In Dhivehi, numbers are a bit more complicated than they are in English. There are two counting systems that are used, although one more modern and commonly used while the other is more old fashioned. Both of these systems are base 10, like English. However, there is also an even older base 12 system which I will include in this lesson as well. Further adding complexity is the fact that the words for numbers are different depending on whether you are counting in sequence or if the numbers are actually quantifying a noun, and the fact that some numbers have multiple words.
Two systems
The two counting systems are the same up to the number 30. From 31 onwards, the more commonly used system follows the same structure as English numbers i.e. one word for the tens and one word for the ones. The less common system uses prefixes to specify how many ones there are. It is more akin to counting in Hindi if you are familiar with it. It’s slightly more complicated but there is internal consistency.
Numerals
95% of the time in Maldives you will see the standard Arabic numerals used to write numbers i.e. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. However, you will also occasionally see actual Arabic numerals used (the names are confusing, I know), by which I mean ٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩. These numerals are used mostly in religious contexts, for example to write the date of the Islamic calendar, or when talking about verses in the Quran. They are occasionally used in secular texts too, but I would say that was more common pre 1980s.
You can see how these numerals influenced the development of the Thaana script.
Maldives also used to have its own set of numerals which were the basis of the letters މ to ޑ. You can see them in the clock below. These numerals are rarely used and most Maldivians would not be familiar with them.
Counting vs Quantifying
When counting, numbers from 0 to 10 are suffixed with އެއް (the indefinite marker). In the common system, this also applies to numbers 31 and above, but not multiples of ten. So when you’re counting, it’s almost like you’re saying “a one, a two, a three, a four” etc.
When numbers quantify nouns, they do not have the indefinite suffix.
-9 numbers
Most numbers ending in 9 (19, 29, 39 etc.) have two forms. One of them is additive and one is subtractive. For example, the additive word for thirty-nine means “thirty and nine”, while the subtractive word means “one less than forty”.
If all that is confusing, seeing it all in action will make it clearer:
0 to 30
| Number | Counting | Quantifying |
| 0 | ސުމެއް | ސުން |
| 1 | އެކެއް | އެއް |
| 2 | ދޭއް | ދެ |
| 3 | ތިނެއް | ތިން |
| 4 | ހަތަރެއް | ހަތަރު |
| 5 | ފަހެއް | ފަސް |
| 6 | ހައެއް | ހަ |
| 7 | ހަތެއް | ހަތް |
| 8 | އަށެއް | އަށް |
| 9 | ނުވައެއް | ނުވަ |
| 10 | ދިހައެއް | ދިހަ |
| 11 | އެގާރަ | – |
| 12 | ބާރަ | – |
| 13 | ތޭރަ | – |
| 14 | ސާދަ | – |
| 15 | ފަނަރަ | – |
| 16 | ސޯޅަ | – |
| 17 | ސަތާރަ | – |
| 18 | އަށާރަ | – |
| 19 | ނަވާރަ OR އޮނަވިހި | – |
| 20 | ވިހި | – |
| 21 | އެކާވީސް | – |
| 22 | ބާވީސް | – |
| 23 | ތޭވީސް | – |
| 24 | ސައުވީސް | – |
| 25 | ފަންސަވީސް | – |
| 26 | ސައްބީސް | – |
| 27 | ސަތާވީސް | – |
| 28 | އަށާވީސް | – |
| 29 | ނަވާވީސް OR އޮނަތިރީސް | – |
| 30 | ތިރީސް | – |
You can see that despite there being some irregularities, there is consistency as well. And you can see how the 1-9 numbers function as prefixes. Note that often, Maldivians pronounce 24 as ސައްވީސް, especially in fast speech that isn’t enunciated.
31 to 99
This is where the difference between the two systems become apparent. For the modern system, I am only showing the counting forms here. To change them into the quantifying forms, you just have to remove the އެއް, as shown in the previous table.
