Language/Ganda/Grammar/Plurals

Ganda Grammar - Plurals

Hi Ganda learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating world of plurals in Ganda!

If you want to practice your Ganda skills with native speakers, don't forget to check out Polyglot Club. You can also find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Introduction

In Ganda, plurals are formed by adding suffixes to singular nouns. There are three main plural suffixes: -ba, -nga, and -zi. Each suffix is used in certain situations, depending on the noun's class.

As you may remember, Ganda nouns are organized into 16 different classes, each with different prefixes and singular-plural suffix pairs. To learn more about noun classes in Ganda, check out our Grammar lesson on the topic.

In this lesson, we will focus on the plural suffixes and how they are used. We will also provide some interesting cultural information and examples to help you understand these concepts better.

🌍 Fun fact: The Ganda people are the largest ethnic group in Uganda, and their language, also known as Luganda, is one of the country's official languages.

-ba plurals

The -ba suffix is used with noun classes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. It is also used with several exceptional nouns that belong to other classes. The -ba suffix indicates a plural of people or animals that have a human-like appearance or characteristics.

Here are some examples of nouns that take the -ba suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
omwana	ɔmuː-ana	child
omukazi	ɔmuː-ka-zi	woman
ekitabo	eki-ta-bo	book
ensi	e-nsi	land

And here are the plurals using the -ba suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
abaana	a-ba-ana	children
abakazi	a-ba-ka-zi	women
ebitabo	e-bi-ta-bo	books
ensiibye	e-nsi-i-bye	lands

🌍 Fun fact: The Ganda people have a rich oral tradition, and many of their stories feature animals with human-like qualities. An example is the story of Kibuka, the warthog who was a great warrior and leader.

Now, let's see how the other plural suffixes work.

-nga plurals

The -nga suffix is used with noun classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, and 14. It is also used with several exceptional nouns that belong to other classes. The -nga suffix indicates a plural of objects and things that do not have a human-like appearance or characteristics.

Here are some examples of nouns that take the -nga suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
akaka	a-ka-ka	chair
akawuka	a-ka-wu-ka	pen
ente	e-nte	cow
omusajja	ɔ-mu-sa-ja	man

And here are the plurals using the -nga suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
amaka	a-ma-ka	chairs
emikawuka	e-mi-ka-wu-ka	pens
enge	e-nge	cows
abasajja	a-ba-sa-ja	men

🌍 Fun fact: The Ganda people have a rich musical tradition, with rhythms and instruments that are unique to their culture. One of the most popular instruments is the Ndongo, a long drum that is played with two sticks.

Now, let's move on to the last plural suffix.

-zi plurals

The -zi suffix is used with noun classes 5, 12, and 13. It is also used with several exceptional nouns that belong to other classes. The -zi suffix indicates a plural of mass nouns, such as liquids, powders, and grains.

Here are some examples of nouns that take the -zi suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
ensasi	e-nsa-si	salt
ekyerezo	e-kye-re-zo	sugar
olutalo	o-lu-ta-lo	war

And here are the plurals using the -zi suffix:

Ganda	Pronunciation	English
ensaazi	e-n-saa-zi	salts
ebyerezo	e-byee-re-zo	sugars
amataalo	a-ma-taa-lo	wars

🌍 Fun fact: The Ganda people have a strong sense of community, and many cultural events and gatherings are organized to celebrate their unity. One example is the Buganda Kingdom's annual Kabaka's Birthday Run, which brings together thousands of people from different parts of the country to run in honor of the king's birthday.

Now that you understand the rules for forming plurals in Ganda, it's time to practice using them in context. Let's practice with a dialogue!

• Person 1: Oli musajja olw'ebbiri? (Are you two men?)
• Person 2: Naffe tuba basajja. (Yes, we are men.)

🌍 Fun fact: The Ganda people have a unique way of greeting each other, called the empango. It involves a series of handshakes and greetings, each with a different meaning and purpose.

Sources

• Ganda Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Related Lessons

• Adjectives
• Questions
• Negation
• How to Use Be
• Conditional Mood
• Pronouns