑު ގަޑިbaaru bodu gadirush hourLiterally 'the hour of the big press': baaru is both 'force' and 'a crush'. Its consequence is trefik jaam, 'a traffic jam'.
- ބަހުގެ ތާވަލުbahuge thaavalubus scheduleThe 'schedule' word with 'bus' in front; in its changed form the bus word sounds different.
- ދަތުރުގެ އަގު ދެއްކުންdhathuruge agu dhekkunto pay the fareLiterally 'show the price of the trip': the paying verb is the same as in 'pay the bill'.
- ސީޓެއް ހިފެހެއްޓުންseeteh hifehettunto take a seatHifehettun is 'to hold for oneself'. Holding a seat for someone else takes the tail.
- ޓެކްސީއަކަށް ގުޅުންtekseeakah gulhunto call a taxiLiterally 'to call to the taxi': Male has few apps, and taxis are still called by phoning the office. Gulhun is 'to call'.
- ދެން އޮތް ސްޓޮޕުން ފޭބުންdhen oiy stopun feybunto get off at the next stopFeybun is 'to descend': from a bus, a ladder, a tree. The tail on 'stop' means 'from where'.
- އަވަށްavahdistrictThe final h is a breath, not a sh: a-vah
- ސިޓީގެ މެދުތެރެsiteege medhutherecity centerLiterally 'the middle of the city': 'middle' as in 'of average height'. Dhivehi never borrowed 'center' as a place — that word is said only of a venue.
- ސިޓީގެ ބޭރުކޮޅުsiteege beyrukolhuoutskirtsLiterally 'the outer edge of the city': 'outside' plus 'edge'. In Male the outskirts are the shore: beyond it there is nothing but water.
- އިމާރާތްކުރާ ތަންimaaraaiykuraa thanconstruction siteThe final th is not a t: i-maa-raai-ku-raa
- މަގު މަރާމާތުmagu maraamaathuroad repair'Repair' with 'road' in front. Male re-lays its roads often, and notices begin with these two words.
- މަގުދައްކާ ބޯޑުmagudhakkaa boadusignpostLiterally 'a board showing the road'. The showing word is the same as in 'show me'.
- އާންމު ފާޚާނާaanmu faakhaanaapublic toiletA throaty kh, firmer: faa-khaa-naa
- ސާފުsaafucleanSaid of cleanliness and of clarity alike: 'clean water', 'a clear talk'. Saafukurun, 'cleaning', is the same root.
- ހަޑިhadidirtyIt covers 'dirty' and 'ugly': 'a dirty dress' is heard more as 'an ugly dress' than a stained one.
- މީހުން ގިނަmeehun ginacrowdedIn Dhivehi not an adverb but a noun predicate: 'people are many'. Gina is the same 'many' as in 'chatty'.
- ރަށްފުށްrahfuhthe outer islandsThere are no villages in the European sense in the country: there is Male and there are the islands. The word means 'the islands outside the capital' — the closest fit.
- އަލިފާން ނިއްވާ މީހާalifaan nivvaa meehaafirefighterLiterally 'a person who puts out fire': 'fire' plus 'puts out'. The fire engine is named with the same turn.
- ކާރުޚާނާkaarukhaanaafactoryPersian for 'the house of work', by way of Urdu. In the Maldives this is almost always a fish cannery.
- ގުދަންgudhanwarehouseFrom Urdu. An old, port word: in the Maldives the warehouse stands by the quay.
- ޖަލުjaluprisonA short native word. The Maldivian prison stands on the separate island of Maafushi — hence the turns 'taken away' rather than 'locked up'.
- ވެރިރަށްverirahcapital'Chief, senior' plus 'island, town'. The capital of the Maldives is an island, and the word remembers it.
- އާންމު ދަތުރުފަތުރުaanmu dhathurufathurupublic transport'Common, public' plus 'trips and rides', a paired word. In the Maldives this is above all the ferry.
- ޕްރީ ސްކޫލުpree skoolupreschoolEnglish 'pre-school'. No 'garden' in it: Dhivehi took the English name whole.
- ކުޑަކުދިންގެ ޕާކުkudakudhinge paakuplaygroundLiterally 'a park of little children': 'children' with a possessive tail. In crowded Male such playgrounds can be counted.
- ފެން އަރުވާ ވަޑާންfen aruvaa vadaanfountainLiterally 'a structure that raises water'. This is also the name of the famous fountain in Male where people arrange to meet.
- ސަހަރާsaharaacemeteryA native word. Every inhabited island has its own, usually by the mosque.
- އަލިފާން ނިއްވާ އުޅަނދުalifaan nivvaa ulhandhufire truckThe same turn as 'firefighter', only with 'vehicle' instead of 'person' — a word good for a boat too.
- ޖިމްjimgymEnglish 'gym'. Male has many: running the streets is hot and cramped.
