This, that and here: the demonstratives މި, ތި, އެ
Divehi has three demonstratives, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި — by me ("this"), ތި — by you, އެ — by him or far away. For example: “މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެ” — This book is mine. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Divehi has three demonstratives, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި (mi) — by me ("this"), ތި (thi) — by you, އެ (e) — by him or far away.
English sorts "this" and "that" by distance, and that is the main trap. The phone in my hand is މި ފޯނު (mi foanu), the same phone in yours is ތި ފޯނު (thi foanu).
Before a noun they stand bare and change nothing: މި ފޮތް ("this book"), އެ ގެ ("that house"). The noun keeps its form.
On their own they take the link -އީ (-ee): މިއީ (miee), ތިއީ, އެއީ ("this is"). Place uses the same beginning: މިތާ ("here"), ތިތާ, އެތާ ("over there").
Table
| with whom | before a word | on its own | place |
|---|---|---|---|
| by me | މި (mi) | މިއީ (miee) | މިތާ (mithaa) |
| by you | ތި (thi) | ތިއީ (thiee) | ތިތާ (thithaa) |
| by him, far away | އެ (e) | އެއީ (eee) | އެތާ (ethaa) |
| the question | ކޮން (kon) | ކޮބާ (kobaa) | ކޮންތާކު (konthaaku) |
By example
- މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެmi foiy aharengeThis book is mine
- ތި ފޯނު ދައްކަބަލަthi foanu dhakkabalaShow me that phone of yours
- އެއީ އަހަރެންގެ ބޭބެeee aharenge beybeThis is my older brother
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
This, that and here: how does it work in Maldivian?
Divehi has three demonstratives, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި — by me ("this"), ތި — by you, އެ — by him or far away.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެ” (mi foiy aharenge) — This book is mine. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.