Language/Wolof/Grammar/Singular-and-Plural
As a Wolof language teacher with 20 years of experience, I have noticed that students often struggle with forming plurals and understanding when to use them. In this lesson, we will focus on singular and plural forms of nouns and pronouns in Wolof.
Singular and Plural Nouns
In Wolof, most singular nouns can be pluralized by adding the suffix "-een" to the end of the word. Here are some examples:
| Wolof | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| àddina | ahd-dee-nah | house |
| àddina-een | ahd-dee-nah-ehen | houses |
| dëmm | dem | person |
| dëmm-een | dem-ehen | people |
| xaalis | kha-lees | child |
| xaalis-een | kha-lees-ehen | children |
There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, nouns that end with "u" or "i" typically do not change in the plural form. Instead, "ñu" or "ñi" is added to indicate plurality.
Here are some more examples:
| Wolof | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mbokku | mm-boku | goat |
| mbokku-ñu | mm-boku-nyu | goats |
| bët | bet | bed |
| bët-i | bet-ee | beds |
Some nouns have irregular plural forms, so it is important to learn these on a case-by-case basis. For example:
| Wolof | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| jóolu | joh-ooh-loo | tree |
| jólof | joh-lohf | trees |
| seen | sen | tooth |
| siinéé | see-neh-eh | teeth |
It is worth noting that some words in Wolof do not change in the plural form. These include words such as "buum", which means "water", and "suuf", which means "air".
Singular and Plural Pronouns
Just like nouns, Wolof pronouns also have singular and plural forms. Here are the basic pronouns in both singular and plural forms:
| Wolof | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ma | I | mah |
| mi | you (singular) | mee |
| ci | he/she/it | chee |
| nu | we | noo |
| yi | you (plural) | yee |
| ñu | they | nyoo |
As you can see from the table, the singular pronouns "ma", "mi", and "ci" all have different forms in the plural. The plural pronouns "nu", "yi", and "ñu" all have the same form in the singular.
It's worth noting that, just like with nouns, there are some irregularities when it comes to pluralizing pronouns. For example, the pronoun "ci" (he/she/it) becomes "ñi" instead of "ceen" in the plural form.
Conclusion
In summary, forming plurals in Wolof is usually a matter of adding the suffix "-een" to the end of the singular noun. However, there are some exceptions and irregularities. It's essential to learn these on a case-by-case basis. The same applies to pronouns, with some irregularities in plural forms. Keep practicing and you'll soon master singular and plural forms in Wolof.
Remember to practice regularly and keep a positive attitude as you learn the language. Wolof is a beautiful language that offers unique insights into West African culture. Don't hesitate to reach out to native speakers or other learners of the language for additional support and encouragement.
Related Lessons
- The possessive expressed by “U”
- Pronouns and How to ask questions
- Clitic Pronouns
- Gender
- Am (to have) in the present tense
- Verb Conjugation
- Plural Nouns — Definite articles
- Possessive pronouns
- Pronouns