The verb always comes last

Divehi builds a sentence as subject → object → verb. "I eat rice" comes out as "I rice eat": އަހަރެން ބަތް ކަނީ. For example: “އަހަރެން ކޮފީ ބޮނީ” — I drink coffee (I coffee drink). A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

How it works

Divehi builds a sentence as subject → object → verb. "I eat rice" comes out as "I rice eat": އަހަރެން ބަތް ކަނީ (aharen baiy kanee).

This is the main thing to get used to. A practical trick: first gather everything you are talking about, and put the action as the very last word.

By example

  • އަހަރެން ކޮފީ ބޮނީ
    aharen kofee bonee
    I drink coffee (I coffee drink)
  • އޭނާ ދިވެހި ދަސްކުރަނީ
    eynaa dhivehi dhaskuranee
    He is learning Divehi
  • އަހަރެން ގެއަށް ދަނީ
    aharen geah dhanee
    I am going home

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

Dhivehi sentence structure?

Divehi builds a sentence as subject → object → verb. "I eat rice" comes out as "I rice eat": އަހަރެން ބަތް ކަނީ.

Why the verb comes last in Dhivehi?

This is the main thing to get used to. A practical trick: first gather everything you are talking about, and put the action as the very last word.

How to build a sentence in Dhivehi?

This is the main thing to get used to. A practical trick: first gather everything you are talking about, and put the action as the very last word.

What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?

“އަހަރެން ކޮފީ ބޮނީ” (aharen kofee bonee) — I drink coffee (I coffee drink). A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.

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Test the rule on examplesPractice