Language/Gulf-arabic/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Gulf Arabic learners! ๐
In this lesson, we will be discussing plurals in Gulf Arabic. This is an intermediate level lesson, so make sure you have a basic understanding of the language and grammar. We will provide some interesting cultural information and examples along the way. We hope you enjoy it!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: How to Use "Have", Questions & Negation.
Plural Forms[edit | edit source]
In Gulf Arabic, we have several ways to form plurals. Each plural form is used in different situations, so it's important to understand them all. Here are the plural forms we will be discussing today:
Regular Plurals[edit | edit source]
The regular plural is formed by adding "ููู" or "ููู" to the end of a singular noun, depending on the gender of the noun. For masculine nouns, we add "ููู" and for feminine nouns, we add "ููู".
Gulf Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ููุชูุงุจ | 'kitaab | Book |
ููุชูุงุจูููููุง | 'kitabuna | Our books |
ุณููููุฉ | 'sakka | Street |
ุณููููุฉููููู | 'sakka(y)eeni | Two streets |
ุจูููุช | bayt | House |
ุจูููููุช | bu'yuut | Houses |
ููููู | film | Film |
ููููุงู ู | filam | Films |
Broken Plurals[edit | edit source]
Broken plurals are formed by changing the vowels, adding or dropping letters, and sometimes by adding a prefix or a suffix. Broken plurals are used for masculine and feminine nouns, and they are used for more complex and irregular nouns. Here are some examples:
Gulf Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ููุชูุจ | 'kutub | Books |
ุฑูุฌูุงู | 'rjaal | Men |
ููุณูุงุก | 'nisaa | Women |
ุนููููู | 'uuyuun | Eyes |
ุฃูุณูุฑูุฉ | 'asara | Families |
ุฃูุณูููุงู | 'asnana | Teeth |
Remember that broken plurals follow specific patterns, so it's important to learn them properly.
Dual Form[edit | edit source]
In Gulf Arabic, some nouns have a dual form. The dual form is used to describe two of something, so it's only for nouns that occur in pairs. The dual form is created by adding "ููู" or "ุงู" to the end of a noun.
Gulf Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ุฅูุตูุจูุน | 'isba' | Finger |
ุฅูุตูุจูุนูููู | 'isba'ayni | Two fingers |
ุนูููู | 'ayn | Eye |
ุนูููููููู | 'aynayn | Two eyes |
ููุฏ | yad | Hand |
ููุฏูููู | yadayn | Two hands |
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
As with any language, there are some exceptions to the rules. Here are two examples:
1. The word "ูุฏู " which means "foot" is a masculine noun, but its plural form is "ุฃูููุฏุงู " which is a feminine noun.
2. The word "ุนูู ูู" which means "work" is a masculine noun, but its plural form is "ุฃูุนูู ูุงู" which is a feminine noun.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To help you understand plurals in context, here is a dialogue between two friends:
- Person 1: ุงุดุชุฑูุช ููุชูุงุจู ุฌูุฏููุฏู! (I bought a new book!)
- Person 2: ุนูููููููู ุนูููู ุงูุฑููููุ ููุชูุงุจูู ู ูุฎูุชูููู! (My eyes on the shelf, your book is missing!)
Cultural Information[edit | edit source]
Did you know that in Gulf Arabic, when talking about people or things in groups, we use the word "ุดููููุฉ" (shillah)? This word means "gang" or "crowd" in English, but in Gulf Arabic, it's more of an endearing term used to describe your friends or a group of people you're familiar with.
Practice Makes Perfect[edit | edit source]
To practice your plural skills, try reading some news articles or watching some videos in Gulf Arabic. You can also find native speakers on Polyglot Club and ask them any questions you have!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Give your Opinion
- Adjectives
- Personal Pronouns
- Pronouns
- How to Use Have
- Questions
- How to Use Be
- Conditional Mood
- Negation