LingoflyWhere, where to, where from: -ގައި, -އަށް, -ުން and the place nouns
To say "above", "below", "inward", separate words are not needed: in Divehi these are ordinary nouns with a place ending. For example: “އަލަމާރި މަތީގައި ފޮށި (alamaari matheegai foshi)، ދަށުގައި (dhashugai) ފައިވާން” (faivaan) — On the wardrobe a box on top, slippers below. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To say "above", "below", "inward", separate words are not needed: in Divehi these are ordinary nouns with a place ending.
"Where" is -ގައި: މަތީގައި (matheegai) — above, ދަށުގައި (dhashugai) — below. "Where to" is -އަށް (-ah): މައްޗަށް (machchah) — upward, ތިރިއަށް (thiriah) — downward. "Where from" is -ުން: ދުރުން (dhurun) — from afar, ކައިރިން (kairin) — passing by.
There are about ten such nouns: މަތި (mathi) — top, ދަށް (dhah) — bottom, ތެރެ (there) — inside, ބޭރު (beyru) — outside. Each with three endings gives three adverbs, and no list has to be learned.
The place noun stands after what it belongs to. ކޮޓަރި (kotari) މެދުގައި (medhugai) (kotari medhugai) — "in the middle of the room", ގޭ ކައިރިން (kairin) (gey kairin) — "past the house". The English word goes in front, the Divehi one behind.
Table
| the noun | where (-ގައި) | where to (-އަށް) | where from (-ުން) |
|---|---|---|---|
| މަތި (mathi) — top | މަތީގައި (matheegai) — above | މައްޗަށް (machchah) — upward | މަތިން (mathin) — from above |
| ދަށް (dhah) — bottom | ދަށުގައި (dhashugai) — below | ތިރިއަށް (thiriah) — downward | ދަށުން — from below |
| ތެރެ (there) — inside | ތެރޭގައި (thereygai) — within | އެތެރެއަށް (ethereah) — inward | ތެރެއިން (therein) — through |
| ބޭރު (beyru) — outside | ބޭރުގައި (beyrugai) — on the outside | ބޭރަށް (beyrah) — out | ބޭރުން (beyrun) — from outside |
| ކައިރި (kairi) — near | ކައިރީގައި (kaireegai) — nearby | ކައިރިއަށް (kairiah) — toward | ކައިރިން (kairin) — past |
| ދުރު (dhuru) — far | ދުރުގައި (dhurugai) — in the distance | ދުރަށް (dhurah) — away | ދުރުން (dhurun) — from afar |
By example
- dhurun balaileema rashuge beyru rongu fennaneeFrom afar the outlines of the island are visible
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
Where, where to, where from: how does it work in Maldivian?
To say "above", "below", "inward", separate words are not needed: in Divehi these are ordinary nouns with a place ending.
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“އަލަމާރި މަތީގައި ފޮށި (alamaari matheegai foshi)، ދަށުގައި (dhashugai) ފައިވާން” (faivaan) (alamaari matheegai foshi, dhashugai faivaan) — On the wardrobe a box on top, slippers below. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.