Number Of Nouns

Nouns in Pashto can be either singular or plural. Most nouns have both singular and plural forms, although there are some nouns (such as "whiteness" - [spintób] سْپینْتُوب , "friendship" - [dostí] دُوسْتی , etc.) that are used only in the singular, and others (such as "water" - [obÁ] اوبٌه , "grapes" - [angúr] اَنگُور , "milk" - [shidé] شیدې , etc.) that have only plural forms.

The way plurals are formed depends on the type of the noun. There are several types of nouns, and each type forms its plural (as well as its indirect case and its vocative case) in its own way.

Masculine Gender

Type I: Type I masculine nouns are mostly inanimate nouns that end in consonants or -ه [-A]. They have the ending -ونه [-úna] when they are plural:

"house" - [kor] کُور → "houses" - [korúna] کُورُونَه

"thread" - [taar] تار → "threads" - [taarúna] تارُونَه .

Among the words of this type are some animate nouns such as "ram" - [psA] پْسٌه , "ram" - [maGh] مَږ , and some relationship terms such as "father" - [plaar] پلار , "uncle" - [trA] تْرٌه , "father-in-law" (wife's father) - [khusÁr] خُسٌر , "brother-in-law" (husband's brother) - [lewár] لېوَر , "brother's son" - [wraarÁ] ورارٌه .

Some masculine type I nouns do either of the following in the plural:

a) Change the vowel [aa] to [a]:

"father" - [plaar] پلار → "fathers" - [plarúna] پْلَرُونَه

b) Lose a vowel in their stem:

"brother-in-law" - [lewár] لېوَر → "brothers-in-law" - [lewruna] لېوْرُونَه .

Note: The noun "brother" - [wror] وْرُور has a plural form with the ending -وڼه [-uNa]: [wrúNa] وْرُوڼَه .

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type I masculine nouns.

Type I Masculine Nouns

("book" - [kitaáb] کِتاب , "father" - [plaar] پْلار , "heart" - [zRA] زْړٌه )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[kitaáb] - کِتاب [plaar] - پْلار [zRA] - زْړٌه	[kitaabúna] - کِتابُونَه [plaarúna] - پْلارُونَه , [plarúna] - پْلَرُونَه [zRúna]زْړُونَه
Indirect	[kitaáb] - کِتاب [plaar] - پْلار [zRA] - زْړٌه	[kitaabúno] - کِتابُونُو , [kitaábo] کِتابُو [plarúno] -پْلَرُونُو , [pláro] - پْلَرُو, [plaáro] - پْلارُو [zRúno] - زْړُونُو , [zRo] - زْړُو
Indirect II	[kitaába] - کِتابَه [plaára] - پْلارَه
Vocative	[plaára!] - پْلارَه!	[plarúno !] - ! پْلَرُونُو , [pláro !] - !پْلَرُو

Type II: Type II masculine nouns are mostly animate nouns that end in consonants, -ه [-Á], -ه [-a], -و [-u] , -ا [-aá], or -ی [-i].

For nouns that end in a consonant, the suffix -ان [-aán] is added in the plural.

For some nouns that end in -ه [-Á], the ending -ه [-A] is deleted and the suffix -ان [-aán] is added in the plural. For others, the ending -ه [-A] remains and the suffix -گان [-gaán] is added.

For nouns that end in -ه [-a], the suffix -گان [-gaán] is added in the plural.

For nouns that end in -و [-u], the suffix -گان [-gaán] is added in the plural.

For some nouns that end in -ا [-aá], the suffix -گان [-gaán] is added in the plural. For others, the suffix -یان [-yaán] is added.

For nouns that end in -ی [-i], ́the suffix -یان [-yaán] is added in the plural.

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type II masculine nouns.

Type II Masculine Nouns

("friend" - [dost] دُوسْت , "bird" - [murghÁ] مُرْغٌه , "prince" - [shahzaadá] شَهْزادَه , "cheek" - [baarkhú] بارْخُو , "old man" - [buDaá] بُوډا , "prisoner" - [bandí] بَنْدى )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[dost] - دُوسْت [murghÁ] - مُرْغٌه [shahzaadá] - شَهْزادَه [baarkhú] - بارْخُو [buDaá] - بوډا [bandí] - بَنْدى	[dostaán] - دُوسْتان [murghaán] - مُرْغان [shahzaadagaán] -شَهْزادَه گان [baarkhugaán] - بارْخُوگان [buDaagaán] - بُوډاگان [bandiyaán] - بَنْدیان
Indirect	[dost] - دُوسْت [murghÁ] - مُرْغٌه [shahzaadá] - شَهْزادَه [baarkhú] - بارْخُو [buDaá] - بُوډا [bandí] - بَنْدى	[dostaáno] -دُوسْتانُو [murghaáno] - مُرْغانُو [shahzaadagaáno] - شَهْزادهَ گانُو [baarkhugaáno] - بارْخُوگانُو [buDaagaáno] -بُوډاگانُو [bandiyaáno] - بَنْدیانُو
Indirect II	[dósta] - دُوسْتَه	-
Vocative	[dósta !] - ! دُوسْتَه	[dostaáno !] - ! دُوسْتانُو [murghaáno !] - !مُرْغانُو [shahzaadagaáno !] - شَهْزادَه گانُو ! [buDaagaáno !] - ! بُوډاگانُو [bandiyaáno !] - ! بَنْدیانُو

Type III: Type III masculine nouns are nouns that end in -ی [-ay] (stressed and unstressed). When plural, they have the ending -ى [-i] (stressed and unstressed accordingly).

