A measure from a quality: -މިން, -ދަން and multiples
Until unit forty-five the course had exactly one measure — ކިލޯ. The reason is not poverty of the language but that a measure in Divehi is almost never a separate word: it is ASSEMBLED from a quality, and whoever knows three tails gets the whole list at once. First: -މިން. މިން means "a measure, a size", and glued to an adjective it gives a noun of measure. ދިގު (long) gives ދިގުމިން (length), ފުޅާ (wide) — ފުޅާމިން…
How it works
Until unit forty-five the course had exactly one measure — ކިލޯ (kiloa). The reason is not poverty of the language but that a measure in Divehi is almost never a separate word: it is ASSEMBLED from a quality, and whoever knows three tails gets the whole list at once. First: -މިން. މިން means "a measure, a size", and glued to an adjective it gives a noun of measure. ދިގު (long) gives ދިގުމިން (length), ފުޅާ (wide) — ފުޅާމިން (width), އުސް (tall) — އުސްމިން (height), ފުން (deep) — ފުންމިން (depth). The quality does not go anywhere: ފުޅާ މަގު (fulhaa magu) — "a wide street", ފުޅާމިން — "its width". You can mix them up exactly once. Second: -ދަން (-dhan). In the same way, but with a different tail, weight works: ބަރު (heavy) gives ބަރުދަން (weight). The tail is rare; do not count it as productive — learn the word, not the rule. Third: the number in front, the unit behind. ފަސް މީޓަރު (fas meetaru), ދެ ލީޓަރު (dhe leetaru), ސަތޭކަ ގްރާމު (satheyka graamu) — the unit does not change with the number at all: it has no plural, like most nouns after numerals (unit twenty-three). "Five meters" and "two meters" look the same in Divehi. Fourth: multiples with ގުނަ (guna). ދެ ގުނަ (dhe guna) — twice as much, ތިން ގުނަ (thin guna) — three times. The word is put before what has grown: ދެ ގުނަ ބޮޑު (dhe guna bodu) — "twice as big". Do not confuse with ފަހަރު (faharu) — that is "times" in the sense of occasions: ދެ ފަހަރު ދިޔައިން (dhe faharu dhiyain) means "went twice", not "went twice as far". And fifth, about approximation. ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް (gaaiygandakah) stands BEFORE the number, ވަރަކަށް (varakah) — after it, and they mean the same; ބަރާބަރަށް (baraabarah) means the opposite — "exactly, to the last drop". Three words, and they cover all the precision of everyday speech.
Table
| the quality | what it means | the measure | what it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| ދިގު | long | ދިގުމިން | length |
| ފުޅާ | wide | ފުޅާމިން | width |
| އުސް | tall | އުސްމިން | height |
| ފުން | deep | ފުންމިން | depth |
| ބަރު | heavy | ބަރުދަން | weight |
By example
- ކޮޓަރީގެ ދިގުމިން ފަސް މީޓަރުkotareege dhigumin fas meetaruThe length of the room is five meters
- ފޮށީގެ ބަރުދަން ދެ ގުނަ ބޮޑުfosheege barudhan dhe guna boduThe weight of the suitcase is twice as big
- ފަޅުގެ ފުންމިން ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް ތިން މީޓަރުfalhuge funmin gaaiygandakah thin meetaruThe depth of the lagoon is about three meters
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
A measure from a quality: how does it work in Maldivian?
Until unit forty-five the course had exactly one measure — ކިލޯ. The reason is not poverty of the language but that a measure in Divehi is almost never a separate word: it is ASSEMBLED from a quality, and whoever knows three tails gets the whole list at once. First: -މިން. މިން means "a measure, a…
What does it look like in an example sentence Maldivian?
“ކޮޓަރީގެ ދިގުމިން ފަސް މީޓަރު” (kotareege dhigumin fas meetaru) — The length of the room is five meters. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.