Maldives
/ˈmɔːl.diːvz/noun
A country in the Indian Ocean made up of a chain of coral islands.
Did you know?The name is traditionally linked to Sanskrit dhvīpa (“island”), and the medieval Arabic form Dībāt al-Mahall or related renderings helped preserve the archipelago’s identity in trade across the Indian Ocean.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient/early historical period
Sanskrit
maladvīpa
““Garland island” or “island chain,” a proposed early form connected to the archipelago’s name.”
Medieval period
Arabic
Māldīb
“Arabic and Persian trade renderings of the island group’s name.”
15th Century
Portuguese
Maldivas
“European pluralized form used for the archipelago.”
Early Modern English
English
Maldives
“The name of the island chain in the Indian Ocean.”
Modern English
English
Maldives
“The modern country name, used for the republic and its islands.”