| Number | Modern System (more common) | Older System (less common) |
| 31 | ތިރީސް އެކެއް | އެއްތިރީސް |
| 32 | ތިރީސް ދޭއް | ބައްތިރީސް |
| 33 | ތިރީސް ތިނެއް | ތެއްތިރީސް |
| 34 | ތިރީސް ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަތިތީސް |
| 35 | ތިރީސް ފަހެއް | ފަންސަތިރީސް |
| 36 | ތިރީސް ހައެއް | ސަތިރީސް |
| 37 | ތިރީސް ހަތެއް | ސައްތިރީސް |
| 38 | ތިރީސް އަށެއް | އަށުތިރީސް |
| 39 | ތިރީސް ނުވައެއް OR އޮނަސާޅިސް | ނަވަތިރީސް |
| 40 | ސާޅީސް | ސާޅީސް |
| 41 | ސާޅީސް އެކެއް | އެކާޅީސް |
| 42 | ސާޅީސް ދޭއް | ބަޔާޅީސް |
| 43 | ސާޅީސް ތިނެއް | ތެޔާޅީސް |
| 44 | ސާޅީސް ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަޔާޅީސް |
| 45 | ސާޅީސް ފަހެއް | ފަންސަޔާޅީސް |
| 46 | ސާޅީސް ހައެއް | ސަޔާޅިސް |
| 47 | ސާޅީސް ހަތެއް | ސަތާޅީސް |
| 48 | ސާޅީސް އަށެއް | އަށާޅީސް |
| 49 | ސާޅީސް ނުވައެއް OR އޮނަފަންސާން | ނަވާޅީސް |
| 50 | ފަންސާސް | ވަންނަ |
| 51 | ފަންސާސް އެކެއް | އެކާވަންނަ |
| 52 | ފަނސާސް ދޭއް | ބާވަންނަ |
| 53 | ފަންސާސް ތިނެއް | ތޭވަންނަ |
| 54 | ފަންސާސް ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަވަންނަ |
| 55 | ފަންސާސް ފަހެއް | ފަންސަވަންނަ |
| 56 | ފަންސާސް ހައެއް | ސަވަންނަ |
| 57 | ފަންސާސް ހަތެއް | ސަތުވަންނަ |
| 58 | ފަންސާސް އަށެއް | އަށުވަންނަ |
| 59 | ފަންސާސް ނުވައެއް | ނަވަވަންނަ OR އޮނަހައްޓި |
| 60 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް | ހައްޓި |
| 61 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް އެކެއް | އެކާހައްޓި |
| 62 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ދޭއް | ބާހައްޓި |
| 63 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ތިނެއް | ތޭހައްޓި |
| 64 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަހައްޓި |
| 65 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ފަހެއް | ފަންސަހައްޓި |
| 66 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ހައެއް | ސަހައްޓި |
| 67 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ހަތެއް | ސަތުހައްޓި |
| 68 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް އަށެއް | އަށުހައްޓި |
| 69 | ފަސްދޮޅަސް ނުވައެއް | ނަވަހައްޓި OR އޮނަހަތްތެރި |
| 70 | ހަތްދިހަ | ހަތްތެރި |
| 71 | ހަތްދިހަ އެކެއް | އެކާހަތްތެރި |
| 72 | ހަތްދިހަ ދޭއް | ބާހަތްތެރި |
| 73 | ހަތްދިހަ ތިނެއް | ތޭހަތްތެރި |
| 74 | ހަތްދިހަ ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަހައްތެރި |
| 75 | ހަތްދިހަ ފަހެއް | ފަންސަހަތްތެރި |
| 76 | ހަތްދިހަ ހައެއް | ސަހަތްތެރި |
| 77 | ހަތްދިހަ ހަތެއް | ސަތުހަތްތެރި |
| 78 | ހަތްދިހަ އަށެއް | އަށުހަތްތެރި |
| 79 | ހަތްދިހަ ނުވައެއް | ނަވަހަތްތެރި |
| 80 | އަށްޑިހަ | އާހި |
| 81 | އަށްޑިހަ އެކެއް | އެކާހި |
| 82 | އަށްޑިހަ ދޭއް | ބަޔާހި |
| 83 | އަށްޑިހަ ތިނެއް | ތެޔާހި |
| 84 | އަށްޑިހަ ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަޔާހި |
| 85 | އަށްޑިހަ ފަހެއް | ފަންސަޔާހި |
| 86 | އަށްޑިހަ ހައެއް | ސަޔާހި |
| 87 | އަށްޑިހަ ހަތެއް | ސަތާހި |
| 88 | އަށްޑިހަ އަށެއް | އަށާހި |
| 89 | އަށްޑިހަ ނުވައެއް | ނަވާހި OR އޮނަވައި |
| 90 | ނުވަދިހަ | ނަވައި |
| 91 | ނުވަދިހަ އެކެއް | އެކާނަވައި |
| 92 | ނުވަދިހަ ދޭއް | ބަޔާނަވައި |
| 93 | ނުވަދިހަ ތިނެއް | ތެޔާނަވައި |
| 94 | ނުވަދިހަ ހަތަރެއް | ސައުރަޔާނަވައި |
| 95 | ނުވަދިހަ ފަހެއް | ފަންސަޔާނަވައި |
| 96 | ނުވަދިހަ ހައެއް | ސަޔާނަވައި |
| 97 | ނުވަދިހަ ހަތެއް | ސަތާނަވައި |
| 98 | ނުވަދިހަ އަށެއް | އަށާނަވައި |
| 99 | ނުވަދިހަ ނުވައެއް | ނަވާނަވައި OR އޮނަސައްތަ |
Notice how from 50 onwards, the old system roots don’t match those of the modern system. In the numbers 70, 80 and 90 in the modern system, you can see the quantifying forms of numbers in action, with the meanings of “7 tens”, “8 tens” and “9 tens”, respectively. ދިހަ changes to ޑިހަ to match the sound of ށ.
