LingoflyNumber: -ތައް, -ން and counting
The plural is not always marked, and that is the main thing about it. Things take -ތައް (ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) — suitcases), people take -ން (މަސްވެރިން — fishermen). For example: “ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) ކޮބާ؟” (kobaa) — Where are the suitcases? A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The plural is not always marked, and that is the main thing about it. Things take -ތައް (ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) — suitcases), people take -ން (މަސްވެރިން — fishermen).
After a number there is no ending at all: ދެ ފޮށި (foshi) (dhe foshi) — "two suitcases". After ގިނަ (gina) (many) things also stay singular, while people get marked: ގިނަ (gina) މީހުން (meehun) (gina meehun).
The numerals themselves have two forms, and that is a trap. Counting aloud you say އެކެއް, ދޭއް (dheh), ތިނެއް (thineh); in front of a word the short އެއް (eh), ދެ (dhe), ތިން (thin).
People are counted through މީހުން (meehun): ދެ މީހުން (meehun) (dhe meehun) — "two people". Hence ދެ މީހުންނަށް މޭޒެއް (dhe meehunnah meyzeh) — "a table for two".
Table
| what | ending | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| things | -ތައް | ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) | suitcases |
| people | -ން | މަސްވެރިން (masverin) | fishermen |
| after a number | nothing | ދެ ފޮށި (foshi) (dhe foshi) | two suitcases |
| counting aloud | -އެއް | ދޭއް (dheh)، ތިނެއް (thineh) | two, three |
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
Number: how does it work in Maldivian?
The plural is not always marked, and that is the main thing about it. Things take -ތައް (ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) — suitcases), people take -ން (މަސްވެރިން — fishermen).
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“ފޮށިތައް (foshithah) ކޮބާ؟” (kobaa) (foshithah kobaa?) — Where are the suitcases? A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.