Af Mexee: Difference between revisions

Plural is formed with ''-óoyn'' (definite: ''-óoyki'') or ''-yáal'' (definite: ''-yáalki''). The ending ''-yaal'' is used for nouns (mostly masculine) ending in ''-e'' or ''-i'', e.g. ''tuke'' "crow" → ''tukeyaal''. All other nouns take the ending ''-ooyn''. For feminine nouns ending in ''-o'', the ''-o'' becomes ''a'' and an epithetic ''th'' is added before the ending. For example, ''maghaalo'' "city" + ''-ooyn'' → ''maghaalathooyn'' "cities". Masculine nouns assimilate the ''-o'' to the ending.

Some words (mostly body parts) have a "short" plural in ''-o'' (definite: ''-ihi'') in addition to the "long" plural in ''-ooyn/yaal''. In the case of body parts, the short plural is when they belong to one person.

e.g. <i>'''Gacantisho''' taagheen.</i> = They raised their hand (i.e. each person raised a hand; hand is in singular).

:<i>'''Gacmihisho''' taagheen.</i> = They raised their hands (i.e. each person raised both hands; hand is in short plural).

:<i>'''Gacmihi''' la taaghi.</i> = The hands (of a single person; hand is in short plural) were raised.

:<i>'''Gacmooyki''' la taaghi.</i> = The hands (of multiple people; hand is in long plural) were raised.