HomeChapter 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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