LingoflyA 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 (gandufen farubadha) — "ice-mountain", a glacier; ކުނިކޮށި (kunikoshi) — "trash-yard", a dump. For example: “ގަނޑުފެން (gandufen) ފަރުބަދަތައް (farubadhathah) ކުޑަވުމުން ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑު އުފުލެނީ” (kanduge lonugandu ufulenee) — 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 (fen) (water) gives ފެންގަނޑު (fengandu) (a lake), ބައި (bai) (a part) gives ބައިގަނޑު (baigandu) (a flock).
The tail -ކޮޅު (-kolhu) makes "a little piece": ބިން (bin) (earth) gives ބިންކޮޅު (binkolhu) (a plot), ހިނދު (a moment) gives ހިނދުކޮޅު (hindhukolhu) (an instant). It also softens: ފައިސާކޮޅު is politer than ފައިސާ (faisaa). And -ކޮށި (-koshi) is "an enclosed place": ކުނިކޮށި (kunikoshi).
Table
| the tail | what it does | from what | what came out |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ގަނޑު | a solid mass | ފެން (fen) — water | ފެންގަނޑު (fengandu) — a lake |
| -ގަނޑު | a solid mass | ބައި (bai) — a part | ބައިގަނޑު (baigandu) — a flock |
| -ކޮޅު | a little piece | ބިން (bin) — earth | ބިންކޮޅު (binkolhu) — a plot |
| -ކޮޅު | a little piece | ހިނދު — a moment | ހިނދުކޮޅު (hindhukolhu) — an instant |
| -ކޮށި | an enclosed place | ކުނި (kuni) — trash | ކުނިކޮށި (kunikoshi) — a dump |
| -ގެ | ties two nouns | މުދާ (mudhaa) — goods | މުދަލުގެ ލިޔުން (mudhaluge liyun) — a waybill |
By example
- gandufen farubadhathah kudavumun kanduge lonugandu ufuleneeAs the glaciers shrink, the sea level of the ocean rises
- 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 (gandufen farubadha) — "ice-mountain", a glacier; ކުނިކޮށި (kunikoshi) — "trash-yard", a dump.
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“ގަނޑުފެން (gandufen) ފަރުބަދަތައް (farubadhathah) ކުޑަވުމުން ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑު އުފުލެނީ” (kanduge lonugandu ufulenee) (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.