100-999
The word for 100 is ސަތޭކަ. Multiples of 100 up to 900 are formed by combining the appropriate quantifying number with ސަތޭކަ, apart from 200 which uses a different archaic root.
| 100 | ސަތޭކަ |
| 200 | ދުއިސައްތަ |
| 300 | ތިންސަތޭކަ |
| 400 | ހަތަރުސަތޭކަ |
| 500 | ފަސްސަތޭކަ |
| 600 | ހަސަތޭކަ |
| 700 | ހަތްސަތޭކަ |
| 800 | އަށްސަތޭކަ |
| 900 | ނުވަސަތޭކަ |
Combine these with any of the numbers from 1-99, using either the modern system or the old system, and you can say all the numbers up to 999.
For example, 342 is either ތިންސަތޭކަ ސާޅިސް ދޭއް or ތިންސަތޭކް ބަޔާޅީސް.
1000 – 99,999
The word for 1000 is ހާސް. Combine this with any number (in its quantifying form) from 1-99 to specify the number of thousands. While it is not incorrect to use the old system here, it’s just not the done thing. For example, it would be much more likely for you to hear someone say ފަންސާސް ދެހާސް for 52,000, rather than ބާވަންނަހާސް.
After specifying the thousands, add any hundreds number to say all the numbers up to 99,999. For numbers from 1000 to 1999, you need to specify that it is one thousand, that is, you must say އެއްހާސް rather than just ހާސް.
Examples:
- 1013 – އެއްހާސްތޭރަ
- 2024 – ދެހާސް ސައުވީސް
- 6291 – ހަހާސް ދުއިސައްތަ ނުވަދިހަ އެކެއް
- 8503 – އަށްހާސް ފަސްސަތޭކަ ތިނެއް
- 10450 – ދިހަހާސް ހަތަރުސަތޭކަ ފަންސާސް
- 23456 – ތޭވީސްހާސް ހަތަރުސަތޭކަ ފަންސާސް ހައެއް
- 71200 – ހަތްދިހަ އެއްހާސް ދުއިސައްތަ
- 99999 – ނުވަދިހަ ނުވަހާސް ނުވަސަތޭކަ ނުވަދިހަ ނުވައެއް
As in English, for numbers up to 9999, you can talk about them in terms of hundreds rather than thousands. For example, 1500 could be ފަނަރަ ސަތޭކަ rather than އެއްހާސް ފަސްސަތޭކަ, the same that in English you could say fifteen hundred instead of one thousand five hundred.
100,000 to 9,999,999
Dhivehi numbers are based on the Indian system, which means that beyond the ten-thousands, the names for each place value don’t match those used in English. The number 100,000 in English, still specifies a number of thousands, whereas in Dhivehi, this number has its own name that doesn’t refer to any previous place values. For this reason, it’s better (and easier) to group the place values differently: 1,00,000 rather than 100,000, and 99,99,999 rather than 9,999,999. This is very common in Indian media. It does take a while to get used to, but it makes thinking in Dhivehi numbers a lot easier.
I should note, however, that this form of notation is rarely used in the Maldives, if at all. I’m only using it here to help make the place values clear.
