Singular, Dual and Plural Nouns In Arabic Language (المفرد والمثنى والجمع)

 Singular, Dual and Plural Nouns In Arabic Language

(المفرد والمثنى والجمع)

By: Yusuf Basirat Bolanle

Discussion

In Arabic language, nouns are divided according to their numbers into three main parts. They are:

1-  The Singular Noun (المفرد)

2-  The Dual Noun  (المثنى)

3- The Plural Noun  (الجمع)

The Singular  (المفرد)

The Singular nouns in Arabic language are the nouns with the counting number of only one (المفرد).  A Singular item, either feminine or masculine is regarded as (المفرد) or (المفردة) in Arabic term. This Singular item can be person, animal, place or an ordinary item. The singular item in feminine noun can be identified mostly by ending with a close taa (ة), while the singular masculine item can be free of any attachment.

The Dual Noun (المثنى)

The dual in arabic language is known as (المثنى). the dual are the items which are only two in number. Any item lesser or more than two is not regarded as dual any more. It will either be a singular or plural item. The dual nouns can as well be found in masculine, feminine, man, animal and things too, just like singulars. The dual noun in arabic language can be identified by the addition of dual alif and nun (ا، ن) to the end of the singular noun, both masculine and feminine nouns.

The plural nouns (الجمع)

The plural in arabic language is called (الجمع). The plural nouns are the nouns which are more than two entities or items. In arabic language, the two items are regarded as dual while any items more than two are regarded as plural. that is, the items starting from three number upward are known as the Plural Items in arabic language. The plural noun can be formed with the addition of waw and nun (و، ن) to the masculine noun with healthy ends while addition of alif and taa (ا، ت) to the feminine noun with healthy or sound ends 

The Following are the table showing the examples of the singular, Dual and The Plural Nouns In Arabic Language.

The Singular, Dual and Plural In Masculine Nouns

 

الجمع	المثنى	المفرد
Plural	Dual	Singular
كتب many books	كتابان two books	كتاب a book
أولاد many boys	ولدان two boys	ولد a boy
رجال many men	رجلان two men	رجل a man
بيوت many houses	بيتان two houses	بيت a house
أقلام many pens	قلمان two pen	قلم a pen
ِكلاب many dogs	كلبان two dogs	كلب a dog
َكراسي many chairs	كرسيان two chairs	كرسي a chair
عيون many eyes	عينان two eyes	عين an eye
ِمساجد many mosques	مسجدان two mosques	مسجد a mosque
أكواب many cups	كوبان two cups	كوب a cup
ِمكاتب many tables	مكتبان two tables	مكتب a table

فلاحون Many farmers	فلاحان two farmers	فلاح a farmer
مدرسون Many teachers	مدرسان two teachers	مدرس a teacher
مسلمون many muslims	مسلمان two muslims	مسلم a muslim
مهندسون many engineers	مهندسان two enginners	مهندس An engineer

Singular, Dual and Plural in Feminine Nouns

 

الجمع	المثتى	المفردة
Plural	Dual	Singular
بنات many girls	بنتان two girls	بنت a girl
مسلمات many female Muslims	مسلمتان two female Muslims	مسلمة a female Muslim
غرف many rooms	غرفتان two rooms	غرفة a room
طبيبات many female doctors	طبيبتان two female doctors	طبيبة a female doctor
نساء many women	امرأتان two women	امرأة a woman
ساعات many watches	ساعتان two watches	ساعة a watch
والدات many mothers	والدتان two mothers	والدة a mother
لعبات many play toys	لعبتان two play toys	لعبة a play toy
مدرسات many female teachers	مدرستان two female teachers	مدرسة a female teacher
طالبات many female students	طالبتان two female students	طالبة a female student
مدارس many schools	مدرستان two schools	مدرسة a school