The plural that is usually not there
The main news: the plural in Divehi is optional. If the conversation already makes it clear there are many things, the word stays in its basic form: ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުން — "tablets are needed", although ގުޅަބޭސް looks like one. For example: “ދެ ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުން” — Two tablets are needed. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
The main news: the plural in Divehi is optional. If the conversation already makes it clear there are many things, the word stays in its basic form: ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުން (gulhabeys beynun) — "tablets are needed", although ގުޅަބޭސް (gulhabeys) looks like one.
When the plurality does need stressing, things take the ending -ތައް (-thah): ތަށި (thashi) is a plate, ތަށިތައް (thashithah) is dishes. People take a different ending, -ން (-n): ފުލުސް (fulus) is a policeman, ފުލުހުން (fuluhun) is the police. Mixing them up is the beginner's most common mistake: "-thah" about people sounds exactly like saying "peoples" in English.
And a rule that saves effort: after a numeral the word is always singular. ދެ ފަހަރު (dhe faharu) — twice, ފަސް ދުވަސް (fas dhuvas) — five days, ދެ ކިލޯ (dhe kiloa) — two kilos. The number has already said "how many", and repeating it with an ending is pointless.
Table
| what | ending | example |
|---|---|---|
| things | -ތައް | ތަށިތައް — dishes |
| people | -ން | ފުލުހުން — police officers |
| after a number | nothing | ދެ ފަހަރު — twice |
By example
- ދެ ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުންdhe gulhabeys beynunTwo tablets are needed
- ތަށިތައް ސާފުކުރަނީthashithah saafukuraneeI am washing the dishes
- މާލޭގައި ފުލުހުން ގިނަmaaleygai fuluhun ginaThere are many police officers in Malé
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
How the plural works in Dhivehi?
The main news: the plural in Divehi is optional. If the conversation already makes it clear there are many things, the word stays in its basic form: ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުން — "tablets are needed", although ގުޅަބޭސް looks like one.
Dhivehi plural -thah for things and -n for people?
When the plurality does need stressing, things take the ending -ތައް (-thah): ތަށި is a plate, ތަށިތައް is dishes. People take a different ending, -ން (-n): ފުލުސް is a policeman, ފުލުހުން is the police. Mixing them up is the beginner's most common mistake: "-thah" about people sounds exactly like…
Why Dhivehi keeps the singular after a number?
And a rule that saves effort: after a numeral the word is always singular. ދެ ފަހަރު — twice, ފަސް ދުވަސް — five days, ދެ ކިލޯ — two kilos. The number has already said "how many", and repeating it with an ending is pointless.
Does Dhivehi have a plural at all?
And a rule that saves effort: after a numeral the word is always singular. ދެ ފަހަރު — twice, ފަސް ދުވަސް — five days, ދެ ކިލޯ — two kilos. The number has already said "how many", and repeating it with an ending is pointless.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ދެ ގުޅަބޭސް ބޭނުން” (dhe gulhabeys beynun) — Two tablets are needed. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.