The most: one word, އެންމެ
To say "the most", one word is enough — އެންމެ in front of the quality. އެންމެ ބޮޑު ("the biggest"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The quality itself stays as it is. For example: “މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެ” — This is the biggest house on the island. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To say "the most", one word is enough — އެންމެ (emme) in front of the quality. އެންމެ ބޮޑު ("the biggest"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The quality itself stays as it is.
އެންމެ is written with noonu but sounds "emme": ން before މ is swallowed completely.
Before an ordinal word it gives "the very first", "the very last": އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ (emme furathama), އެންމެ ފަހު (enme fahu). Before an adverb — "earlier than anyone": އެންމެ އަވަހަށް (emme avahah).
"One of the most" is the same އެންމެ plus -ެއް on the noun: އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެއެއް (emme bodu geeh). Without -ެއް it would be "the biggest house". The field of comparison goes in front with -ގެ (-ge): ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ދިގު (rashuge emme dhigu).
Table
| what we show | the means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| the most | އެންމެ (emme) | އެންމެ ބޮޑު | the biggest |
| the very first | އެންމެ + an ordinal word | އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ | the very first |
| one of the most | އެންމެ … -ެއް | އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެއެއް | one of the biggest houses |
| where we compare | -ގެ in front | ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ދިގު | the longest on the island |
By example
- މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެmiee rashuge emme bodu geThis is the biggest house on the island
- އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ކުއްޔަކީ މިއީemme aguheyo kuyyakee mieeThis is the cheapest rent
- އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ ކުލި ދައްކަން ޖެހޭemme furathama kuli dhakkan jeheyThe rent has to be paid first of all
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
The most: how does it work in Maldivian?
To say "the most", one word is enough — އެންމެ in front of the quality. އެންމެ ބޮޑު ("the biggest"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The quality itself stays as it is.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެ” (miee rashuge emme bodu ge) — This is the biggest house on the island. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.