1,00,000 to 99,99,999
The name for 1,00,000 is ލައްކަ. As with the thousands, you simply need to specify how many there are using the appropriate quantifying number, and then fill in the rest.
For example:
- 1,13,828 – އެއްލައްކަ ތޭރަހާސް އަށްސަތޭކަ އަށާވީސް
- 8,39,177 – އަށްލައްކަ ތިރީސްނުވަހާސް އެއްސަތޭކަ ހަތްދިހަ ހަތެއް
- 15,00,000 – ފަނަރަ ލައްކަ
- 80,00,609 – އަށްޑިހަލައްކަ ހަސަތޭކަ ނުވައެއް
Sometimes, Maldivians will count the English way, using the borrowed word މިލިޔަން for millions. So 1,500,000 could be read as އެއްމިލިޔަން ފަސްސަތޭކަހާސް, matching the English “one million five hundred thousand” exactly. Sometimes, Maldivians will even combine both ways of reading the numbers, in which case 1,500,000 would be އެއްމިލިޔަން ފަސްލައްކަ.
1,00,00,000 or 10,000,000
The next place value with a unique name is equivalent to the tens of millions in English. In Dhivehi, this is called ކުރޯޑު. Using the same rules as for previous place values, you can count up to 99,99,99,999 (or 999,999,999). This is really the upper limit in terms of the practical usage of numbers and counting in Dhivehi (and even then, it is rare to hear anyone refer to ކުރޯޑު anything). However, unique names for larger place values do exist.
Beyond 999,999,999
The following table shows Dhivehi numbers up to the largest place value with a unique name, as well as those same numbers in the English system and scientific notation.
| Indian Notation | English Notation | Scientific Notation | Dhivehi Name | English Name |
| 10 | 10 | 101 | ދިހަ | Ten |
| 100 | 100 | 102 | ސަތޭކަ | Hundred |
| 1000 | 1000 | 103 | ހާސް | Thousand |
| 1,00,000 | 100,000 | 105 | ލައްކަ | Hundred thousand |
| 1,00,00,000 | 10,000,000 | 107 | ކުރޯޑު | Ten million |
| 1,00,00,00,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 109 | އަރަބު | One billion |
| 1,00,00,00,00,000 | 100,000,000,000 | 1011 | ކަރަބު | Hundred billion |
| 1,00,00,00,00,00,000 | 10,000,000,000,000 | 1013 | ނީލު | Ten trillion |
| 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 | 1,000,000,000,000,000 | 1015 | ފަދަމު | One quadrillion |
| 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 | 100,000,000,000,000,000 | 1017 | ސިންކު | Hundred quadrillion |
| 1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 1019 | މަހާސިންކު | Ten quintillion |
As a challenge, try saying this number in Dhivehi:
994,326,781,053,901,370,123
Or in Indian notation to make it easier:
99,43,26,78,10,53,90,13,60,123
Answer at the end…
Fractions, Decimals and Percentages
To talk about fractions in Dhivehi, you start by saying how many parts (ބައި) are needed to make the whole (i.e. the denominator), using the word ކުޅަ (usually as a suffix, but sometimes as an independent word) to mean that the group is divided, and then stating how many of those parts you have. You use the quantifying forms of numbers to count the parts.
For example, 1/2 is ދެބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި, which can be loosely translated as “divide into two parts and take one part”.
Some more examples:
- ތިންބައިކުޅަ ދެބައި – 1/3
- ފަސްބައިކުޅަ އެއްބައި – 1/5
- ދިހަބައިކުޅަ ނުވަބައި – 9/10
- ހަތަރުބައިކުޅަ ތިންބައި – 3/4
Dhivehi also has a specific word which means 1 1/2 (one and a half): ދޮޅު. This word is commonly used when talking about time.
