In this post, we are going to look at how new words can be derived using an existing suffix – the relational suffix.
What is the Relational Suffix?
The relational suffix is used to derive adjectives with the meaning of “relating to or pertaining to” the root word. In Dhivehi, this suffix is އީ (/i:/).
English has several suffixes which serve this same purpose, many of which are borrowed from other languages. Some common ones include -al, -ar, -ian, -ic, and -ish.
Origins of the Suffix
The Dhivehi suffix އީ is interesting in that it represents the convergence of two etymological lines. The first is purely ancestral to Dhivehi, and that is the Sanskrit suffixes -इक (-ika) and -ईय (-īya). These most likely came from the Proto-Indo-European suffix *-iskos which means “characteristic of, typical of, or pertaining to”. *-Iskos is also the origin of the English -ish and -ic, through Latin.
The second etymology is the Arabic suffix ـِيّ (iyy), which is also used to derive adjectives from nouns. The Dhivehi suffix was either borrowed directly from Arabic, or through Persian and Urdu. Incidentally, because Persian and Urdu are both Indo-European languages, they also have this same double etymology thing going on.
Usage of the Suffix
Because English is a mix of many languages with a Germanic core, the relational suffix used often depends on the etymology of the root word. There are plenty of examples where words with Germanic roots don’t actually have a commonly used relational adjective form, so the Latinate counterpart is used. This can be quite confusing for learners of English (even those who speak it as a first language).
Despite -ish being the Germanic relational suffix, it is not often used to indicate relation to a Germanic word. For example, the word ‘brainwave’ can be interpreted as “wave of the brain” or “wave pertaining to the brain”. No suffix has to be used for the word ‘brain’ and instead, in a typically Germanic fashion, the words are just stuck together. The Latinate equivalent of this might be something like “cerebral undulation”, where you have to include the -al suffix to show that the word means “pertaining to the brain”.
The table below shows examples of words where the relational form has a completely different etymology (usually Latin) to the root form (usually Germanic).
| Root Word | Relational Adjective |
| Sun | Solar |
| Moon | Lunar |
| Star | Stellar/Astral |
| Flag | Vexillary (?) |
| Finger | Digital |
| Brain | Cerebral |
| Eye | Ocular |
| House | Domestic |
| Year | Annual |
| Tooth | Dental |
| River | Fluvial |
| Rain | Pluvial |
| Hand | Manual |
| Tree | Arboreal |
| Food | Gastronomic |
Dhivehi doesn’t have the problem of multiple etymologies, meaning it is easier to learn and understand adjectival forms of words with the relational suffix. However, it could also be said that Dhivehi lacks the depth of English to a degree because its lexicon is not a convoluted mess of words with different etymologies.
In Dhivehi, the relational suffix އީ is mostly used with words borrowed from Arabic. Like English, most native words do not necessarily have to take a suffix to indicate a relationship. However, there are examples of the އީ suffix being used with native words, as well as English words. The following table shows some examples:
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| ދީން (Dheen) | Religion | ދީނީ (Dheenee) | Religious |
| ގައުމު (Gaumu) | Nation | ގައުމީ (Gaumee) | National |
| އަހަރު (Aharu) | Year | އަހަރީ (Aharee) | Annual |
| އިގުތިޞާދު (Igthisoadhu) | Economy | އިގުތިޞާދީ (Igthisoadhee) | Economic |
| އިސްލާމް (Islaam) | Islam | އިސްލާމީ (Islaamee) | Islamic |
| މަރުކަޒު (Marukazu) | Centre | މަރުކަޒީ (Marukazee) | Central |
| އިލްމު (Ilmu) | Knowledge | އިލްމީ (Ilmee) | Scientific (in the sense of “pertaining to knowledge”) |
| އާއިލާ (Aailaa) | Family | އާއިލީ (Aailee) | Familial |
