Fractions, multiples and comparison: ބައިކުޅަ, ގުނަ, ވުރެ
Unit fifty-two demands three things: to say a fraction, to say "so many times over" and to compare two quantities. Each of the three works in Divehi differently than in English, and each is simple once you see the design. For example: “ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” — A third of the class did not come. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Unit fifty-two demands three things: to say a fraction, to say "so many times over" and to compare two quantities. Each of the three works in Divehi differently than in English, and each is simple once you see the design.
A fraction is read the other way round. ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (thinbaikulha ehbai) — a third, literally "of three parts one part". The denominator goes first, ބައިކުޅަ is the service word of the fraction, the numerator comes last. ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި (hatharubaikulha ehbai) — a quarter, ފަސްބައިކުޅަ ދެބައި — two fifths. The English "one third" is simply turned around here.
Half and one-and-a-half are separate words. ބައި (bai) — half, ދޮޅު (dholhu) — one and a half. The second is a rarity among languages: where another tongue says "one and a half", Divehi says it with one word — ދޮޅު ގަޑިއިރު (dholhu gadiiru), ދޮޅު އަހަރު (dholhu aharu). But the series does not go beyond one and a half: "two and a half" will be ދެއްބައި.
Multiples are assembled with the word ގުނަ (guna). ދެގުނަ (dheguna) — twice, ތިންގުނަ (thinguna) — three times, ދިހަ ގުނަ (dhiha guna) — ten times. The same -ވުން (-vun) and -ކުރުން (-kurun) attach to it: ދެގުނަވަނީ (dhegunavanee) — it is doubling. English "by an order of magnitude" Divehi passes directly, with a number.
The comparison rests on ވުރެ (vure). The postposition is put after the noun in the dative: އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު — taller than me, މިދިޔަ އަހަރަށްވުރެ ދަށް (midhiya aharahvure dhah) — lower than last year. The word you compare with goes first, the quality last. The quality has no separate comparative form: ބޮޑު (bodu) means both "big" and "bigger"; ވުރެ makes the difference.
The superlative — the word އެންމެ (emme). އެންމެ ބޮޑު (emme bodu) — the biggest, އެންމެ މަތީ ހިސާބު (emme mathee hisaabu) — the peak, the topmost mark. It is the same އެންމެ the course gave in އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ (emme furathama).
Table
| the turn | how it is assembled | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| a fraction | the denominator + ބައިކުޅަ + the numerator | ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި | a third |
| a fraction | the same | ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި | a quarter |
| one and a half | a separate word | ދޮޅު ގަޑިއިރު | one and a half hours |
| multiples | a number + ގުނަ | ތިންގުނަ | three times |
| comparison | a noun + -އަށްވުރެ + the quality | އަހަރެންނަށްވުރެ ދިގު | taller than me |
| the superlative | އެންމެ + the quality | އެންމެ މަތީ | the topmost |
By example
- ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭklaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadheyA third of the class did not come
- އަގު ދެގުނަ ބޮޑުވި، އެކަމަކު އާމްދަނީ ހުރިގޮތަށްagu dheguna boduvi, ekamaku aamdhanee hurigothahThe price doubled, but the income stayed as it was
- މާލޭގެ އާބާދީ މި ރަށަށްވުރެ ދިހަ ގުނަ ބޮޑުmaaleyge aabaadhee mi rashahvure dhiha guna boduThe population of Malé is ten times bigger than on this island
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
Fractions, multiples and comparison: how does it work in Maldivian?
Unit fifty-two demands three things: to say a fraction, to say "so many times over" and to compare two quantities. Each of the three works in Divehi differently than in English, and each is simple once you see the design.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ކްލާހުގެ ތިންބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި ނާދޭ” (klaahuge thinbaikulha ehbai naadhey) — A third of the class did not come. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.