Maldives

IPA/mɔːldˈiːv/
KK[mˈɔldˌaɪvz]IPA/mˈɔːldˌaɪvz/

Maldives — noun

1. a tropical island nation on the Indian Ocean, made up of roughly 1,200 coral isl

1.nounA2
Definition

a tropical island nation on the Indian Ocean, made up of roughly 1,200 coral islands, famous for its white sand beaches, clear warm water, and rich marine life.

Example

Manuela spent two weeks in the Maldives last winter with her family.

preposition: in the Maldives

Tourists visit the Maldives for its beautiful beaches and warm weather all year round.

Common collocations
  • the Maldives
  • in the Maldives
  • to the Maldives
  • from the Maldives
  • visit the Maldives
  • the islands of the Maldives
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Maldives

in/to/from the Maldives

Usage Note

Always used with 'the' (the Maldives). Takes a singular verb, even though the name refers to multiple islands.

Common Mistakes

I want to visit Maldives next year.
I want to visit the Maldives next year.
Country names that are plural in form (the Maldives, the Philippines, the Bahamas) always need 'the'.

2. a chain of twenty-six coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and S

2.nounB1
Definition

a chain of twenty-six coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka; a former British protectorate and sultanate that became an independent country in 1965.

Example

Christopher read that the Maldives is made up of twenty-six natural atolls.

collocation: made up of [number] atolls

Before becoming independent in 1965, the Maldives was a British protectorate ruled by a sultan.

historical description: former protectorate and sultanate

Common collocations
  • the atolls of the Maldives
  • the islands of the Maldives
  • the Maldives archipelago
  • North/South Male Atoll
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Maldives

Usage Note

This sense describes the geographical and historical region rather than the modern nation. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on the country as a political and tourist destination.

Word family

  • Maldivian
    adjectiveB1
  • Maldivian
    nounB2
  • Maldive
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These terms all refer to the same place but differ in usage. 'The Maldives' is the everyday name used in travel, news, and general conversation — it is what you would say when booking a holiday or reading about Indian Ocean destinations. 'Republic of Maldives' is the official political name, used in formal documents, international agreements, and diplomatic contexts; a news article about a presidential election would say 'the Republic of Maldives' on first reference. 'The Maldive Islands' is an older, more geographically descriptive name that appears in historical writing and some maps, but it is rarely used in modern speech. 'Maldivian' is an adjective (e.g. Maldivian culture, Maldivian cuisine) or a noun for a person from the country (e.g. 'a Maldivian'). In casual conversation, say 'the Maldives'; in a formal essay or report, the full name works better.

the MaldivesRepublic of Maldivesthe Maldive IslandsMaldivian

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the islands of the Maldives
  • the atolls of the Maldives
  • the people of the Maldives
  • the government of the Maldives
  • a holiday in the Maldives

Prepositions

Etymology

SanskritArabicPortugueseEnglish

The name 'Maldives' almost certainly comes from the Sanskrit word 'maladvipa' (मालद्वीप), meaning 'garland of islands' — from 'mala' (garland/wreath) and 'dvipa' (island). This matches the country's geography: a long chain of coral islands strung together like a necklace in the Indian Ocean. The name entered European languages through Arab traders, who knew the islands as 'Dhibat al-Mahal' (the islands of the Mahal), and later through Portuguese and British colonial records.