A word out of two words: ގަނޑު, ކޮޅު, ކޮށި and the ending -ގެ
Divehi does not borrow a term; it folds it out of two of its own nouns. The first defines, the second names: ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަ — "ice-mountain", a glacier; ކުނިކޮށި — "trash-yard", a dump. For example: “ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަތައް ކުޑަވުމުން ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑު އުފުލެނީ” — As the glaciers shrink, the sea level of the ocean rises. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Divehi does not borrow a term; it folds it out of two of its own nouns. The first defines, the second names: ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަ (gandufen farubadha) — "ice-mountain", a glacier; ކުނިކޮށި (kunikoshi) — "trash-yard", a dump.
Two nouns are tied by the ending -ގެ (-ge): މުދަލުގެ ލިޔުން (mudhaluge liyun) — a waybill, އިންޖީނުގެ ދުން (injeenuge dhun) — the exhaust of an engine. If the first noun is short, -ގެ is often dropped.
The tail -ގަނޑު (-gandu) makes "a mass, a solid piece": ފެން (water) gives ފެންގަނޑު (a puddle), ބައި (a part) gives ބައިގަނޑު (a flock).
The tail -ކޮޅު (-kolhu) makes "a little piece": ބިން (earth) gives ބިންކޮޅު (a plot), ހިނދު (a moment) gives ހިނދުކޮޅު (an instant). It also softens: ފައިސާކޮޅު is politer than ފައިސާ (faisaa). And -ކޮށި (-koshi) is "an enclosed place": ކުނިކޮށި.
Table
| the tail | what it does | from what | what came out |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ގަނޑު | a solid mass | ފެން — water | ފެންގަނޑު — a puddle |
| -ގަނޑު | a solid mass | ބައި — a part | ބައިގަނޑު — a flock |
| -ކޮޅު | a little piece | ބިން — earth | ބިންކޮޅު — a plot |
| -ކޮޅު | a little piece | ހިނދު — a moment | ހިނދުކޮޅު — an instant |
| -ކޮށި | an enclosed place | ކުނި — trash | ކުނިކޮށި — a dump |
| -ގެ | ties two nouns | މުދާ — goods | މުދަލުގެ ލިޔުން — a waybill |
By example
- ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަތައް ކުޑަވުމުން ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑު އުފުލެނީgandufen farubadhathah kudavumun kanduge lonugandu ufuleneeAs the glaciers shrink, the sea level of the ocean rises
- ކުނިކޮށްޓަށް ކުނިބުނި އުފުލަނީ ދޯނިންkunikottah kunibuni ufulanee dhoaninThe waste to the dump is carried by boat
- ބިންކޮޅުގައި ގޭގެ ބިންގާ އެޅިbinkolhugai geyge bingaa elhiOn the plot the foundation of the house was laid
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
A word out of two words: how does it work in Maldivian?
Divehi does not borrow a term; it folds it out of two of its own nouns. The first defines, the second names: ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަ — "ice-mountain", a glacier; ކުނިކޮށި — "trash-yard", a dump.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ގަނޑުފެން ފަރުބަދަތައް ކުޑަވުމުން ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑު އުފުލެނީ” (gandufen farubadhathah kudavumun kanduge lonugandu ufulenee) — As the glaciers shrink, the sea level of the ocean rises. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.