Explore Dhivehi and the right-to-left Thaana script of the Maldives. Learn its roots, modern revival, and ICANN 2025 support proving a small language can thrive.
Say “Maldives,” and the mind fills with postcard scenes—white sand, turquoise water, overwater bungalows, sunsets that look filtered. Yet beneath the beauty lies something far rarer and less known: the Dhivehi language and the distinctive Thaana script. These two are quiet treasures, seldom discussed but central to what makes the Maldives genuinely unique.
Dhivehi is spoken only in the Maldives and on the small Indian island of Minicoy. You won’t hear it in other countries, it doesn’t turn up in blockbuster films, and it isn’t taught in classrooms worldwide. It is the country’s home language, passed down from generation to generation.
By origin it belongs to the same family as Sanskrit and Sinhala (spoken in Sri Lanka). Over time, though, Dhivehi has taken its own path. It sounds slightly different from island to island; people in the capital, Malé, may struggle to understand speech from the southern atolls—the differences can be that strong.
And despite the wide use of English—especially in tourism—Dhivehi remains the main language of everyday life: it is spoken at home, used in schools, written in documents and carried in the news.
How the language is written deserves its own spotlight. Thaana is the modern script of Dhivehi. It runs right to left, much like Arabic. Its letters look unusual and, on a closer look, can resemble digits; some characters indeed trace their shapes to Arabic numerals and other marks.
The Maldives once used a different alphabet, Dhives Akuru, written left to right. With the arrival of Islam, the country gradually shifted to Thaana, which has since become a part of national culture.
Yes—and that’s especially encouraging. In the spring of 2025, the international organization ICANN, which oversees domain names and internet addresses, officially added support for Thaana online. In practice, that means the script can now be used in email addresses, websites, and other digital services.
And in July of the same year, a Maldivian airline decorated its aircraft with Thaana inscriptions. It wasn’t just a pretty gesture; it read as a nod of respect to the country’s culture and traditions.
Many languages are disappearing today, with people switching to English, especially online. The story of Dhivehi suggests that even a small language can endure when it is supported, used day to day, and carried without embarrassment.
And the mere existence of such an uncommon script is compelling not only for linguists but also for designers, artists, and typographers. Thaana can spark ideas even in those who have never heard of the Maldives.
