Grapheme Data for Maldivian written with Thaana script
The Thaana alphabet is unique to the Dhivehi language. The script contains two types of basic signs. The consonant signs are considered the actual letters of the alphabet, and they include a null consonant, ‹އ› (“alifu”). The consonant letters form the base line of writing, while the vowels signs—and the null vowel ‹ް› (“sukun”)—are diacritics written either above or below the consonant line, depending on the vowel. The writing of vowels is obligatory in Dhivehi.
In addition to the standard Thaana alphabet, there is a set of extra letters, known as “thiki jehi Thaana” (“dotted Thaana”). These letters, which are formed from the basic Thaana letters by the addition of one or three dots above or below a Thaana letter, were designed to transcribe the Perso-Arabic script. The presence of such a dotted letter is a sure sign of a word of foreign origin. Many such words, if they are establised loans, have alternate nativized spellings without dotted letters. Note, however, that the ‹ޕ› (“paviyani”) has a dot but is part of the basic Thaana script, not the dotted series. Both the basic Thaana and the dotted Thaana letters are included in the table.
The Thaana script accurately represents Dhivehi phonemes and morphophonology, but it has a number of systematic usages that are unusual, and which a phoneme-grapheme table obscures somewhat. One such usage is that of a gemination marker, ‹އް› (“alifu-sukun”), which geminates a following consonant (the alifu-sukun also writes a coda /k/, but if there is a following consonant, a /k/ in coda position will be pronounced as gemination of that consonant anyway). Because gemination is not considered a phoneme, the geminating effect of the ‹އް› is repeated many times in the accompanying table, with each geminatable consonant phoneme. Similarly, ‹ން›, writes any coda nasal, which will be pronounced as homorganic with a following consonant or as [ŋ] in the absence of a consonant. In the latter case, it may be underlyingly either /m/ or /n/. A ‹ނ› without a vowel sign or sukun (null-vowel sign) combines with a following consonant letter to form a digraph representing a prensalized stop.
Vowels in Dhivehi may be either long or short. In general, the long vowels are doubled versions of the short vowels, but the doubled sign forms a single sign, not a digraph, in that it takes up the space of only a single vowel sign. The second part of a diphthong is written on a null consonant (“alifu”) sign.
The first 9 letters of the Thaana alphabet (ie the list of consonant letters) are derived from the Arabic numerals 1 through 9, while the vowel signs for /a/, /i/, and /u/, as well as the null-vowel “sukun”, are derived from the optional vowel diacritics of the Arabic script. The names of many of the Thaana consonant letters are taken from the names of the corresponding letters of the Arabic script. Other consonant names end in -viyani.
The examples listed in the table are taken from standard written Dhivehi, which is based on the northern dialect, particularly that of Malé. Certain systematic differences in other dialects are noted, however, and flagged in the notes.
References for Thaana include the following: (1) DeSila, M.W.S (1969) The phonological efficiency of the Maldivian writing system. Anthropological Linguistics 11, 199-208. (2) Gair, J.W. & B.D. Cain (1996) Dhivehi Writing. In P.T. Daniels & W. Bright (eds.) The World’s Writing Systems, 564-568, Oxford University Press. (3) Gnanadesikan, A.E. (2012) Maldivian Thaana, Japanese kana, and the representation of moras in writing. Writing Systems Research 4 (1-2), 91-102. (4) Gnanadesikan, A.E., R.W. McGowan, S.L. Rafalko, & K.S. Burk (2013) Thaana Basics: Getting Started with the Maldivian Alphabet. Technical Report, University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language.
