Emergency

1. އެހީ ދޭ!

   e-hee dey!

   Help!

   Usage

   Calling for help in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   In emergencies, English "Help!" is also widely understood. "Dey" is imperative. Thaana script may use the exclamation mark "!" in urgent writing.

2. ޑަކްޓަރަށް ދާން ބޭނުން

   dak-ta-ras daan bey-nun

   I need to go to a doctor

   Usage

   When medical assistance is needed

   Grammar Note

   "Beynun" is a noun meaning "need/desire." Combined with a verb infinitive it means "need to/want to." Suffix "sh" marks direction.

3. ފުލުސް ގެނޭ!

   fu-lus ge-ney!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   When police assistance is urgently needed

   Grammar Note

   Maldives emergency numbers: 119 (police / general emergency), 118 (fire), 102 (ambulance). "Fulusu" is a phonetic Thaana transcription of "police." "Geney" is the imperative of "to bring."

4. ހޮސްޕިޓަލް ކޮބާ؟

   hospital ko-baa?

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Finding the location of a hospital

   Grammar Note

   Malé has several medical facilities including ADK Hospital. Remote islands have limited medical care; serious cases may need evacuation to Malé or abroad.

5. ގެނބޭ ދިޔަ

   genbey diya

   Drowning

   Usage

   Used in water emergencies and drowning situations

   Grammar Note

   The Maldives is surrounded by ocean; water accidents require caution. "Dhiya" is a completive auxiliary meaning "has done / went and did."

6. ވިހަ ލިބިއްޖެ

   vi-ha li-bij-je

   Poisoned / Got poisoning

   Usage

   When experiencing food poisoning or toxin exposure

   Grammar Note

   "Libijje" is the perfect of "libun" (to receive/get). In tropical waters, beware of marine creature stings and venoms. "Viha" may be from Sanskrit.

7. އަލިފާން!

   alifaan!

   Fire! (shouting)

   Usage

   Shouting to alert others of a fire

   Grammar Note

   Emergency: 118 (fire), 119 (general emergency). The single noun "އަލިފާން" (fire) is shouted on its own. Always check local emergency numbers before your stay in the Maldives.

8. ވައްކަން ކޮށްފި

   vak-kan kosh-fi

   I've been robbed / Theft occurred

   Usage

   Reporting a theft to the police

   Grammar Note

   "Koshfi" is the perfect of "to do." Maldives is relatively safe, but tourists should safeguard valuables. Police reports can be filed in English.

9. ގިނަ ލޭ ދަ

   gi-na ley da

   Bleeding heavily

   Usage

   When injured and bleeding

   Grammar Note

   "Ley" (blood) may relate to Sanskrit "rakta." "ގިނަ ލޭ" means "much blood"; the sentence-final "ދަ" is the predicate saying the blood is coming out.

10. ހިތު ތަދެ ހިފި

    hi-tu ta-de hi-fi

    I have chest / heart pain

    Usage

    Reporting chest or heart pain

    Grammar Note

    "Hit" (heart) refers to both the organ and emotions. "Thadhe" (pain) may share roots with Sanskrit. Medical terms can also be communicated in English.

11. އެމްބިއުލެންސް ގެނޭ

    am-bu-lance ge-ney

    Call an ambulance

    Usage

    When emergency ambulance transport is needed

    Grammar Note

    Ambulance is written "ambi-ulens" in Thaana. Maldives emergency numbers: 119 (police / general emergency), 102 (ambulance), 118 (fire).

12. ތިކަން ހުއްޓާލާ

    thikan huttaalaa

    Stop that

    Usage

    For firmly refusing persistent touts or overcharging; it is deliberately blunt

13. އަތް ނުލާ

    aiy nulaa

    Do not touch me

    Usage

    The point is being able to show it without raising your voice

14. އަހަރެން މަގު އޮޅިއްޖެ

    aharen magu olhijje

    I am lost

    Usage

    Malé's lanes are a maze; show it together with a map

15. ވަގު

    vagu

    Thief

    Usage

    Alerts the people around you right after a theft. It means thief/burglar; a separate sense is "tiger", which no one will read into it in the Maldives. The act of stealing itself is vakkan

16. ބޮން

    bon

    Bomb

    Usage

    Shown to report a suspicious object or a suspected explosive; a loan of English "bomb" written in Thaana

17. ފުލުސް އޮފީސް ކޮބާ؟

    fulus ofees kobaa?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Used when asking where to file a report; the English loan ޕޮލިސް ސްޓޭޝަން is also heard

    Grammar Note

    The same "X ކޮބާ؟" pattern as "where is the hospital?", with ފުލުސް (police) in the slot. The question mark is the Arabic-style ؟ used regularly in Dhivehi.

18. ކޮޓަރިން ވައްކަން ކޮށްފި

    kotarin vakkan koshfi

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Tell a hotel or the police that your room was entered and robbed while you were out

    Grammar Note

    Keeps the predicate "a theft occurred" and puts ކޮޓަރި (room) in front of it with the ablative -ން.

19. ނުރައްކާ!

    nurakkaa!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Shout it to warn of an immediate danger

20. ޖަޕާނީ ވާހަކަ ދައްކާ މީހަކު ހުރިތަ؟

    japanee vaahaka dakkaa meehaku huritha?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police or hospital counter whether anyone on duty speaks Japanese

21. ހޮސްޕިޓަލަށް ގެންދޭ

    hospitalah gendhey

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Ask a taxi driver or a bystander to take you to a hospital

    Grammar Note

    ހޮސްޕިޓަލް (hospital) here takes the dative -އަށް. ގެންދޭ is the imperative of the verb meaning "to take along", and the imperative -ޭ is the same ending as in "ގެނޭ".

22. މިހާރުން މިހާރަށް އާދޭ

    mihaarun mihaarah aadhey

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Use it on the phone to ask the police, an ambulance, or hotel staff to come at once

    Grammar Note

    "މިހާރުން މިހާރަށް" means "right now". އާދޭ is the imperative of the verb meaning "to come, draw near, arrive", with the same imperative -ޭ as in "ގެނޭ".

23. އަވަހަށް ކުރޭ!

    avahah kurey!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Use it to ask for speed — an ambulance, the police, or a procedure

    Grammar Note

    "އަވަހަށް" means "quickly" and "ކުރޭ" (do) is an imperative (the imperative -ޭ is the same as in "ގެނޭ").

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