LingoflyWith what and from where: the ending -ުން
To say "with what", "from where" and "because of what", one ending is enough — -ުން. For example: “ލިޔުމުން ދެއްވާ (liyumun dhevvaa)، އަނގަބަހުން (angabahun) ނޫން” (noon) — Give it in writing, not orally. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
To say "with what", "from where" and "because of what", one ending is enough — -ުން.
It goes on the noun, and the last vowel of the stem often shifts. ލިޔުން (liyun) gives ލިޔުމުން (liyumun) ("in writing"), ފިހާރަ (fihaara) gives ފިހާރައިން (fihaarain) ("from the shop"). Before -ން a linking ު or ި steps in.
With what: ލިޔުމުން ދެއްވާ (liyumun dhevvaa) — "give it in writing", އަނގަބަހުން (angabahun) — "orally". From where: ގުދަނުން (gudhanun) — "from the warehouse". English says "bought at the shop"; Divehi says "from the shop", because the thing moves away from there.
Because of what and when: ބަލިވުމުން ދެރަވި (balivumun dheravi) — "upset because of the defeat", ލިބުމުން (libumun) — "upon receipt". With the word ގޮތް (goiy) it gives a point of view: ގާނޫނީ ގޮތުން (gaanoonee gothun) — "by law".
Table
| the job of the ending | example | in English |
|---|---|---|
| with what | ލިޔުމުން (liyumun) | in writing |
| with what | އަނގަބަހުން (angabahun) | orally |
| from where | ގުދަނުން (gudhanun) | from the warehouse |
| where bought | ފިހާރައިން (fihaarain) | at the shop |
| because of what | ބަލިވުމުން (balivumun) | because of the defeat |
| when | ލިބުމުން (libumun) | upon receipt |
| by what | ގާނޫނީ ގޮތުން (gaanoonee gothun) | by law |
By example
- balivumun dheravi, ekamaku gaanoonee gothun massalaeh neiyUpset because of the defeat, but legally there is no problem
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
With what and from where: how does it work in Maldivian?
To say "with what", "from where" and "because of what", one ending is enough — -ުން.
What does it look like in a Maldivian example sentence?
“ލިޔުމުން ދެއްވާ (liyumun dhevvaa)، އަނގަބަހުން (angabahun) ނޫން” (noon) (liyumun dhevvaa, angabahun noon) — Give it in writing, not orally. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.