Source: Amalia Gnandesikan
| Grapheme | USV | Phoneme | Status | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <ހ> | 0780 | /h/ | expected | ހާދަ | |
| <ށ> | 0781 | /ʂ/ | expected | ފެށުން | Linguists have differing views as to whether /ʂ/ or /ᶘ/ is the most appropriate phonetic representation of the Shaviyani character. Dr. Amalia Gnandesikan recommends /ʂ/, which follows current IPA guidelines for representing voiceless retroflex frica |
| <ށ> | 0781 | /ᶘ/ | expected | ފެށުން | Dr. Bruce Cain argues that /ᶘ/ is the more accurate phonemic representation for Shaviyani ‹ށ›. According to his data, Shaviyani is not pronounced as /ʂ/ in any context, and to render it so inaccurately suggests a similarity to o |
| <ނބ> | 0782 0784 | /ᵐb/ | expected | އަނބު | In older orthography not distinguished from a bilabial voiced stop and thus written ‹ބ›. |
| <ނދ> | 0782 078B | /ⁿd̪/ | expected | ހަނދު | In older orthography, not distinguished from a voiced dental stop and thus written ‹ދ›. |
| <ނގ> | 0782 078E | /ᵑg/ | expected | ރަނގަޅު | In older orthographies, not distinguished from a voiced velar stop, and thus written ‹ގ›. |
| <ނޑ> | 0782 0791 | /ᶯɖ/ | expected | ގަނޑު | In older orthography not distinguished from a voiced retroflex stop and thus written ‹ޑ›. |
| <ނ◌ް> | 0782 07B0 | /m/ | expected | އަންބި، ކަން | Occurs before a bilabial consonant (where it is pronounced [m]) or word finally (where it is pronounced [ŋ]). |
| <ނ◌ް> | 0782 07B0 | /ɲ/ | expected | މަންޖެ | Occurs before an palatal-alveolar consonant. |
| <ނ> | 0782 | /n/ | expected | ނޫ | |
| <ރ> | 0783 | /ɻ/ | expected | ރަށް | Linguists have differing views as to whether /ɾ/ or /ɻ/is the most appropriate phonetic representation of the Raa character. Dr Amalia Gnandesikan, during her field research, was corrected when she pronounced Raa as an alveolar tap, and considers t |
| <ރ> | 0783 | /∅/ | uncommon | ފޯރމް | Only used for foreign words, to indicate English orthographic ‹r› in syllable codas (not pronounced in Dhivehi). In this use the‹ރ› will carry no vowel or sukun. |
| <ރ> | 0783 | /ɾ/ | expected | ރަށް | Linguists have differing views as to whether /ɾ/ or /ɻ/is the most appropriate phonetic representation of the Raa character. Dr. Bruce Cain maintains that Raa is never a retroflex approximant, and is best described as an alveolar tap. |
| <ބ> | 0784 | /b/ | expected | ބައި | |
| <ޅ> | 0785 | /ɭ/ | expected | ރާޅު | |
| <ކ> | 0786 | /k/ | expected | ކުކުޅު | |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /dʒ/ | expected | ކުއްޖާ | Occurs before ‹ޖ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /tʃ/ | expected | އެއްޗެއް | Occurs before ‹ޗ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ʋ/ | expected | ލެއްވުން | Occurs before ‹ވ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /j/ | expected | ރައްޔިތުން | Occurs before ‹ޔ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ɻ/ | expected | ސިއްރު | Occurs before ‹ރ› to indicate a geminate; this phoneme may only be geminated in words of foreign origin. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /z/ | expected | އިއްޒަތް | Occurs before ‹ޒ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /s/ | މައްސަލަ | Occurs before ‹ސ› to indicate a geminate. | |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /sˤ/ | common | ޚާއްޞަ | Only in words of foreign origin; occurs before ‹ޞ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ð/ | ކައްޛާބު | Only in words of foreign origin; occurs before ‹ޛ› to indicate a geminate. | |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ðˤ/ | uncommon | މުއައްޡަފުން | Only in words of foreign origin; occurs before ‹ޡ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /θ/ | uncommon | ޙައްޘިއްޔަތު | Only in words of foreign origin; occurs before ‹ޘ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ħ/ | uncommon | ސިއްޙަތު | Only in words of foreign origin. Occurs before ‹ޙ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /x/ | uncommon | ތައްޚާނު | Only in words of foreign origin. Occurs before ‹ޚ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /l/ | expected | ގެއްލުން | Occurs before ‹ލ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /n/ | uncommon | މުޙައްނިކު | Occurs before ‹ނ› to indicate a geminate; only used in words of foreign origin. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /m/ | uncommon | މުހިއްމު | Occurs before ‹މ› to indicate a geminate; only used in words of foreign origin. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /tˤ/ | rare | މުއްޠަލިބް | Occurs before ‹ޠ› to indicate a geminate; only used in words of foreign origin. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /b/ | expected | ލައްބަ | Occurs before ‹ބ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /p/ | expected | ބައްޕަ | Occurs before ‹ޕ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /d̪/ | expected | ބައްދަލު | Occurs before ‹ދ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /t̪/ | expected | ބައްތި | Occurs before ‹ތ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ɖ/ | expected | އައްޑު | Occurs before ‹ޑ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /ʈ/ | expected | ނެއްޓުން | Occurs before ‹ޓ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /q/ | common | ޙައްޤު | Only in words of foreign origin. It occurs before ‹ޤ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /g/ | expected | ލެއްގުން | Occurs before ‹ގ› to indicate a geminate. |
