Language/Libyan-arabic/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Libyan Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on how to make plurals in Libyan Arabic. Libyan Arabic plurals vary from the plurals of other dialects, so it is important to understand how they work.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Questions, Pronouns, Future Tense & How to Use Be.
Pluralization rules[edit | edit source]
In Libyan Arabic, there are three types of plurals: the regular plural, the doubled plural, and the broken plural.
Regular plural[edit | edit source]
Most of the nouns in Libyan Arabic follow the regular plural rule where "-at" is added to the singular noun. For example:
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| كتاب | /ketab/ | Book |
| كتب | /ketabat/ | Books |
While some may find that simple, there are exceptions as well. For nouns with "-a" at the end, "-aat" is added instead of just "-at". E.g.,
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| كلمة | /kalma/ | Word |
| كلمات | /kalmaat/ | Words |
For nouns with "-i" at the end, "-yya" is added instead. E.g.,
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| دار | /da:r/ | House |
| داريّة | /da:rɪjja/ | Houses |
Note that there are nouns with irregular patterns too, such as "شَارِع" (pronounced: /ʃa:riʕ/), meaning "street" or "road," and "ضَرْس" (pronounced: /dars/), meaning "tooth."
Doubled plural[edit | edit source]
Some plural nouns in Libyan Arabic have a doubled form. In this pattern, the first syllable of the noun is repeated, and the vowel is typically given the "aa" sound. For example:
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| سيْف | /sajf/ | Sword |
| سيّاف | /sayya:f/ | Swords |
The same can happen to words that have "-a" in the middle. The "-aa-" sound is usually placed between the two "-a"s. E.g.,
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| شجرة | /ʃajra/ | Tree |
| شجراوات | /ʃjraawaat/ | Trees |
Broken plural[edit | edit source]
The broken plural pattern may be established from the singular in a variety of ways. Below are examples of the most common broken plural formations.
Broken plural with a "w" / "y"[edit | edit source]
Broken plurals of this sort usually have "-een" or "-iin" added to the end of the word. For nouns with "w" or "y" as an internal consonant, the "w" or "y" is usually adjusted before adding "een" / "iin".
Examples:
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| حليب | /ħalib/ | Milk |
| حَلْبِيّيْن | /ħalbi:ji:in/ | Milks |
Note the following example:
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| خروف | /khruf/ | Lamb |
| خرفين | /khrfiin/ | Lambs |
Please note the "w" inside "khruf" changes to a "y" when creating the plural.
Broken plural with a change in structure[edit | edit source]
In some cases, a change in structure of the singular noun is used to form its plural. For example, nouns with a "غ" or "خ" at the end undergo a structural change in their plural form, and usually become "-aa" instead. E.g.,
| Libyan Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| بغل | /biħl/ | Mule |
| بغليات | /biħljaat/ | Mules |
Examples in context[edit | edit source]
To illustrate these concepts, here is a dialogue (with transliteration and translation) featuring plural forms in Libyan Arabic:
- Person 1: اشتريت كتب خاصة بالقانون (ʾaštarayt ketab khaasa b-ilqanoon) ("I bought law books")
- Person 2: ما شاء الله؛ لديك أيضاً داريّتيْن (maa šaa Allaah; ladayk ayđan daarītīn) ("Mashallah; you also have two houses.")
In this dialogue, we can see the use of "-at" for the plural of "ketab," and "-yya" for the plural of "da:r."
Culture note[edit | edit source]
In Libya, it is customary to address people with the plural form of their titles as a sign of respect. So, for example, "sidi" (sir) is changed to "sidkom" (gentlemen), and "sitt" (madam) changes to "sittokom" (ladies). Thus, one can say, "Marhaba, sidkom" (Hello, gentlemen) or "Marhaba, sittokom" (Hello, ladies).
Practice[edit | edit source]
To solidify your knowledge of Libyan Arabic plurals, try practicing with native speakers on Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!