Wine & Spirits

1. ވައިން ލިސްޓް ދެއްކެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Wine list dhekkevidhaaneta?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Restaurants in Malé or Hulhumalé have no wine list to show. Requesting the wine list at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "dhekkevidhaane" = polite "could you show"

2. ލޯކަލް ވައިނެއް ނުވަތަ ސްޕިރެޓެއް ރެކޮމެންޑްކޮށްދެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Local waineh nuvatha spiritheh recommend koshdhevidhaaneta?

   Can you recommend a local wine or spirit?

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Also: there is no local Maldivian wine or spirit. Palm toddy (raa) counts as banguraa once it ferments and is illegal on inhabited islands, so it is not offered as a "local spirit". Everything poured at a resort is imported, so this question has no local answer. Asking for a local wine/spirit recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "nuvatha" = "or"

3. ރެޑް / ވައިޓް / ރޯޒޭ / ސްޕާކްލިން ވައިން ދެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Red / white / rosé / sparkling wine devidhaaneta?

   I'd like red / white / rosé / sparkling wine.

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Ordering a specific type of wine

   Grammar Note

   English wine type names are used directly

4. ގިލާހެއް / ފުޅިއެއް ދެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Gilaahek / fuliek devidhaaneta?

   I'd like a glass / bottle, please.

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Choosing between a glass or bottle

   Grammar Note

   "-ek" is the indefinite article "one/a"

5. މި ކާނާ އާ ވަރަށް ގުޅޭ ވައިނަކީ ކޮބާ؟

   Mi kana aa varah gulhey wainakee kobaa?

   What wine pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Asking a sommelier about food and wine pairing

   Grammar Note

   "gulhey" = "fits/pairs with"

6. އަލްކޮހޯލް ކިހާ ވަރެއް ހިމެނިފައިވޭ؟

   Alcohol kihaa varek himenifaivey?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Checking alcohol percentage

   Grammar Note

   "himenifaivey" = perfect "is contained"

7. މިއީ ޑްރައި / ފްރޫޓީ / ސްމޫތު ވައިނެއް.

   Mii dry / fruity / smooth waineh.

   This is dry / fruity / smooth wine.

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Describing tasting notes

   Grammar Note

   Wine tasting vocabulary is borrowed from English

8. ވައިން ޓޭސްޓިން ހަދާ ހިތްވޭ.

   Wine tasting hadaa hithuvey.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Expressing desire to do a wine tasting

   Grammar Note

   "hithuvey" = "want to"

9. ސާންޕަލްތައް ދެވިދާނެތަ؟

   Saanpalthai devidhaaneta?

   Do you offer samples?

   Usage

   ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. There are no liquor shops on inhabited islands, so tastings happen only inside resort bars and restaurants. Asking for a sample before buying

   Grammar Note

   Direct borrowing of English "sample"

10. ވަރަށް ފޮނި ނޫން ވައިން ބޭނުންވޭ.

    Vara foni noun wine beynunvey.

    Not too sweet, please.

    Usage

    ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Expressing sweetness preference

    Grammar Note

    "noun" = negative copula "not"

11. ހައުސް ވައިން ކޯއްޗެއް؟

    House wine koachchek?

    What's the house wine?

    Usage

    ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Asking about the house wine

    Grammar Note

    "koachchek" = interrogative "what?"

12. ކޮން ސަރަހައްދެއްގެ ވައިނެއް؟

    Kon sarahaddegeh waineh?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Asking about the wine's region of origin

    Grammar Note

    "-ge" is the genitive marker "of"

13. ޗިއަރސް!

    Cheers!

    Cheers!

    Usage

    ℹ Thaana transliteration of English "Cheers". There is no known Dhivehi-specific toast formula. The word "hiyhalaalu" means "to forgive from the heart". In resort bars, English "Cheers" is what is actually used. Toast expression

    Grammar Note

    Transliteration of English "Cheers" in Thaana script

14. ވައިން ފިނި ކޮށްފިތަ؟

    Wine fini kohfitha?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    ⚠ Resort and hotel bars only. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law. Checking if the wine is properly chilled

    Grammar Note

    "kohfi + -ta" = "has been done?"

15. ނޮން-އަލްކޮހޯލިކް ބުއިންތަކެއް ލިބޭތަ؟

    Non-alcoholic buinthakeh libeytha?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    ℹ A card that also works on inhabited islands. Selling alcohol on inhabited islands is prohibited by Maldivian law, so everything sold in a shop or café there is already non-alcoholic; the question earns its keep in a resort or hotel bar. Asking about non-alcoholic alternatives

    Grammar Note

    "-thak" is the plural suffix

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