| <އ◌ް> | 0787 07B0 | /k/ | expected | ރުއް | Occurs in syllable codas, i.e. any time the /k/ is not immediately followed by a vowel. It is pronounced as [ʔ], [ŋ] or a gemination of the following consonant, depending on context. |
| <އ> | 0787 | /∅/ | expected | އަތް | When carrying a vowel rather than a sukun (null vowel) sign. |
| <ވ> | 0788 | /ʋ/ | expected | ވަނީ | |
| <މ> | 0789 | /m/ | expected | މަސް | |
| <ފ> | 078A | /f/ | expected | ފަސް | |
| <ދ> | 078B | /d̪/ | expected | ދޫނި | |
| <ތ◌ް> | 078C 07B0 | /jt̪/ = /j/ + /t̪/ | expected | ފޮތްތައް | Prepausally pronounced [jʔ]. |
| <ތ> | 078C | /t̪/ | expected | ތާނަ | |
| <ލ> | 078D | /l/ | expected | ލޯބި | |
| <ގ> | 078E | /∅/ | uncommon | ހައުސިންގ | Only used for foreign words, to indicate English orthographic ‹g› after ‹n› (representing English /ŋ/). Silent in Dhivehi. In this use ‹ގ› will carry no vowel or sukun. |
| <ގ> | 078E | /g/ | expected | ގަދަ | |
| <ޏ> | 078F | /ɲ/ | expected | ޏަމްޏަމް | A rarely occurring phoneme. |
| <ސ> | 0790 | /s/ | expected | ސުކުން | |
| <ޑ> | 0791 | /ɖ/ | expected | އަޑު | |
| <ޒ> | 0792 | /z/ | expected | ޒަމާން | |
| <ޓ> | 0793 | /ʈ/ | expected | ސިޓީ | |
| <ޔ> | 0794 | /j/ | expected | މޮޔަ | |
| <ޕ> | 0795 | /p/ | expected | ޕާޓީ | |
| <ޖ> | 0796 | /dʒ/ | expected | ޖަހަނީ | |
| <ޗ> | 0797 | /tʃ/ | expected | ޗުއްޓީ | |
| <ޘ> | 0798 | /θ/ | uncommon | ޘާނަވީ | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ث›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޙ> | 0799 | /ħ/ | common | ޙާލު | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ح›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin and is often pronounced simply as /h/. |
| <ޚ> | 079A | /x/ | common | ޚަބަރު | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹خ›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޛ> | 079B | /ð/ | uncommon | އަލްއުސްތާޛު | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ذ›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޜ> | 079C | /ʒ/ | uncommon | ޓްރެޜަރީ | A letter devised to transliterate Persian ‹ژ›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޝ> | 079D | /ʃ/ | common | ޝާމް | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ش›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޞ> | 079E | /sˤ/ | common | މަޤްޞަދު | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ص›. Occurring only in loanwords, it may be pronounced simply as /s/. |
| <ޟ> | 079F | /dˤ/ | uncommon | ގާޟީ | |
| <ޠ> | 07A0 | /tˤ/ | uncommon | ފަލަސްޠީން | Only in words of foreign origin; it is a transliteration of the Arabic letter ‹ط›. |
| <ޡ> | 07A1 | /ðˤ/ | uncommon | އިންތިޡާމް | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ظ›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin and is generally pronounced /z/. |
| <ޢ> | 07A2 | /ʕ/ | common | ޢައްޔަން | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹ع›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin and is often left unpronounced. |
| <ޣ> | 07A3 | /ɣ/ | uncommon | އަޣުލަބިއްޔާތު | A letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹غ›. Occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޤ> | 07A4 | /q/ | common | ޤައުމު | A letter devised to transliterate the Arabic letter ‹ق›. It occurs only in words of foreign origin. |
| <ޥ> | 07A5 | /w/ | rare | ޥަޙީދު | Only used for foreign words, a letter devised to transliterate Arabic ‹و› but rarely used, Thaana ‹ވ› being usually used instead. |
| <◌ައ◌ި> | 07A6 0787 07A8 | /ai/ | expected | ސައި | In nonstandard dialects outside the capital. |
| <◌ައ◌ި> | 07A6 0787 07A8 | /æ/ | expected | ސައި | In standard dialect, in which this vowel is long but has no short counterpart. In other dialects this vowel is /ai/. |
| <◌ައ◌ު> | 07A6 0787 07AA | /au/ | expected | މައުލުމާތު | |
| <◌ަ> | 07A6 | /a/ | expected | ދަނީ | |
| <◌ާ> | 07A7 | /aː/ | expected | އާދެ | |
| <◌ި> | 07A8 | /i/ | expected | ރިހި | |
| <◌ީ> | 07A9 | /iː/ | expected | ކީއްވެ | |
| <◌ުއ◌ި> | 07AA 0787 07A8 | /ui/ | expected | މާމުއި | |
| <◌ު> | 07AA | /u/ | expected | އުޑު | |
| <◌ޫ> | 07AB | /uː/ | expected | ދޫނި | |
| <◌ެ> | 07AC | /e/ | expected | ފެހި | |
| <◌ޭ> | 07AD | /eː/ | expected | އޭނާ | |
| <◌ޮއ◌ި> | 07AE 0787 07A8 | /oi/ | expected | ސޮއި | |
| <◌ޮ> | 07AE | /o/ | expected | ކޮބާ | |
| <◌ޯ> | 07AF | /o̞ː/ | expected | ސޯޅަ | |
| <◌ް> | 07B0 | /∅/ | expected | ބަސް | |
| <ޱ> | 07B1 | /ɳ/ | rare | އުޱި | Outside of nasal-stop sequences (where it is written ‹ން› and is arguably an allophone of /n/) the nasal retroflex occurs only in the southern dialects and the corresponding grapheme is no longer considered part of the standard al |