Language/Omani-arabic/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Omani Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about plurals in Omani Arabic. Plurals are an important aspect of the Arabic language, and Omani Arabic is no exception. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to form and recognize plural nouns in Omani Arabic.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Pronouns, Give your Opinion & How to Use Have.
What are plurals in Omani Arabic?[edit | edit source]
Like in English, plurals in Omani Arabic refer to more than one person, thing, or animal. In Omani Arabic, plurals are formed by adding suffixes to the end of the noun, which are known as markers. These markers indicate the number of objects being referred to. The table below shows some of the most common plural markers in Omani Arabic:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun (Marker) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| كِتَاب (kitāb) | كِتَب (kitāb) | books |
| سَبِيَّة (sabiyah) | سَبَايَات (sabāyāt) | fingers |
| حِمَار (himaar) | حُمَر (ḥumar) | donkeys |
| جَامُوس (jāmoos) | جُمُس (jumus) | buffalo |
It is important to note that some nouns in Omani Arabic have irregular plural forms, like in English. For example:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ابْن (ibn) | أَبْنَاء (abnā') | sons |
| سَمَكَة (samakah) | أَسْمَاك (asamāk) | fish |
| بَيْت (bayt) | بُيُوت (buyūt) | houses |
Plural markers in Omani Arabic[edit | edit source]
As you have seen in the table above, plurals in Omani Arabic are formed by adding suffixes to the end of the noun. In general, there are two types of plural markers in Omani Arabic: sound plural markers and broken plural markers.
Sound Plural Markers[edit | edit source]
Sound plural markers are added to the singular noun without any change in the spelling. Some examples of sound plural markers in Omani Arabic are:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun (Marker) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| قَمِيْص (qamīṣ) | قِمَاص (qimāṣ) | shirts |
| دَجَاجَة (dajājah) | دَجَاج (dajāj) | chickens |
| الْقُلُوْبُ (alqulūbu) | قُلُوْب (qulūb) | hearts |
Broken Plural Markers[edit | edit source]
Broken plural markers are added to the singular noun along with a change in spelling. This type of plural marker is more common than sound plural markers in Omani Arabic. Some examples of broken plural markers in Omani Arabic are:
| Singular Noun | Plural Noun (Marker) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| كِتَاب (kitāb) | كُتُب (kutub) | books |
| عِصَافِيْر (iṣāfir) | عَصَافِيْر (aṣāfir) | birds |
| نَمْلِة (namlah) | نَمَل (namal) | ants |
It is important to note that broken plural markers have different forms depending on the gender of the noun. For example:
| Singular Noun | Feminine Plural Noun (Marker) | Masculine Plural Noun (Marker) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| فِرَاشَة (firāshah) | فِرَاشَات (firāshāt) | فِرَاش (firāsh) | butterflies |
| خِنْزِيْر (khinzīr) | خَنَازِيْر (khānāzīr) | خَنْزُر (khinzur) | pigs |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To better understand how plurals work in Omani Arabic, let's look at a dialogue between two friends:
- Person 1: هَادِي هِيَ جَامُوسَة. (hadī hiya jāmoosah) (This is a buffalo (female).)
- Person 2: وَهَادَا حُسَّوْنَ. (wahādā ḥussawn) (And this is a donkey (male).)
- Person 1: شُوفُو بِأَعْيُنِكُمْ! هَدُولَا جَمُسٌ وَحُمُرٌ. (shūfū bi'a'yunikum! hadulā jamusun wahu'murun) (Look with your own eyes! These are buffalos and donkeys.)
In this dialogue, you can see how the plural markers are added to the nouns to indicate the number of animals being referred to.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, plurals are an important aspect of Omani Arabic grammar. By adding plural markers to the end of nouns, we can indicate the number of people, animals, or things being referred to. Sound plural markers and broken plural markers are the two main types of plural markers in Omani Arabic. To improve your Omani Arabic grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Negation, How to Use Be & Conditional Mood.