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Morphology (الصرف) · beginner

Noun Number (Singular/Dual/Plural) · المفرد والمثنى والجمع

Arabic distinguishes singular, dual (two), and plural

2 Quran examples
The rule

Arabic has three numbers:

**Singular (مفرد):** One item

  • كِتَاب (kitāb) = a book
  • رَجُل (rajul) = a man
  • **Dual (مثنى):** Exactly two - add ـَانِ or ـَيْنِ

  • كِتَابَانِ (kitābān) = two books
  • رَجُلَانِ (rajulān) = two men
  • **Plural (جمع):** Three or more

  • كُتُب (kutub) = books
  • رِجَال (rijāl) = men
  • **Sound Masculine Plural:** ـُونَ / ـِينَ

  • مُسْلِمُونَ (muslimūn) = Muslims (nominative)
  • مُسْلِمِينَ (muslimīn) = Muslims (accusative/genitive)
  • In the Quran· tap the reference to open the verse

    رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

    1:2

    Rabbi al-ʿālamīn

    Lord of the worlds

    إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَـٰتِ

    33:35

    Inna al-muslimīna wal-muslimāt

    Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women

    Tips to remember

    • 1العَالَمِينَ is sound masculine plural of عَالَم
    • 2المُسْلِمَاتِ is sound feminine plural (ـَات)

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