LingoflyThe plural that is usually not there
The plural in Divehi is optional. When it is already clear that there are many things, the word stays as it is: ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން (beynun) — "tablets are needed". For example: “ދެ ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން” (beynun) — Two tablets are needed. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The plural in Divehi is optional. When it is already clear that there are many things, the word stays as it is: ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން (beynun) (gulhabeys beynun) — "tablets are needed".
To stress the plural, things take -ތައް (-thah): ތަށި (thashi) is a plate, ތަށިތައް (thashithah) is dishes. People take -ން (-n): ފުލުސް (fulus) is a policeman, ފުލުހުން (fuluhun) is the police.
Mixing the two up is the commonest beginner mistake: -ތައް about people sounds like "peoples".
After a numeral the word is always singular: ދެ ފަހަރު (dhe faharu) — twice, ފަސް (fas) ދުވަސް (dhuvas) (fas dhuvas) — five days. The number has already said how many.
Table
By example
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
How the plural works in Dhivehi?
The plural in Divehi is optional. When it is already clear that there are many things, the word stays as it is: ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން (beynun) — "tablets are needed".
Dhivehi plural -thah for things and -n for people?
To stress the plural, things take -ތައް (-thah): ތަށި (thashi) is a plate, ތަށިތައް (thashithah) is dishes. People take -ން (-n): ފުލުސް (fulus) is a policeman, ފުލުހުން (fuluhun) is the police.
Why Dhivehi keeps the singular after a number?
After a numeral the word is always singular: ދެ ފަހަރު (dhe faharu) — twice, ފަސް (fas) ދުވަސް (dhuvas) — five days. The number has already said how many.
Does Dhivehi have a plural at all?
The plural in Divehi is optional. When it is already clear that there are many things, the word stays as it is: ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން (beynun) — "tablets are needed".
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“ދެ ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) ބޭނުން” (beynun) (dhe gulhabeys beynun) — Two tablets are needed. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.