| Chapter 12 - Type 7 Nouns |
Reminder:
The indefinite singular noun is the basic form of the noun. No equivalent English article, like "a" or "an", is placed before the noun.
Thus, aábbe will be translated as "father" or "a father"; aabbayaal will be translated as "fathers", etc.
In this chapter, we study in detail the formation of Type 7 nouns in the plural and in the definite form singular and plural.
Indefinite Type 7 Nouns - Singular and Plural
Type 7 Noun |
Singular |
Plural |
Gender |
Nouns always masculine |
Nouns always feminine |
Noun Form |
Absolute noun always ending in -e. |
In the plural, the final -e changes to -a and -yaal is added. |
Tone |
The singular has the penultimate syllable H. |
Plural of Indefinite Type 7 Nouns - Examples |
Singular (masc.) |
Translation |
Plural (fem.) |
Translation |
ábbe |
a father |
aabbayaal |
fathers |
agaasíme |
a director |
agaasimayaal |
directors |
báre |
a teacher, professor |
barayaal |
teachers |
danjíre |
an ambassador |
danjirayaal |
ambassadors |
jáalle |
a comrade |
jaallayaal |
comrades |
madaxwéyne |
a president |
madaxweynayaal |
presidents |
waraabe |
a hyena |
waraabayaal |
hyenas |
túke |
a crow, raven |
tukayaal |
crows, ravens |
cambe |
a mango |
cambayaal |
mangoes |
fúre |
a key |
furayaal |
keys |
Special Case:
Type 7 Nouns - Formation of Definite Singular and Plural Nouns
In Somali, the English article "the" is marked by suffixes added to the end of the indefinite noun.
-
In the singular, the feminine suffix -ha is added after the final -e of the absolute noun, which changes to -a.
Examples: Aabbe (= father): Aabbe + -ha -> Aabbaha (= the father)
Fure (= key): fure + -ha -> furaha = the key.
-
In the plural, the masculine suffix -ka is added to the indefinite plural noun.
However, when in contact with the final -l of the plural, -l and -ka merge into -sha!
Examples: Aabbe (= fathers): Aabbayaal + -ka -> aabbayaasha = fathers.
Furayaal (= keys): furayaal + -ka -> furayaasha = keys.
Definite Singular and Plural of Type 7 Nouns - Examples |
Absolute |
Definite Singular |
Definite Plural |
Translation |
Aabbe |
aabbaha |
aabbayaasha |
the father, the fathers |
agaasime |
agaasimaha |
agaasimayaasha |
the director(s) |
bare |
baraha |
barayaasha |
the professor(s) |
danjire |
danjiraha |
danjirayaasha |
the ambassador(s) |
jaalle |
jaallaha |
jaallayaasha |
the comrade(s) |
madaxweyne |
madaxweynaha |
madaxweynayaasha |
the president(s) |
waraabe |
waraabaha |
waraabayaasha |
the hyena(s) |
tuke |
tukaha |
tukayaasha |
the crow(s) |
cambe |
cambaha |
cambayaasha |
the mango(s) |
fure |
furaha |
furayaasha |
the key(s) |
Some additional Type 7 nouns:
- Bartame (bartamayaal, bartamaha, bartamayaasha) = center
- Buste (bustayaal, bustaha, bustayaasha) = cover
- Dhegayare (dhegayarayaal, dhegayaraha, dhegayarayaasha) = clove
- Dukaanle (dukaanlayaal, dukaanlaha, dukaanlayaasha) = merchant, shopkeeper
- Gole (golayaal, golaha, golayaasha) = committee
- Masalle (masallayaal, masallaha, masallayaasha) = prayer mat
- Xoghaye (xoghayaal, xoghaha, xoghayaasha) = state secretary
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