Sightseeing

1. ފަރު ބަލަން ދިއުން

   fa-ru ba-lan di-un

   Going to see the coral reef

   Usage

   One of the signature tourist activities of the Maldives

   Grammar Note

   Maldives boasts some of the world's finest coral reefs. "Diun" is the nominalized form of "to go." Thaana script runs right to left.

2. ދިވެހި ރަށް ދައްކާ

   di-ve-hi ras dhak-kaa

   Show me the Maldivian island

   Usage

   Asking a guide to show you around the island

   Grammar Note

   "Dhakkaa" is the imperative of "show/display." The Maldives has over 1,200 islands. Only about 200 are inhabited.

3. އިރު އޮއްސޭ ވަގުތު

   i-ru os-sey va-gu-thu

   Sunset

   Usage

   Sunset over the Indian Ocean is one of Maldives' top attractions

   Grammar Note

   "Iru ossey vaguthu" means "the time the sun sets" = sunset. "Vaguthu" means "time / moment."

4. ރާޅު ހިތްތިރިކަން

   raa-lu hit-ti-ri-kan

   The calmness of the waves

   Usage

   Describing the serene waters of the Maldives

   Grammar Note

   "Hithtiri" (calm, lit: "low-hearted") + abstract suffix "-kan" creates a noun. Heart-based expressions are characteristic of Dhivehi.

5. ދިވެހި ރަށުން ރަށަށް ދަތުރު

   di-ve-hi ra-shun ra-shah da-thu-ru

   Dhivehi island hopping (various atolls)

   Usage

   Talking about touring the atolls of the Maldives

   Grammar Note

   Maldives has 26 atolls and 1,200+ islands. Atolls are named alphabetically using Thaana letters, from north to south. Thaana is unique to Maldives.

6. ބިތްލެހި ވެ

   bit-le-hi ve

   Pearl of the Indian Ocean (nickname for Maldives)

   Usage

   A poetic expression for the beauty of the Maldives

   Grammar Note

   Maldives is called the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Dhivehi's vocabulary shows strong Arabic influence alongside native Dhivehi words.

7. ދިވެހި ތާރީހީ ތަންތަން ބަލަން ދިޔެ

   di-ve-hi taa-ree-hee tan-tan ba-lan di-ye

   I went to see the historical sites of the Maldives

   Usage

   Talking about visiting historical sites

   Grammar Note

   "Taareehee" from Arabic "tarikh" (history). Reduplication "tantan" marks plurality. Maldives has ancient Buddhist ruins predating its conversion to Islam.

8. ކަނޑު ދަތުރު

   kan-du da-tu-ru

   Sea voyage / ocean cruise

   Usage

   A cruise travelling between islands by sea

   Grammar Note

   "Kandu" means sea/ocean. Maldivian liveaboard cruises are internationally popular for diving and island-hopping.

9. މާލެ ސިޓީ ބެލުން

   maale siti belun

   Sightseeing in Malé city

   Usage

   Sightseeing in the capital city Malé

   Grammar Note

   Malé is one of the world's smallest capitals. The Grand Mosque (Islamic Centre) is a key attraction. Thaana script runs right to left.

10. ގިރިތީރު ހިނގާލުން

    gi-ri-tee-ru hin-gaa-lun

    Walk along the shore

    Usage

    Taking a walk along the beach or shoreline

    Grammar Note

    "Hingaa" means "to walk"; suffix "-lun" creates a gerund. Maldivian beaches are world-famous for their white sand and turquoise waters.

11. ދިވެހިން ވަރަށް ހިތްހެޔޮ

    di-ve-hin va-rah hith-he-yo

    Maldivians are very kind / warm-hearted

    Usage

    Expressing appreciation for Maldivian hospitality

    Grammar Note

    "Hithheyo" combines "hit" (heart) + "heyo" (good) = kind/warm-hearted. Plural "dhivehin" adds "-n" suffix to the noun.

12. ހުޅުމާލެ ކޮންތާކު ތޯ؟

    hulhumaale konthaaku tho?

    Where is Hulhumalé?

    Usage

    Asking for directions to Hulhumalé, the new artificial island

    Grammar Note

    Hulhumalé is a reclaimed island built to ease Malé's overcrowding, connected to the airport by bridge.

13. ހުކުރު މިސްކިތް ކޮންތަނެއް؟

    Hukuru miskithu konthaneh?

    Where is the Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy)?

    Usage

    Visiting the historic Friday Mosque in Malé

    Grammar Note

    Hukuru Miskiy, built in 1656, is the Maldives' oldest mosque, famous for its coral stone construction.

14. ގައުމީ މިއުޒިއަމް ހުންނަ ތަނެއް ދެއްކިދާނެތޯ؟

    gaumee miuziamu hunna thaneh dhekkidhaane tho?

    Could you show me where the National Museum is?

    Usage

    Asking for directions to the National Museum

    Grammar Note

    The National Museum in Sultan Park houses Maldivian historical artifacts.

15. މަސް މާރުކޭޓް ކޮބާ؟

    mas maarukeyt koba?

    Where is the fish market?

    Usage

    Looking for the fish market in Malé

    Grammar Note

    Malé's fish market is where fresh skipjack and yellowfin tuna landed by the fishing boats are sold. "Mas" means fish and "koba" means "where".

16. ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު ކޮތަނެއް؟

    vaige bandaru kothaneu?

    Where is the airport?

    Usage

    Asking directions to Velana International Airport

    Grammar Note

    "ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު" literally means "air harbour". Velana International Airport is on the adjacent island Hulhulé.

17. ރިސޯޓް ރަށް ވަރަށް ދުރުތޯ؟

    risort rash varah dhuruthoa?

    Is the resort island very far?

    Usage

    Asking how far a resort island is

    Grammar Note

    The Maldives has 200+ resort islands, most accessed by speedboat or seaplane.

18. ވޯޓާ ޓެކްސީ ލިބޭ ތަނެއް ކޮތަނެއް؟

    voataa teksi libey thaneu kothaneu?

    Where is the water taxi dock?

    Usage

    Asking for the water taxi boarding point

    Grammar Note

    Water taxis connect Malé, Hulhulé, and Hulhumalé. They run 24 hours.

19. އަތޮޅަށް ދިއުމަށް ދޯނި ލިބޭތޯ؟

    atolah diumaah dhoni libetho?

    Is there a boat to the atoll?

    Usage

    Asking about boat transport to the atolls

    Grammar Note

    The Maldives consists of 26 atolls. Inter-island transport is by dhoni or seaplane.

20. ބާރަށް ދުއްވާ ދޯންޏެއް ލިބޭތޯ؟

    baarash dhuvaadho dhoniyeu libetoa?

    Is there a speedboat available?

    Usage

    Asking about speedboat transport to resort islands

    Grammar Note

    Speedboats are the most common resort transport in the Maldives, with trips of 30–90 minutes.

21. މާލެ ސިޓީ ވަރަށް ތަދުބީރު

    maale sitii varah thadbiiru

    Malé City is very bustling

    Usage

    Talking about Malé, the capital of the Maldives

    Grammar Note

    Malé is one of the most densely populated cities in the Indian Ocean, with ~130,000 people in 2 km².

22. މާލޭގެ މަސް މާރުކޭޓަށް ދާން ބޭނުން

    maaleyge mas maarukeytah dhaan beynun

    I want to go to the Malé fish market

    Usage

    Expressing intent to visit Malé's famous fish market

    Grammar Note

    "Maaleyge mas maarukeytu" is Malé's fish market; a produce market for vegetables and local goods is next door. "Dhaan beynun" means "want to go".

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