Thaana Vowels

Thaana vowels The list below contains all the Dhivehi language vowels. The letter b is used as an example consonant. Dhivehi vowels have close English equivalent sounds, and a pronunciation guide (in brackets) has been included when necessary. The English script spelling for the vowels, shown in the centre column below, was introduced during the mid-1970s in Mal&eacute.

When a vowel is pronounced alone, it is written with the special consonant described on the consonants page as a 'silent vowel carrier' and known in Dhivehi as 'alifu'. The power of alifu is explained here. A small circle sometimes written above a consonant is often mistaken for a vowel by new thaana readers. It is another clever indicator, called a 'sukun'. The power of the sukun is explained here.