The most: one word, އެންމެ
There is no superlative as a form in Divehi — there is the word އެންމެ in front of the adjective: އެންމެ ބޮޑު ކޮޓަރި ("the biggest room"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The adjective itself stays unchanged. For example: “މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެ” — This is the biggest house on the island. A rule from the Maldivian course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
There is no superlative as a form in Divehi — there is the word އެންމެ (emme) in front of the adjective: އެންމެ ބޮޑު ކޮޓަރި ("the biggest room"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The adjective itself stays unchanged.
އެންމެ is written with noonu, but sounds "emme": ން before މ assimilates completely. The same pair of letters and the same reading in ޒިންމާ ("responsibility") from unit twenty-three.
Before a numeral or an ordinal word އެންމެ gives "the very first", "the very last": އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ (emme furathama), އެންމެ ފަހު (enme fahu). Before an adverb — "earlier than anyone", "faster than anyone": އެންމެ އަވަހަށް (emme avahah).
"One of the most" is built with the same އެންމެ plus the ending -ެއް on the noun: މާލޭގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެއެއް (maaleyge emme bodu geeh) — "one of the biggest houses of Malé". Without -ެއް it would be "the biggest house of Malé". The domain of the comparison is put in front with the ending -ގެ (-ge): ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ދުވަސްވީ ގެ ("the oldest house on the island").
Table
| what we show | the means | example | translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| the most | އެންމެ (emme) | އެންމެ ބޮޑު | the biggest |
| the very first | އެންމެ + an ordinal word | އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ | the very first |
| one of the most | އެންމެ … -ެއް | އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެއެއް | one of the biggest houses |
| where we compare | -ގެ in front | ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ދިގު | the longest on the island |
By example
- މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެmiee rashuge emme bodu geThis is the biggest house on the island
- އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ކުއްޔަކީ މިއީemme aguheyo kuyyakee mieeThis is the cheapest rent
- އެންމެ ފުރަތަމަ ކުލި ދައްކަން ޖެހޭemme furathama kuli dhakkan jeheyThe rent has to be paid first of all
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
The most: how does it work in Maldivian?
There is no superlative as a form in Divehi — there is the word އެންމެ in front of the adjective: އެންމެ ބޮޑު ކޮޓަރި ("the biggest room"), އެންމެ އަގުހެޔޮ ("the cheapest"). The adjective itself stays unchanged.
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“މިއީ ރަށުގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ގެ” (miee rashuge emme bodu ge) — This is the biggest house on the island. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.