Transportation

1. ސްޕީޑްބޯޓް ދަތުރު

   speed-boat da-tu-ru

   Speedboat trip

   Usage

   The most common inter-island transport in Maldives

   Grammar Note

   Modern Dhivehi incorporates many English loanwords. Thaana script has specific rules for transcribing English sounds.

2. ސީ-ޕްލޭން ކޮބާ؟

   sea-plane ko-baa?

   Where is the seaplane?

   Usage

   Seaplanes are often used to reach remote resort islands

   Grammar Note

   Maldives has the world's largest seaplane fleet. "Kobaa" is a versatile question word. Thaana transcriptions of English are phonetic.

3. ފެރީ ދަތުރު ކޮންއިރަކު؟

   fe-ree da-tu-ru kon-i-ra-ku?

   When does the ferry depart?

   Usage

   Checking the departure time of the public ferry

   Grammar Note

   "Kon" is an interrogative meaning "which/what." Combined with "ira" (time) it makes "when." "ku" is a temporal case suffix.

4. ވެލާނާ ބައިނަލްއަގްވާމީ ވައިގެ ބަނދަރު

   ve-laa-naa bai-na-lul-aq-vaa-mee vai-ge ban-da-ru

   Velana International Airport

   Usage

   The main international airport in Malé, gateway to the Maldives

   Grammar Note

   "Vaige bandaru" compounds "vai" (air) + "bandaru" (harbour). "ge" is the possessive particle. Dhivehi is rich in compound nouns.

5. ދޯނި ދަތުރު

   dho-ni da-tu-ru

   Dhoni boat trip

   Usage

   Travel by dhoni, the traditional Maldivian wooden boat

   Grammar Note

   Dhoni is an iconic Maldivian vessel used for both transport and fishing. Most are now motorized. "Dhoni" may derive from Arabic "daw."

6. ޓެކްސީ ގެނޭ

   tek-si ge-ney

   Please call a taxi

   Usage

   Used for getting around in Malé city

   Grammar Note

   Malé is the compact capital where taxis are the main land transport. An example of the English word "taxi" written in Thaana script.

7. ... ރަށަށް ދާ ދޯންޏެއް ހޯދައިދޭ

   ... ra-shas daa dho-ni-ye hoa-dai-dey

   Please find a boat going to ... island

   Usage

   Finding transport to a specific island destination

   Grammar Note

   "sh" is the directional case suffix (to/towards). "Daa" is the present participle of "dhiyun" (to go). "Hoaddaidey" indicates doing something for someone.

8. ބަނދަރު ކޮބާ؟

   ban-da-ru ko-baa?

   Where is the harbour?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of the harbour or jetty

   Grammar Note

   "Bandaru" is borrowed from Arabic "bandar" (port/harbour). Every island in the Maldives has its own small harbour.

9. ދަތުރު ކިހާ ދިގު؟

   da-tu-ru ki-haa di-gu?

   How long is the journey?

   Usage

   Asking about travel duration

   Grammar Note

   Dhivehi adjectives commonly serve as predicates. "Daturu kihaa dhigu?" can be asked without a verb, as adjectives can complete questions.

10. ލޯންޗް ދަތުރު ލިސްޓު

    launch da-tu-ru lis-tu

    Launch (boat) schedule

    Usage

    Checking the scheduled boat service between islands

    Grammar Note

    "Listu" is borrowed from English "list." Inter-island travel often requires checking schedules. An example of English loanwords in Thaana.

11. ސަރުކާރީ ލޯންޗް ހިލޭ ދަތުރު

    sa-ru-kaa-ree launch hi-ley da-tu-ru

    Government free ferry service

    Usage

    Free public ferry connecting islands in the Malé metropolitan area

    Grammar Note

    The Maldivian government operates free ferries connecting Greater Malé islands. "Launch" is the English loan used in the Maldives for an inter-island ferry boat. "Sarukaru" comes from Persian "sarkār" (government).

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