Three "no"s: ނު-, ނެތް and ނޫން
Divehi has three different "no"s, and you choose by what exactly you are denying. For example: “އޭނާ މުބާރާތުގައި ބައިވެރިއެއް ނުވި” — He did not take part in the competition. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Divehi has three different "no"s, and you choose by what exactly you are denying.
An action is denied by the prefix ނު- in front of the verb: ކުޅެނީ ("plays") gives ނުކުޅޭ ("does not play"). The verb tail shifts too: -ނީ gives way to -ޭ.
Presence is denied by ނެތް (neiy): ވަގުތެއް ނެތް (vagutheh neiy) — "there is no time". Its noun form ނެތުން (nethun) is the Divehi "un-": ވަޒީފާ ނެތުން (vazeefaa nethun) — "unemployment".
The sameness of two names is denied by ނޫން (noon): އެއީ މޮޅުވުމެއް ނޫން — "that is not a victory". The usual mistake is putting ނޫން where ނެތް belongs, because English starts both with "not".
Table
| the word | what it negates | example | in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ނު- | the action | ނުކުޅޭ | does not play |
| ނު- | the action in the past | ނުވިސްނުނު | did not understand |
| ނެތް | presence | ވަގުތެއް ނެތް | there is no time |
| ނެތުން | presence, as a noun | ވަޒީފާ ނެތުން | unemployment |
| ނޫން | identity | އެއީ މޮޅުވުމެއް ނޫން | this is not a victory |
| ...ނުލައި | without something | ހެލްމެޓަކާ ނުލައި | without a helmet |
| ...ނުވަނީސް | until, before | ފެށުން ނުވަނީސް | before the start |
By example
- އޭނާ މުބާރާތުގައި ބައިވެރިއެއް ނުވިeynaa mubaaraathugai baiverieh nuviHe did not take part in the competition
- ބެލެންސެއް ނެތިއްޔާ ޔޯގާ އުނދަގޫbelenseh nethiyyaa yoagaa undhagooWithout balance yoga is hard
- އެއީ ބަލިވުމެއް ނޫން، އެއްވަރުވުމެއްeee balivumeh noon, ehvaruvumehIt is not a defeat but a draw
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
Three ways to say no in Dhivehi?
Divehi has three different "no"s, and you choose by what exactly you are denying.
Dhivehi nethy vs noon?
An action is denied by the prefix ނު- in front of the verb: ކުޅެނީ ("plays") gives ނުކުޅޭ ("does not play"). The verb tail shifts too: -ނީ gives way to -ޭ.
The Dhivehi prefix nu- before a verb?
Presence is denied by ނެތް: ވަގުތެއް ނެތް — "there is no time". Its noun form ނެތުން is the Divehi "un-": ވަޒީފާ ނެތުން — "unemployment".
How to say there is no time in Dhivehi?
The sameness of two names is denied by ނޫން: އެއީ މޮޅުވުމެއް ނޫން — "that is not a victory". The usual mistake is putting ނޫން where ނެތް belongs, because English starts both with "not".
How to say without something in Dhivehi?
The sameness of two names is denied by ނޫން: އެއީ މޮޅުވުމެއް ނޫން — "that is not a victory". The usual mistake is putting ނޫން where ނެތް belongs, because English starts both with "not".
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“އޭނާ މުބާރާތުގައި ބައިވެރިއެއް ނުވި” (eynaa mubaaraathugai baiverieh nuvi) — He did not take part in the competition. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.