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Maldivan

Maldivan

6.9
A person who was born in or lives in the Maldives
  • noun
  • /mælˈdiːvən/
: maldivo
  • A Maldivan greeted us at the airport.

Examples

  • Many Maldivans work in the tourism industry.

  • We met a group of Maldivans during our visit to the islands.

  • As a Maldivan, she is proud of her country's culture and traditions.

  • The Maldivan spoke warmly about the natural beauty of his homeland.

  • As a Maldivan, she is proud of her country's culture and traditions.

  • The Maldivan spoke warmly about the natural beauty of his homeland.

  • We met a group of Maldivans during our visit to the islands.

Synonyms

Maldivian
vsMaldivan
1 5.7

A person from the Maldives

is an alternative spelling having identical meaning in usage

Surface Forms

Maldivan singular
Maldivans plural

Morphology

Maldivan = Maldives (transparent) = Maldives + an

Formed from the country name 'Maldives' plus the productive demonymic suffix '-an', so the meaning 'a native of the Maldives' is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word Maldivan comes from the name Maldives, which comes from old Sanskrit parts mala 'garland' and dvipa 'island', giving the picture of many islands like a 'garland'. So a Maldivan is a person from those islands.