- މަގުmagustreet, roadStreet, road and way. In Malé addresses it's the second word: Majeedhee magu
- ސިޓީsiteecityEnglish city, written exactly like the 'letter' — two different words sharing one spelling. The country has, in effect, one city: Male City; everything else is a rah
- ބްލޮކުblokucity blockEnglish block. In Hulhumale it's the literal address: the city is laid out in numbered blocks, and people live by them
- ކުޑަ ޕާކުkuda paakusmall parkNo separate word: to Dhivehi a square is simply a little 'park'. In Malé they take up half a block
- ޓަވަރުtavarutowerEnglish tower — for a cell mast or a high-rise. The one true old tower on the islands is the Friday mosque minaret, which goes by its own name
- ސިޓީ ބޭރު އަވަށްsitee beyru avahsuburbLiterally 'the district beyond the city'. Malé ends at the water, and the one true suburb here is the reclaimed Hulhumale
- ކުޑަ އަވަށްkuda avahvillageAvah is a district or settlement; kuda sets a village apart from a city district. A whole inhabited island is called a rah
- މަގުމަތީ މީހާmagumathee meehaapasser-byLiterally 'a person on the street'. The tail on meehaa marks the definite: that very person you addressed
- ފައިމަގުގައި ދާ މީހާfaimagugai dhaa meehaapedestrianFaimagu is 'the walking path'. In Malé that's most people: you cross the island end to end in half an hour
- ސައިންބޯޑުsainboadusignboardEnglish signboard. A road sign is a different word entirely
- ކުނިއަޅާ ފޮށިkunialhaa foshilitter binLiterally 'the box you throw trash into' — the street one. The household bucket goes by another name
- މަގުމަތީ ބައްތިmagumathee batthistreet lampThe full form; in speech it shrinks. Batthi is any light, bokki is just the bulb inside
- ވިނަ ދަނޑުvina dhandulawnVina-gandu means 'a meadow'; a lawn is mown grass on a set-aside plot, hence dhandu. In Malé you find them only in parks
- މާ ބަގީޗާmaa bageechaaflower bedNo dedicated word: it's a 'flower garden', whether large or one step wide. A single bed takes the indefinite ending
- ދޮރުމަތިdhorumathifront stepLiterally 'what sits before the door'. Maldivian houses usually have no stairs, but a bench stands before the door and shoes come off there
- ހަރުފަތްharufaiystep (of a stair)One step; a whole staircase is sidi. The same word means 'step' figuratively, as a stage of a task
- ގޭގެ ނަންބަރުgeyge nanbaruhouse numberA capital-city word: houses in the Maldives go by name, and numbers were introduced only in Malé, for mail and paperwork
- މަގުގެ ނަންmaguge nanstreet nameStreet names exist in Malé and Hulhumale; on a small island there's one street and it isn't called anything
- ތަނބުthanbupoleA street pole or a house column. The electric one is 'current thanbu' — in Malé the wires hang from those
- ދުވަސްވީ އަވަށްdhuvasvee avahold townThere is no old town in the European sense: the oldest part of Malé is around the Friday mosque. Dhuvasvee means 'aged'; about a thing people say baa
- ދިރިއުޅޭ ގެdhiriulhey geapartment buildingLiterally 'a house people live in'. Compare the same piece from 'residence'. In Malé this means a multi-storey block of flats
- ހިމޭންކަންhimeynkansilenceThe -kan tail turns himeyn, 'quiet', into a state noun. The request to be quieter sounds differently: madumadun
- އިމާރާތްimaaraaiybuildingArabic in root; compare the verb 'to erect'. In Malé it's a concrete-and-coral multi-storey, yet a dwelling is still called simply 'house'
- ހޯލުhoaluhallAn English word. Compare the lecture hall; in a hoalu you hold a wedding or a meeting. There is no parlor-room in a house: guests are received in the sitting room or on the veranda
- ހުޅުމާލެhulhumaaleHulhumaleHulhu is 'new': the name literally means 'new Malé'
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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
ފިހާރަ (fihaara) — shop. Any small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'.
މާރުކޭޓު (maarukeytu) — market. English market. In Malé it names the fish and vegetable market by the port.
ބޭސްފިހާރަ (beysfihaara) — pharmacy. Beyss is 'medicine', fihaara is 'shop'.
ބޭންކު (beynku) — bank. English bank with a vowel glued on — how Dhivehi fits foreign words to its rhythm.
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 ފިހާރަ (fihaara) — shop.
- What is this word?
It is ކިޔޫ (kiyoo) — queue.
- What is this word?
It is ޕޯސްޓު (poastu) — post office.
- What is this word?
It is ރޫޓު (rootu) — the route.
- What is this word?
It is މިއުޒިއަމް (miuziam) — museum.
Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “shop” in Maldivian?
Any small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'
- How do you say “queue” in Maldivian?
English queue, and the dictionary lists it. Two letters with two vowel signs, heard as 'kiyoo'
- How do you say “post office” in Maldivian?
English post. The country's service is called 'Maldives Post'
- How do you say “the route” in Maldivian?
English route. The ferry's way between islands is spoken of differently — as a 'trip, run'
- How do you say “museum” in Maldivian?
English museum. On the national museum's sign stands the Arabic 'house of antiquities', but directions are asked with this word
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Street, square, pharmacy, bank. An address is built out of these, and an address is something you have to both say and understand.
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 “shop” in Maldivian?
«ފިހާރަ» (fihaara), read “fihaara”. Any small shop. Compounds: beysfihaara, 'pharmacy', and the English 'supermarket'. It is one of 100 words in the set “the city and its places” — the rest are in the table above.
How many street and place words do you need to start?
The whole set on this page is 100 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, 100 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.