Food & Drinks

1. ކާންދޭ

   kaan-dey

   Please give me food

   Usage

   Basic expression for ordering at a restaurant or food stall

   Grammar Note

   Dhivehi verbs inflect for person, tense, and aspect. "Dey" is imperative; the polite form is "dhevvaa." Thaana script is written right to left.

2. ހެދިކާ

   hedhikaa

   Short eats (Maldivian snacks)

   Usage

   Traditional Maldivian snacks, often made with fish

   Grammar Note

   "Hedikaa" literally means "made food" and covers snacks such as gulha (fried fish dumplings).

3. މަސް ރިހަ

   mas riha

   Maldivian tuna curry

   Usage

   The everyday Maldivian curry: tuna simmered with coconut, onion, chilli and havaadhu (curry spice), eaten with rice or roshi. Distinct from garudhiya, the clear broth

   Grammar Note

   މަސް means both "fish" and "bonito", which is why an unqualified mas is understood as tuna in the Maldives. ރިހަ descends from Sanskrit rasa ("juice") and has ހަވާދު as a synonym. The dish billed as the national dish is garudhiya, the clear broth; mas riha is the everyday curry.

4. ހަލުވަ

   ha-lu-va

   Halwa (traditional Maldivian sweet)

   Usage

   Traditional sweet served at celebrations and special occasions

   Grammar Note

   From Arabic "halwa" (sweet thing). Maldivian halwa is a jelly-like sweet made with black sugar, coconut, rosewater, and spices.

5. ބަތް

   baiy

   Cooked rice

   Usage

   The staple food of Maldives, eaten with curry

   Grammar Note

   May share roots with Sinhala "bath." Sri Lanka and the Maldives share deep cultural and linguistic ties.

6. ހަވީރު ސައިއަށް ދަނީ

   ha-vee-ru sai-ah da-nee

   Going for afternoon tea

   Usage

   Afternoon tea is a common social custom in Maldives

   Grammar Note

   "ސައި" (tea) comes from Arabic "shay." The dative "އަށް" in "ސައިއަށް" marks purpose/direction. "Dhanee" is present progressive.

7. ފެން ދޭ

   fen dey

   Please give me water

   Usage

   Asking for water at a restaurant or food stall

   Grammar Note

   Freshwater is precious in Maldives. "Fen" means fresh water, distinct from "vaare" (rain) and the surrounding sea.

8. ވަރަށް މީރު

   va-ras mee-ru

   Very delicious

   Usage

   Expressing that food is delicious

   Grammar Note

   "Varas" is a commonly used intensifier. "Meeru" is a native Dhivehi word. Adjectives often function as predicates in Dhivehi.

9. ރިހަ

   ri-ha

   Curry / broth

   Usage

   General term for curry in Maldives

   Grammar Note

   Possibly from Sanskrit. Dhivehi has loanwords from both Sanskrit and Arabic, reflecting its geographic and religious history.

10. ކިހާ ވަރެއް؟

    ki-haa va-re?

    How much does it cost?

    Usage

    Basic expression for asking the price

    Grammar Note

    Currency is "Rf" (Rufiyaa). The Arabic question mark "؟" is sometimes used. Arabic numerals 0-9 are mixed with Thaana script in writing.

11. ދިވެހި ކެއުން ހިތަށް ކަމު ދޭ

    di-ve-hi ke-un hi-tas ka-mu dey

    I love Maldivian food

    Usage

    Expressing fondness for Maldivian cuisine

    Grammar Note

    "Hitas kamu dey" is an idiom meaning "goes to the heart" = to like. Expressions using "hit" (heart) are very characteristic of Dhivehi.

12. ފާން

    faan

    Bread

    Usage

    Baked bread in general — loaves and rolls

13. ރޮށި

    roshi

    Roshi (Maldivian flatbread)

    Usage

    A Maldivian staple, usually eaten at breakfast with mas huni

14. ނޫޑްލްސް

    nooduls

    Noodles

    Usage

    An English loanword; commonly served as a fried noodle dish

15. ކުޅި

    kulhi

    Spicy (hot)

    Usage

    Chili heat — worth checking, as Maldivian food is often very spicy

16. ފޮނި

    foni

    Sweet

    Usage

    For checking a taste, in both food and drinks

17. ރޯ

    roa

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Means "raw" in a food context; on its own the same word can also mean "crying", so use it only about food

18. ލޮނު

    lonu

    Salt

    Usage

    For asking at the table or describing a taste

19. ހަކުރު

    hakuru

    Sugar

    Usage

    Often used to check whether tea has been sweetened

20. އަސޭމިރުސް

    aseymirus

    Black pepper

    Usage

    A different spice from chili ("mirus")

21. ތެޔޮ

    theyo

    Oil

    Usage

    Cooking oil in general; use it when checking for allergens or avoiding fat

22. ބަޓަރު

    bataru

    Butter

    Usage

    For checking a dish when avoiding dairy

23. ޗީޒް

    cheez

    Cheese

    Usage

    For checking a dish when avoiding dairy

24. މާމުއި

    maamui

    Honey

    Usage

    Sometimes served with tea or at breakfast

25. ޓޯފޫ

    toafoo

    Tofu

    Usage

    Not part of traditional cooking, but available at resorts and supermarkets

26. ސޫޕު

    soopu

    Soup

    Usage

    The Maldivian fish broth has its own name, "garudhiya"

27. މޭވާ

    meyvaa

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general — useful at markets and at breakfast

28. ޔޯގަޓް

    yoagat

    Yogurt

    Usage

    An English loanword; check it if you are avoiding dairy

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