Language/Abkhazian/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Abkhazian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be focusing on plurals in Abkhazian.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Questions, Abkhazian Grammar → Abkhazian Verbs → Verbs to Be and Have ..., Conditional Mood & Comparative and Superlative Adverbs in Abkhazian.
Plural Marker[edit | edit source]
In Abkhazian, the plural is formed by adding the suffix "-ара" ("-ara") to the singular noun. The vowel "-а" ("-a") will also be added if the last character of the noun ends with a consonant other than "-р" ("-r").
For example:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| аҧсуа (aṗsua) | /a.'psu.a/ | language (singular) |
| аҧсуара (aṗsuara) | /a.'psu.a.'ra/ | languages (plural) |
| ауа (awa) | /a.'wa/ | water (singular) |
| ауара (awara) | /a.'wa.'ra/ | waters (plural) |
Notice the additional "-а" ("-a") in "ауара" ("awara").
Plurals of Loan Words[edit | edit source]
Most nouns of foreign origin take the plural marker without any changes. However, there are some exceptions.
When a loan word ends with a consonant, the plural marker can be added directly to the end of the word, but sometimes adding an extra vowel "-ы" ("-ə") is necessary to make it easier to pronounce.
For example:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| футбол (futbol) | /'fut.bol/ | football (singular) |
| футболара (futbolarə) | /'fut.bol.'a.ra/ | footballs (plural) |
| кино (kino) | /'ki.no/ | movie (singular) |
| киноыра (kinoəra) | /'ki.no.'ə.ra/ | movies (plural) |
Notice the additional vowel "-ы" ("-ə") in "киноыра" ("kinoəra").
Plural of Compound Nouns[edit | edit source]
In compound nouns, only the last word takes the plural marker "-ара" ("-ara").
For example:
| Abkhazian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| рыжьоу апста (ryžʼou apsta) | /ˈʁəʐ.ʒəu ˈap.sta/ | red apple (singular) |
| рыжьоу апстара (ryžʼou apstara) | /ˈʁəʐ.ʒəu ˈap.sta.ˌra/ | red apples (plural) |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Person 1: аҩрыс (āqrys) (cat) Person 2: аҩрысара (āqrysa̲ra) (cats)
Person 1: хьанҳы (ḥ̌anhy) (book) Person 2: хьанҳыара (ḥ̌anhya̲ra) (books)
Person 1: кафе (kafe) (coffee shop) Person 2: кафеара (kafea̲ra) (coffee shops)
Person 1: театр (teatr) (theater) Person 2: театрара (teatra̲ra) (theaters)
Culture and Fun Facts[edit | edit source]
- Abkhazians are proud of their language and culture, and actively promote it through festivals and cultural events.
- The Abkhazian language is written with the Cyrillic script. However, before the adoption of Cyrillic in the 20th century, it was written with the Georgian script.
- Abkhazian cuisine is known for its rich and hearty dishes, often made with locally-sourced ingredients such as lamb, beans, and potatoes. One popular dish is плов (plov), a pilaf-style dish made with rice, meat, and vegetables.
Practice with Native Speakers[edit | edit source]
To improve your Abkhazian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!