| ޒަމާނު (Zamaanu) | Era | ޒަމާނީ (Zamaanee) | Contemporary |
| އަދަބު (Adhabu) | Literature | އަދަބީ (Adhabee) | Literary |
| ފިލްމު (Filmu) | Film | ފިލްމީ (Filmee) | Pertaining to films |
| ސައިންސު (Sainsu) | Science | ސައިންސީ (Sainsee) | Scientific |
| މިއުޒިކު (Miuziku) | Music | މިއުޒިކީ (Miuzikee) | Musical |
There are some words that are slightly irregular in Dhivehi. This is due to their Arabic etymons being grammatically feminine and ending in “ta marbuta” (ة) which is usually silent in Arabic but is pronounced as ތ (/t̪/) in Dhivehi. Alternatively, it is because the root form and the relational form are derived from different forms of the same Arabic root. Here are some examples:
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| ސިޔާސަތު (Siyaasathu) | Politics | ސިޔާސީ (Siyaasee) | Political |
| ރިޔާސަތު (Riyaasathu) | Presidency | ރިޔާސީ (Riyaasee) | Presidential |
| ސަގާފަތު (Sagaafathu) | Culture | ސަގާފީ (Sagaafee) | Cultural |
| ޖަޒުބާތު (Jazubaathu) | Attraction | ޖާޒުބީ (Jaazubee) | Attractive |
| މުޖުތަމައު (Mujthamau) | Society | އިޖުތިމާއީ (Ijthimaaee) | Social |
Finally, there are some words which use a different form of the suffix:
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| ޖިސްމު (Jismu) | Body | ޖިސްމާނީ (Jismaanee) | Physical |
| ނަފްސު (Nafsu) | Self/Mind | ނަފްސާނީ (Nafsaanee) | Mental |
| ރޫޙު (Roohu) | Spirit | ރޫޙާނީ (Roohaanee) | Spiritual |
| ޝަހުވަތު (Shahuvathu) | Lust | ޝަހުވާނީ (Shahuvaanee) | Erotic |
Expanding the use of the Suffix
In order to expand the Dhivehi lexicon, we would simply have to apply the suffix in new contexts. This is simply a matter of adding the suffix to words with which it isn’t normally used. However, for the sake of aural integrity (that is, making sure the new words sound nice) we should consider standard consonant changes in Dhivehi words when adding suffixes, as well as syllable length.
Take for example, the Dhivehi word ބަސް (bas – “language”). The Dhivehi Academy has already made a relational form for this word and we are going to use it as the precedent for our expanded use of the relational suffix. You would think that the relational form would simply be ބަސީ (basee), but it’s not. The first thing to consider is the fact that Dhivehi words ending with ސް (/s/) change the ending to ހ (/h/) before taking any suffixes. In this case, you would then think that the relational form would be ބަހީ (bahee), but that is also incorrect. The problem with that is that there is only one mora (a mora being a unit of syllable length) prior to the suffix, when there should be two or more. This could either be in the form of two short syllables, one long syllable, or a closed syllable of any length. The solution that the Academy came up with was to use a connective form of the word ending with އަ (/a/) – ބަހަ (baha) (which also happens to be an archaic form of the word) – before adding the suffix. ބަހަ (baha) consists of two morae meaning it won’t sound so short when the suffix is added. Now, you would think the relation form is ބަހައީ (bahaee) but the vowels clash. So the last change that needs to be made is adding the glide consonant ވ (/v/), which gives us our relational word ބަހަވީ (bahavee – “linguistic”).
Though that seems like a long, convoluted process, it can be boiled down to two steps:
- Apply the appropriate consonant changes to create a connective form of the word ending in އަ (/a/)
- Add the suffix with the glide consonant ވ (/v/)
This only applies to words which would otherwise have only one mora prior to the suffix. The alternative solution is to geminate or strengthen the consonant. The table below shows some examples of such words with the two types of relational words. Keep in mind that these are examples of using the relational suffix where it is not currently used. Also note how the English roots are often completely different to their adjectival forms.
