Fruits

1. އާފަލު

   aafalu

   Apple

2. ދޮންކެޔޮ

   dhonkeyo

   Banana

   Usage

   A traditional Maldivian fruit grown on the islands, widely used in daily food and sweets

3. ނާރިނގު

   naaringu

   Orange

4. މޭބިސްކަދުރު

   meybiskadhuru

   Grape

5. ސްޓްރޯބެރީ

   stroaberee

   Strawberry

   Usage

   Not grown in the Maldives — found only as an import at resorts and supermarkets. The name is just a transliteration of English, so locals may not recognise it

6. ކަރާ

   karaa

   Watermelon

7. އަލަނާސި

   alanaasi

   Pineapple

8. ކާށި

   kaashi

   Coconut

   Usage

   The national ingredient of the Maldives. "Kaashi kiru" (coconut milk) is used in almost every dish

9. ލުނބޯ

   lunboa

   Lime / Lemon

10. އަނބު

    anbu

    Mango

    Usage

    "Dhivehi anbu" (Maldivian mango) is small and sweet, a local specialty. A ripe one is called "dhon anbu"

11. ޑުރިއަން

    durian

    Durian

    Usage

    Not grown in the Maldives — found only as an import at resorts and supermarkets. The name is just a transliteration of English, so locals may not recognise it

12. މަބުސްތާން

    mabusthaan

    Mangosteen

13. ފަޅޯ

    falhoa

    Papaya

14. ލިޗި

    lichi

    Lychee

    Usage

    Not grown in the Maldives — found only as an import at resorts and supermarkets. The name is just a transliteration of English, so locals may not recognise it

15. ރަނބުސްތާނު

    ranbusthaanu

    Rambutan

16. ޑްރެގަން ފްރުޓް

    dregan frut

    Dragon fruit

    Usage

    Not grown in the Maldives — found only as an import at resorts and supermarkets. The name is just a transliteration of English, so locals may not recognise it

17. ލޮންގަން

    longan

    Longan

    Usage

    Not grown in the Maldives — found only as an import at resorts and supermarkets. The name is just a transliteration of English, so locals may not recognise it

18. ސައްކެޔޮ

    sakkeyo

    Jackfruit

19. ހެލެނބެލި

    helenbeli

    Tamarind

20. ފޭރު

    feyru

    Guava

21. ބަނބުކެޔޮ

    banbukeyo

    Breadfruit

    Usage

    A Maldivian staple treated more like a starch than a fruit — boiled, curried, or sliced and deep-fried ("theluli banbukeyo"). Often spelled "bambukeyo" in English

22. ކުރުނބާ

    kurunbaa

    Young drinking coconut

    Usage

    A different word from "kaashi" (the mature nut). This is the drinking stage — "kurunbaa fen" (coconut water) is sold everywhere on the islands. Often spelled "kurumba" in English

23. ކާމަރަނގަ

    kaamaranga

    Starfruit / Carambola

    Usage

    Commonly grown in Maldivian home gardens. Star-shaped when sliced; made into juice and pickles

24. ކަށިކެޔޮ

    kashikeyo

    Screwpine fruit (pandanus)

    Usage

    Fruit of the screwpine that grows wild along the shore — one of the traditional foods of the Maldives. Splits into wedge-shaped segments. Related species are called "maakashikeyo" / "boa kashikeyo"

25. ޖުމްހޫރީ މޭވާ

    jumhooree meyvaa

    Passion fruit

    Usage

    "Jumhooree" means "republican" and "meyvaa" means "fruit" — literally "republic fruit". Also written as one word, "jumhooreemeyvaa"

26. އަންނާރު

    annaaru

    Pomegranate

    Usage

    Grown in Maldivian homesteads for its edible fruit

27. ސަބުދެލި

    sabudheli

    Sapodilla / Chiku

    Usage

    Looks like a brown potato; very sweet with a grainy texture when ripe. Cultivated in the Maldives

28. ކުންނާރު

    kunnaaru

    Indian jujube

    Usage

    A small fruit usually eaten raw. Also called "kashi kunnaaru"

29. ބިލިމަގު

    bilimagu

    Bilimbi

    Usage

    Same family as starfruit; a stubby, very sour fruit used as a souring agent in cooking and for juice rather than eaten raw. Also spelled "bilamagu"

30. ދަނބު

    dhanbu

    Java plum / Jambul

    Usage

    A sweet-sour fruit that turns deep purple when ripe. The Dhivehi word for the colour purple ("dhanbukula") comes from this fruit

31. ޖަނބުރޯލު

    janburoalu

    Water apple / Wax apple

    Usage

    Very juicy with a light, watermelon-like texture. Distinct from its relative "janbu" (rose apple)

32. ދިވެހި އަތަ

    dhivehi atha

    Sugar apple / Sweetsop

    Usage

    The variety of "atha" commonly grown in the Maldives — green and knobbly, eaten fresh or made into juice ("fani"). The other variety is "vilaathu atha" (custard apple)

33. މުރާކި

    muraaki

    Cape gooseberry

    Usage

    A small berry inside a papery husk; pale orange when ripe and eaten plain in the Maldives. Also called "naaruvah"

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