Cooking & Markets

1. ލޯކަލް ބާޒާރު ހުންނަނީ ކޮންތަނެއްގައި؟

   Lookal baazaaru hunnanee konthanegai?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   Dhivehi uses a right-to-left script (Thaana) influenced by Arabic and local traditions

2. މި ތަކެތީގެ ނަމަކީ ކޮބައި؟

   Mi taketheege namakee kobai?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   Dhivehi is an agglutinative language with case suffixes on nouns

3. މި ކެއުން ވަރަށް ކުޅިތޯ؟

   Mi keun varash kulhitho?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "ތޯ" (tho) is the sentence-final question particle ("is it ...?")

4. ކެއްކުން ދަސްކޮށްދޭ ކްލާހެއް ދައްކާ ދެވިދާނެ ހެއްޔެ؟

   Kekkun daskoshdhey klaasek dhakkaa dhevideyne heyyey?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   Politeness in Dhivehi is expressed through verb modifications

5. މި ކެއުން ތައްޔާރުކުރަނީ ކިހިނެއް؟

   Mi keun thayyaaru kuranii kihiney?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "kihiney" is the Dhivehi interrogative adverb for manner

6. ތާޒާ ތަރުކާރީ ގަންނަ ތަނެއް ކޮބައި؟

   Thaazaa tharukaari ganna thanek kobai?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "kobai?" is a Dhivehi interrogative meaning "where/what is it?"

7. ލޯކަލް ކާނާ ކެއްކުން ދަސްކުރަން ބޭނުން.

   Lookal kaanaa kekkun daskuran beynun.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "beyun" means "need/want" in Dhivehi

8. ވެޖެޓޭރިއަން ތަކެތި ލިބޭނެތޯ؟

   Vejeteyriaan thaketi libeynetho?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   Availability is expressed with the verb ލިބުން (to be obtained); "-ތޯ؟" makes it a polite question

9. މި ކެއުމުގައި ބޭނުންކުރަނީ ކޮން ހިކިމޮހޮނެއް؟

   Mi keumuaa beynunkurani kon hikimohonek?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "kon" is a Dhivehi interrogative meaning "what/which"

10. ޓެސްޓް ކޮށްލެވިދާނެ ހެއްޔެ؟

    Test koshlevi dayne heyyey?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    Dhivehi verbs take multiple affixes to express permission and ability

11. ލޮނުމެދު

    lonumedhu

    Garlic

    Usage

    For pointing at an ingredient at a market or in a kitchen

12. ފިޔާ

    fiyaa

    Onion

    Usage

    In nearly every Maldivian dish; also useful when asking to leave it out

13. މިރުސް

    mirus

    Chili

    Usage

    The source of the heat; different from black pepper ("aseymirus")

14. ކޮތަނބިރި

    kothanbiri

    Coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    Used in mas huni and curries; point at it if you want it left out

15. އިނގުރު

    inguru

    Ginger

    Usage

    Used both in cooking and for ginger tea

16. ވިނިގަރު

    vinigaru

    Vinegar

    Usage

    An English loanword

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