Talking about decimals in Dhivehi is similar to English. First you say the whole number in the counting form, then you say the word ޕޮއިންޓް borrowed from the English “point”, and then read the decimal place values as individual digits in the counting form. If the decimal number is actually quantifying something, the last digit of the decimal place values is read in the quantifying form. For example:
- 1.5 – އެކެއް ޕޮއިންޓް ފަހެއް
- 2.97 – ދޭއް ޕޮއިންޓް ނުވައެއް ހަތެއް
- 3.14159 – ތިނެއް ޕޮއިންޓް އެކެއް ހަތަރެއް އެކެއް ފަހެއް ނުވައެއް
- 13.604 – ތޭރަ ޕޮއިންޓް ހައެއް ސުމެއް ހަތަރެއް
To talk about percentages, you simply say a number and use the word އިންސައްތަ, which is the native Dhivehi word, or the borrowed word ޕަސެންޓު. You use the quantifying form because you’re actually specifying a number of something. For example:
- 3% – ތިން ޕަސެންޓު
- 67% – ފަސްދޮޅަސް ހަތް އިންސައްތަ
- 19.5% – ނަވާރަ ޕޮއިންޓް ފަސް ޕަސެންޓު
The Archaic Duodecimal System
This is a much older counting system which is hardly ever used today. It is a base 12 system which means you count in groups of twelves (ދޮޅަސް) rather than tens. Even multiples of twelves have unique names up to 8 twelves, while for odd multiples of twelve, you simply state the number of twelves. Interestingly, the modern system’s word for 60 comes from this system. ފަސްދޮޅަސް literally means “five twelves”. After you reach 8 twelves (96), you count in blocks of 96s. My suspicion is that the word for 144 is actually based on the words ދޮޅު meaning 1.5 combined with an alternative word for 96. It’s all very confusing, and you do not need to know this at all to speak modern Dhivehi. This is just for interest.
The table below shows the duodecimal system. If you’ve never seen duodecimal notation before, see here.
| Dhivehi | Decimal Notation | Expanded Notation (Translation of numbers) | Duodecimal Notation |
|---|---|---|---|
| އެކެއް | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| ދޭއް | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| ތިނެއް | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| ހަތަރެއް | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| ފަހެއް | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| ހައެއް | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ހަތެއް | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| އަށެއް | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| ނުވައެއް | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| ދިހައެއް | 10 | 10 | X |
| އެކޮޅަހެއް (އެކޮޅަސް) | 11 | 11 | E |
| ދޮޅަހެއް (ދޮޅަސް) | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| ދޮޅަސް އެކެއް | 13 | 12 + 1 | 11 |
| ދޮޅަސް ދޭއް | 14 | 12 + 2 | 12 |
| ދޮޅަސް އެކޮޅަހެއް | 23 | 12 + 11 | 1E |
| ފައްސިހި | 24 | 24 | 20 |
| ތިންދޮޅަސް | 36 | 3*12 | 30 |
| ފަނަސް | 48 | 48 | 40 |
| ފަސްދޮޅަސް | 60 | 5*12 | 50 |
| ފާހިތި | 72 | 72 | 60 |
| ހަތްދޮޅަސް | 84 | 7*12 | 70 |
| ހިޔާ | 96 | 96 | 80 |
| ހިޔާދޮޅަސް | 108 | 96 + 12 | 90 |
| ހިޔާފައްސިހި | 120 | 96 + 24 | X0 |
| ހިޔާތިންދޮޅަސް | 132 | 96 + 3*12 | E0 |
| ދޮޅިއްސަ | 144 | 144 OR 1.5*96 | 100 |
| ދެއްސަ | 192 | 2*96 | 140 |
| ތިންހިޔަ | 288 | 3*96 | 200 |
| ހަތަރެއްސަ | 384 | 4*96 | 280 |
| ފަސްހިޔަ | 480 | 5*96 | 340 |
| ހައްސަ | 576 | 6*96 | 400 |
| ހަތްހިޔަ | 672 | 7*96 | 480 |
| އަށްހިޔަ | 768 | 8*96 | 540 |
| ނުވަހިޔަ | 864 | 9*96 | 600 |
All the sources I’ve seen end the duodecimal system here and then change back to the decimal ހާސް for 1000. But it is technically possible to continue counting in exponents of 12.
Answer to the big number challenge
994,326,781,053,901,370,123
OR
99,43,26,78,10,53,90,13,60,123
ނުވަދިހަނުވަ މަހާސިންކު – ސާޅީސްތިން ސިންކު – ސައްބީސް ފަދަމު – ހަތްދިހައަށް ނީލު – ދިހަ ކަރަބު – ފަންސާސްތިން އަރަބު – ނުވަދިހަ ކުރޯޑު – ތޭރަލައްކަ – ފަސްދޮޅަސްހާސް – އެއްސަތޭކަ ތޭވީސް
Now that you know how to say numbers, you’re ready to actually use them in different contexts. This will be in the next lesson.
thatmaldivesblog 