LingoflyA verb instead of an adjective: -ާ, -ޭ, -ފައި and -ެވޭ
Divehi has few qualities and many verbs. Where English puts an adjective, Divehi often puts a verb in a special form. It stands in front of the noun and does not change. For example: “އެއްފަހަރު ބޭނުންކުރާ ޕްލާސްޓިކް މަނާކުރި” (ehfaharu beynunkuraa plaastik manaakuri) — Single-use plastic has been banned. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Divehi has few qualities and many verbs. Where English puts an adjective, Divehi often puts a verb in a special form. It stands in front of the noun and does not change.
The form in -ާ or -ޭ means "which does": ބަންދުކުރާ ފޮށި (bandhukuraa foshi) — packaging; ކެރޭ (kerey) މީހާ (meehaa) (kerey meehaa) — a resolute person.
The form in -ފައި (-fai) means "which has already become": ރޫޖެހިފައި (roojehifai) — crumpled, ކުލަ ފަނޑުވެފައި (kula fanduvefai) — faded, ބާވެފައި (baavefai) — worn out.
The form in -ެވޭ means "which can be": ބޭނުންކުރެވޭ (beynunkurevey) — usable. With the prefix ނު- it turns into "which cannot be": އަނބުރާ (anburaa) ނުގެނެވޭ (nugenevey) (anburaa nugenevey) — irreversible. The negation steps inside the word, in front of the root.
Table
| the form | what it means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ާ / -ޭ | which does | ބަންދުކުރާ ފޮށި (bandhukuraa foshi) | packaging |
| -ާ / -ޭ | which does | ކެރޭ (kerey) މީހާ (meehaa) | a resolute person |
| -ފައި | which has become | ރޫޖެހިފައި (roojehifai) | crumpled |
| -ފައި | which has become | ކުލަ ފަނޑުވެފައި (kula fanduvefai) | faded |
| -ެވޭ | which can be | ބޭނުންކުރެވޭ (beynunkurevey) | usable |
| ނު- + -ެވޭ | which cannot be | އަނބުރާ (anburaa) ނުގެނެވޭ (nugenevey) | irreversible |
By example
- އެއްފަހަރު ބޭނުންކުރާ ޕްލާސްޓިކް މަނާކުރިehfaharu beynunkuraa plaastik manaakuriSingle-use plastic has been banned
- އަނބުރާ ނުގެނެވޭ ބަދަލެއް އައިސްފިanburaa nugenevey badhaleh aisfiAn irreversible change has occurred
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
Dhivehi adjectives?
Divehi has few qualities and many verbs. Where English puts an adjective, Divehi often puts a verb in a special form. It stands in front of the noun and does not change.
Why Dhivehi uses a verb instead of an adjective?
Divehi has few qualities and many verbs. Where English puts an adjective, Divehi often puts a verb in a special form. It stands in front of the noun and does not change.
How to say worn out in Dhivehi?
The form in -ފައި means "which has already become": ރޫޖެހިފައި (roojehifai) — crumpled, ކުލަ ފަނޑުވެފައި (kula fanduvefai) — faded, ބާވެފައި (baavefai) — worn out.
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“އެއްފަހަރު ބޭނުންކުރާ ޕްލާސްޓިކް މަނާކުރި” (ehfaharu beynunkuraa plaastik manaakuri) — Single-use plastic has been banned. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.