What language is Dhivehi similar to?

Similarities with Sinhala

Due to its shared origin from Elu Prakrit, Dhivehi bears a considerable resemblance to Sinhala, the language spoken in Sri Lanka. While both languages have evolved and adopted distinct features over time, several grammatical and phonetic similarities still exist between the two. For example, Dhivehi and Sinhala share a significant percentage of their vocabulary and possess similar sentence structures. Additionally, the languages exhibit comparable phonological features, such as the presence of prenasalized stops and the lack of aspirated consonants. These similarities highlight the historical connection between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, which were both influenced by South Indian and North Indian cultures during ancient times.