Very, too, a little: degree and judgment
Degree in Divehi is expressed by separate words in front of the adjective, not by endings. ވަރަށް ("very") is the most frequent: ވަރަށް ރީތި ("very beautiful"), ވަރަށް ބޮޑު ("very big"). For example: “މި ފިލްމު ވަރަށް ޝައުގުވެރި” — This film is very interesting. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Degree in Divehi is expressed by separate words in front of the adjective, not by endings. ވަރަށް ("very") is the most frequent: ވަރަށް ރީތި ("very beautiful"), ވަރަށް ބޮޑު ("very big").
މާ (maa) means "too" and always carries a reproach: މާ ބޮޑު (maa bodu) is not "very big" but "too big, it will not do". Confusing it with ވަރަށް is not allowed: one praises, the other complains. Careful with the spelling too — މާ is written exactly like "flower" from unit eleven; the place in the sentence tells them apart.
ކުޑަކޮށް ("just a little") diminishes: ކުޑަކޮށް ކުޅި ("slightly hot"). It also softens a request — ކުޑަކޮށް މަޑުކުރޭ ("wait a bit").
An adverb is made from an adjective with the ending -ކޮށް or -އަށް (-ah): ރަނގަޅު (rangalhu) → ރަނގަޅަށް ("well"), ހޫނު (hoonu) → ހޫނުކޮށް ("while hot"), އަވަސް (avas) → އަވަހަށް ("fast"). The comparison is built with the word ވުރެ ("than"): މިއަށްވުރެ ބޮޑު — "bigger than this".
Table
| meaning | word | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| very | ވަރަށް (varah) | ވަރަށް ރީތި | very beautiful |
| too | މާ (maa) | މާ ބޮޑު | too big, it will not do |
| a little | ކުޑަކޮށް (kudakoh) | ކުޑަކޮށް ކުޅި | slightly hot |
| than (comparison) | ވުރެ (vure) | މިއަށްވުރެ ބޮޑު | bigger than this |
By example
- މި ފިލްމު ވަރަށް ޝައުގުވެރިmi filmu varah shauguveriThis film is very interesting
- އަޑު މާ ބާރުadu maa baaruThe sound is too loud
- ކުޑަކޮށް މަޑުކޮށްލަދީkudakoh madukoshladheeMake it a bit quieter
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
Very, too, a little: how does it work in Maldivian?
Degree in Divehi is expressed by separate words in front of the adjective, not by endings. ވަރަށް ("very") is the most frequent: ވަރަށް ރީތި ("very beautiful"), ވަރަށް ބޮޑު ("very big").
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މި ފިލްމު ވަރަށް ޝައުގުވެރި” (mi filmu varah shauguveri) — This film is very interesting. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.