| Root Word | Meaning | Connective Form Relational Adjective | Geminate Form Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| ބަސް (Bas) | Language | ބަހަވީ (Bahavee) | ބައްސީ (Bassee) | Linguistic |
| ގަސް (Gas) | Tree/Plant | ގަހަވީ (Gahavee) | ގައްސީ (Gassee) | Arboreal/Botanic |
| ރަށް (Rah) | Country/Island | ރަށަވީ (Rashavee) | ރައްޓީ (Rattee) | National/Insular |
| ހަން (Han) | Skin | ހަމަވީ (Hamavee) | ހަންމީ (Hammee) | Dermal |
| ފެން (Fen) | Water | ފެނަވީ (Fenavee) | ފެންނީ (Fennee) | Aquatic |
| ރާ (Raa) | Alcohol | ރަލަވީ (Ralavee) | ރައްލީ (Rallee) | Alcoholic |
| މާ (Maa) | Flower | މަލަވީ (Malavee) | މައްލީ (Mallee) | Floral |
| ތެޔޮ (Theyo) | Oil | ތެލަވީ (Thelavee) | ތެއްލީ (Thellee) | Oily |
| އަތް (Aiy) | Hand | އަތަވީ (Athavee) | އަތްތީ (Aiytthee) | Manual |
| ލޯ (Loa) | Eye | ލޮލަވީ (Lolavee) | ލޮއްލީ (Lollee) | Ocular |
| ފަތް (Faiy) | Leaf | ފަތަވީ (Fathavee) | ފަތްތީ (Faiythee) | Foliar |
| އިރު (Iru) | Sun | އިރަވީ (Iravee) | އިއްރީ (Irree) | Solar |
| ހަނދު (Han’dhu) | Moon | ހަނދަވީ (Han’dhavee) | ހަންދީ (Handhee) | Lunar |
| ކަނޑު (Kan’du) | Ocean | ކަނޑަވީ (Kan’davee) | ކަންޑީ (Kandee) | Oceanic |
| ބޮއް (Boh) | Frog | ބޮކަވީ (Bokavee) | ބޮއްކީ (Bokkee) | Ranine |
| ވައި (Vai) | Wind | ވަޔަވީ (Vayavee) | ވައްޔީ (Vayyee) | Aeolian |
| ތުން (Thun) | Lip | ތުމަވީ (Thumavee) | ތުންމީ (Thummee) | Labial |
Words that end with އި (/i/) can only have geminate forms of relational adjectives:
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| އިހި (Ihi) | Lobster | އިއްސީ (Issee) | Nephropine |
| ތިކި (Thiki) | Dot | ތިއްކީ (Thikkee) | Punctiform |
| ހިނި (Hini) | Ant | ހިންނީ (Hinnee) | Formic |
| ތަރި (Thari) | Star | ތައްރީ (Tharree) | Stellar |
| ފޮށި (Foshi) | Box | ފޮއްޓީ (Fottee) | Cubic |
| އަވި (Avi) | Sunlight | އަތްވީ (Aiyvee) | Photic |
| ބަލި (Bali) | Sickness | ބައްލީ (Ballee) | Pathological |
| ތޮފި (Thofi) | Cap | ތޮތްޕީ (Thoiypee) | Millinerial |
| އަނބި (Am’bi) | Wife | އަތްނބީ (Aiymbee) | Uxorial |
Finally, there are words where the suffix can be added with minimal changes to the root. These words already have two or more morae before the suffix.
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| ބުޅާ (Bulhaa) | Cat | ބުޅަލީ (Bulhalee) | Feline |
| ކުއްތާ (Kutthaa) | Dog | ކުއްތާއީ (Kutthaaee) | Canine |
| އޫރު (Ooru) | Pig | އޫރީ (Ooree) | Porcine |
| ކާޅު (Kaalhu) | Crow | ކާޅީ (Kaalhee) | Corvine |
| ފާރު (Faaru) | Wall | ފާރީ (Faaree) | Mural |
| މޭޒު (Meyzu) | Table | މޭޒީ (Meyzee) | Tabular |
| ހަކުރު (Hakuru) | Sugar | ހަކުރީ (Hakuree) | Saccharine |
| އަލިފާން (Alifaan) | Fire | އަލިފާނީ (Alifaanee) | Pyric |
All the newly derived words we have seen so far are nouns. But you can use the relational suffix with verbs as well (Although, you would add it to the gerund, which is technically a noun). Below are some examples. I couldn’t find all the English equivalents of the relational words, so I just used “relating to” for a lot of them.
| Root Word | Meaning | Relational Adjective | Meaning |
| އައުން (Aun) | Come | އައުމީ (Aumee) | Relating to arrival |
| ދިޔުން (Dhiyun) | Go | ދިޔުމީ (Dhiyumee) | Relating to departure |
| ބެލުން (Belun) | Look | ބެލުމީ (Belumee) | Observational |
| ނެގުން (Negun) | Take | ނެގުމީ (Negumee) | Relating to taking |
| އުޅުން (Ulhun) | Live | އުޅުމީ (Ulhumee) | Relating to living |
| ނެށުން (Neshun) | Dance | ނެށުމީ (Neshumee) | Choreographic |
| ކެއުން (Keun) | Eat | ކެއުމީ (Keumee) | Relating to eating |
Conclusion
The previous examples shown have demonstrated that the relational suffix އީ can be extremely productive when applied in contexts in which it is not currently used. In these contexts it adds a new layer of depth, formality, technicality and, for lack of a better term, scientificness to the language. New words made with the suffix could have applications in all sorts of areas, but I would say they are especially relevant to the sciences, medicine, and linguistics.
As with any of the ideas presented in my posts about developing the Dhivehi vocabulary, the next step is to have this linguistic innovation be accepted and used throughout society.
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