What language is Dhivehi similar to?

Influence of Arabic and Other Languages

Throughout its history, Dhivehi has been influenced not only by neighboring languages like Sinhala, but also by other languages due to trade, religion, and cultural exchanges. The Maldives has a long history of interaction with Arab traders, leading to the adoption of numerous Arabic words into the Dhivehi vocabulary. Consequently, Dhivehi exhibits some lexical similarities with Arabic, especially in the domains of trade, administration, and religion. Additionally, the unique Thaana script, used for writing Dhivehi, is derived partly from Arabic numerals, further demonstrating the influence of Arabic on the language. Over time, Dhivehi has also been influenced by other languages like Persian, Portuguese, and English, which have left their mark on its vocabulary and linguistic structure.