Dietary & Allergies

1. އަހަރެން ވެޖިޓޭރިއަންއެކެވެ.

   Aharen vejiteriyaneke ve.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Basic way to declare vegetarianism

   Grammar Note

   "-ekeve" forms the polite copula "is/am"

2. އަހަރެން ވީގަންއެކެވެ. ޖަނަވާރުގެ އެއްވެސް ކާނާއެއް ނުކަން.

   Aharen viganeke ve. Janavarge eves kanaeh nukan.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Clarify that you avoid dairy/eggs/honey too

   Grammar Note

   "nu-" is the verbal negative prefix

3. އަހަންނަށް ނަޓްސްއަށް އެލާޖީވޭ.

   Ahannah natsah elajive.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Declare nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "-ah" marks dative "to/toward"

4. ގްލޫޓެން ނެތް ކާނާ އެބަހުރިތަ؟

   Gluten neth kana ebahurita?

   Do you have gluten-free food?

   Usage

   Question for celiac/gluten intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "-ta" is the interrogative particle

5. އަހަރެން ހަލާލް ކާން. އޫރުމަސް ނުކަން.

   Aharen halal kan. Urumas nukan.

   I eat halal; I don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Explain Muslim dietary rules

   Grammar Note

   Halal is the default in the Maldives (Islamic state)

6. އަހަންނަށް ކިރުގެ ލެކްޓޯޒް ހަޖަމު ނުވޭ.

   Ahannah kiruge laktose hajamu nuve.

   I can't digest milk lactose.

   Usage

   Explain lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "hajamu nuve" = "can't digest"

7. އަހަންނަށް ކަނޑުމަހާއި މަސްވެރިކަމުގެ އެއްޗިއްސަށް އެލާޖީވޭ.

   Ahannah kandumahaai masverikamuge eachissah elajive.

   I have a seafood allergy.

   Usage

   When avoiding seafood

   Grammar Note

   "-aai" = coordinating "and"

8. މި ކާނާގައި ކޯއްޗެއް ހިމެނޭތަ؟

   Mi kanagai koachcheh himeneta?

   What's in this dish?

   Usage

   Basic question to check ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "-gai" marks locative "in"

9. ފިޔާ ނުލާ ހަދައި ދެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Fiyaa nulaa hadhai dhevidhaaneta?

   Can you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Asking to omit a specific ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "nu- + -laa" = "without ~"

10. އަހަންނަށް ބިހަށް އެލާޖީވޭ.

    Ahannah bihah elajive.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    To avoid egg-containing dishes

    Grammar Note

    "bihah" = dative "toward egg"

11. އެލާޖަންތަކުގެ ލިސްޓެއް އެބައޮތްތަ؟

    Elajantakuge listeh ebaohtha?

    Do you have an allergen list?

    Usage

    Request allergen list

    Grammar Note

    "-tak" pluralises nouns

12. މިއީ ދިރިއުޅުމަށް ނުރައްކާ ވާ އެލާޖީއެކެވެ.

    Mii dhiriulhumah nurakkaa vaa elajieke ve.

    This is a life-threatening allergy.

    Usage

    Warn of severity

    Grammar Note

    "nurakkaa vaa" = "that becomes dangerous"

13. މީގައި ތެޔޮ ނުވަތަ ހަވާދު ހިމެނޭތަ؟

    Migai theyo nuvatha havaadhu himeneta?

    Does this contain oil or spices?

    Usage

    Check for oil/spice content

    Grammar Note

    "nuvatha" = "or"

14. އެހެން ކާނާތަކާ މަސްހުނި ވުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު އޮތްތަ؟

    Ehen kanatakaa mashuni vumuge furusathu oththa?

    Is there a chance of cross-contamination?

    Usage

    Ask about kitchen cross-contamination

    Grammar Note

    "-vumuge" = gerund genitive "of doing"

15. ވިސްނައި ދެއްވިކަމަށްޓަކައި ޝުކުރިއްޔާ.

    Visnai dhevvikamatakaai shukriyya.

    Thank you for understanding.

    Usage

    Thank for accommodating

    Grammar Note

    "-kamatakaai" = "for the sake of doing"

16. އަހަންނަށް މަސް ނުކެވޭ.

    Ahannah mas nukeve.

    I can't eat meat or fish.

    Usage

    State you can't eat meat or fish ("mas" covers both, so to refuse only meat or only fish use the specific words)

    Grammar Note

    "mas" covers both meat and fish in Dhivehi

17. އޫރު މަސް

    ooru mas

    Pork

    Usage

    The Maldives is a Muslim country and pork is rarely sold, though resorts may serve it

18. ގެރި މަސް

    geri mas

    Beef

    Usage

    Use it to point-and-check what is in a dish

19. ކުކުޅު މަސް

    kukulhu mas

    Chicken

    Usage

    Use it to point-and-check what is in a dish

20. މަސް

    mas

    Fish

    Usage

    In a food context this means fish, but it also forms meat compounds (e.g. "geri mas" = beef), so use it on its own only when talking about a meal

21. ބިސް

    bis

    Egg

    Usage

    For declaring an allergy and for checking a dish

22. ކިރުގެ ބާވަތްތައް

    kiruge baavaththah

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Literally "kinds of milk"; covers milk, cheese, and butter together

23. ޕީނަޓް

    peenat

    Peanut

    Usage

    An anaphylaxis-critical word; the English loanword is the least ambiguous choice

24. ނަޓްސް

    nats

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Nuts other than peanuts — cashews, almonds, and the like

25. ކަކުނި، އިހި، ޑިނގާ

    kakuni, ihi, dhingaa

    Shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp)

    Usage

    Dhivehi has no single word for crustaceans, so the three are listed together; all are common in Maldivian cooking

26. ގޮދަން

    godhan

    Wheat

    Usage

    Use it when declaring a gluten intolerance

27. ސޯޔާ

    soayaa

    Soy

    Usage

    For checking whether a sauce or seasoning contains it

28. އަލްކޮހޯލް

    alkohoal

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Alcohol is banned on inhabited islands and served only at resorts and some boats; also used for religious or medical declarations

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