This, that and here: the demonstratives މި, ތި, އެ
Divehi has not two demonstratives but three, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި — by me ("this"), ތި — by you ("that one of yours"), އެ — by him or far away ("that"). English tells "this" from "that" by distance, not by possession, and this is the main trap: the phone in my hand is މި ފޯނު, the same phone in yours is ތި ފޯނު. For example: “މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެ” — This book is…
How it works
Divehi has not two demonstratives but three, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި (mi) — by me ("this"), ތި (thi) — by you ("that one of yours"), އެ (e) — by him or far away ("that"). English tells "this" from "that" by distance, not by possession, and this is the main trap: the phone in my hand is މި ފޯނު (mi foanu), the same phone in yours is ތި ފޯނު (thi foanu).
Before a noun they stand bare and change nothing: މި ފޮތް ("this book"), އެ ގެ ("that house"). The form of the noun itself stays as it was — no endings appear on it here.
On their own, without a noun, they take the link -އީ (-ee): މިއީ ("this is"), ތިއީ, އެއީ (eee). From there comes the familiar އެއީ އަހަރެންގެ ކުށެއް ("that is my fault") from unit thirteen.
They show place with the same beginning: މިތާ ("here"), ތިތާ ("there where you are"), އެތާ ("over there"). And direction adds -އަށް (-ah): މިތަނަށް އާދޭ (mithanah aadhey) — "come here".
Table
| with whom | before a word | on its own | place |
|---|---|---|---|
| by me | މި (mi) | މިއީ (miee) | މިތާ (mithaa) |
| by you | ތި (thi) | ތިއީ (thiee) | ތިތާ (thithaa) |
| by him, far away | އެ (e) | އެއީ (eee) | އެތާ (ethaa) |
| the question | ކޮން (kon) | ކޮބާ (kobaa) | ކޮންތާކު (konthaaku) |
By example
- މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެmi foiy aharengeThis book is mine
- ތި ފޯނު ދައްކަބަލަthi foanu dhakkabalaShow me that phone of yours
- އެއީ އަހަރެންގެ ބޭބެeee aharenge beybeThis is my older brother
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
This, that and here: how does it work in Maldivian?
Divehi has not two demonstratives but three, and they are sorted not by distance but by whose hands the thing is in. މި — by me ("this"), ތި — by you ("that one of yours"), އެ — by him or far away ("that"). English tells "this" from "that" by distance, not by possession, and this is the main trap…
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މި ފޮތް އަހަރެންގެ” (mi foiy aharenge) — This book is mine. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.