| Chapter 11 - Type 6 Nouns |
Reminder:
The indefinite singular form is the basic form of the noun. There is no equivalent to the French articles "un" or "une" before the noun.
Thus, hóoyo can be translated as "mother" or "a mother"; hooyóoyin can be translated as "mothers," etc.
In this chapter, we will study in detail the formation of Type 6 nouns in the plural and the definite form in both singular and plural.
Type 6 Indefinite Nouns - Singular and Plural
Type 6 Noun |
Singular |
Plural |
Gender |
Feminine Nouns Only |
Masculine Nouns Only |
Form of the Noun |
Absolute noun always ending in -o. |
Plural is formed by adding -oyin. |
Tone |
Both singular and plural have the final HL sequence on the last two syllables. |
Singular and Plural of Type 6 Definite Nouns - Examples |
Absolute |
Definite Singular |
Definite Plural |
Translation |
hóoyo |
hooyada |
hooyooyinka |
the mother, the mothers |
ayéeyo |
ayeeyada |
ayeeyóoyinka |
the / the grandmothers |
dáwo |
dawada |
dawooyinka |
the / the medicine(s) |
éeddo |
eedada |
eedoyinka |
the / the aunt(s) |
magáalo |
magaalada |
magaalooyinka |
the / the city(-ies) |
shéeko |
sheekada |
sheekooyinka |
the / the story(-ies) |
tálo |
talada |
talooyinka |
the / the decision(s) |
wáddo |
waddada |
waddooyinka |
the / the road(s) |
kiilo |
kiilada |
kiilooyinka |
the / the kilo(s) |
boosto |
boostada |
boostooyinka |
the / the posts |
Type 6 Definite Nouns - Singular and Plural Forms
In Somali, the English article "the" is marked by suffixes added to the end of the indefinite noun.
-
In the singular, the feminine suffix -da is added after the -o ending of the absolute noun, which changes to -a
Examples: Hooyo (= mother): hooyo + -da -> hooyada (= the mother)
Magaalo (= city): magaalo + -da -> magaalda = the city.
-
In the plural, the masculine suffix -ka is added to the plural indefinite noun.
Examples: Hooyóoyin (= mothers): hooyóoyin + -ka -> hooyóoyinka = the mothers.
Magaalooyin (= cities): magaalooyin + -ka -> magaalooyinka = the cities.
Singular and Plural of Type 6 Definite Nouns - Examples |
Absolute |
Definite Singular |
Definite Plural |
Translation |
hooyo |
hooyada |
hooyooyinka |
the mother, the mothers |
ayeeyo |
ayeeyada |
ayeeyóoyinka |
the / the grandmothers |
dawo |
dawada |
dawooyinka |
the / the medicine(s) |
éeddo |
eedada |
eedoyinka |
the / the aunt(s) |
magaalo |
magaalada |
magaalooyinka |
the / the city(-ies) |
sheeko |
sheekada |
sheekooyinka |
the / the story(-ies) |
talo |
talada |
talooyinka |
the / the decision(s) |
waddo |
waddada |
waddooyinka |
the / the road(s) |
kiilo |
kiilada |
kiilooyinka |
the / the kilo(s) |
boosto |
boostada |
boostooyinka |
the / the posts |
Some additional Type 6 nouns:
- Afo = wife
- Baasto = pasta
- Cádho = anger
- Cunto = food
- Hawo = air, heat
- Moxoggo = cassava
- Qaaddo = spoon
- Shaqo = work
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