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type III masculine nouns.

Type III Masculine Nouns

("man" - [saRáy] سَړَی , "stick" - [largáy] لَرْگَی , "male friend" - [malgÁray] مَلْگٌرَی , "star" - [stóray] سْتُورَی )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[saRáy] - سَړَی [largáy] - لَرْگَی [malgÁray] - مَلْگٌرَی [stóray] - سْتُورَی	[saRí]- سَړى [largí] - لَرْگى [malgÁri] - مَلْگٌرى [stóri] - سْتُورى
Indirect	[saRí] - سَړى [largí] لَرْگى [malgÁri] - مَلْگٌرى [stóri] - سْتُورى	[saRío] - سَړیُو / [saRó] - سَړُو [largío] - لَرْگیُو / [largó] -لَرْگُو [malgÁro] - مَلْگٌرُو [stóro] - سْتُورُو
Vocative	[saRíya !] - ! سَړیَه [malgÁria !] - ! مَلْگٌریَه	[saRío !] - ! سَړیُو / [saRó !] - ! سَړُو [malgÁro !] - ! مَلْگٌرُو

Type IV: Type IV masculine nouns are nouns which form their plurals via internal inflexion (in other words, by changing their stem). Among these nouns are the following words:

a) Words which have the vowels [u] or [o] as the last vowel in their stems and which end in the suffixes -تون [-tún], -بون [-bún], or -به [-ba]. The word "guest" [melmá] مېلْمَه is also part of this group. These words form their plurals by changing the last vowel in the stem into -ا [-aa] and adding the ending -ه [-A].

b) words that end in the suffix -گَر [-gar]. These words form their plurals by changing the vowel [a] into [A] in their stem.

c) Some words with the vowel [a] in their stem, such as "thief" - [ghal] غَل , "friend" - [mal] مَل , "mountain" - [ghar] غَر , and "donkey" - [khar] خَر . These words lose their stem vowel and add the ending -ه [-A].

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type II masculine nouns.

Type IV Masculine Nouns

("Pashtun" - [paKhtún] پَښْتُون "guest" - [melmá] مېلْمَه "peasant" - [bazgár] بَزْگَر "mountain" - [ghar] غَر )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[paKhtún] - پَښْتُون [melmá] - مېلْمَه [bazgár] - بَزْگَر [ghar] - غَر	[paKhtaanÁ] - پَښْتانٌه [melmaanÁ] - مېلْمانٌه [bazgÁr] -بَزْگٌر / [bazgaraán] - بَزْگَران [ghrúna] - غْرُونَه
Indirect	[paKhtaanÁ] - پَښْتانٌه [melmaanÁ] - مېلْمانٌه [bazgÁr] -بَزْگٌر [ghrA] - غْرٌه	[paKhtanó] - پَښْتَنُو [melmanó] مېلْمَنُو [bazgaraáno] - بَزْگَرانُو / [bazgáro] - بَزْگَرُو [ghrúno] - غْرُونُو / [ghro]- غْرُو
Indirect II	[bazgára]- بَزْگَرَه	-
Vocative	[paKhtúna !] - ! پَښْتُونَه [bazgára !] - ! بَزْگَرَه	[paKhtanó !] - ! پَښْتَنُو [melmanó !] - ! مېلْمَنُو [bazgaraáno !] - ! بَزْگَرانُو / [bazgáro !] - ! بَزْگَرُو

Note: Some nouns can combine the endings of different types in their plural forms:

a) Type I and Type II:

"bridge" - [pul] پُل → "bridges" - [pulúna] پُلُونَه = [pulaán] پُلان

"horse" - [aas] آس → [aasúna] آسُونَه = [aasaán] آسان

b) Type II and type III:

"ox" - [ghwayáy] غْوَﺋﻲ → "oxen" - [ghwaayaán] غْوایان = [ghwaayí] غْوایى

"ant" - [meGháy] مېږَی → "ants" - [meGhiyaán] مېږیان = [meGhí] مېږى

c) Type II and Type IV - nouns ending in -گر [-gar]. See Type IV Masculine Nouns above.

d) Type I and Type IV:

"river" - [rod] رُود → "rivers" - [rodúna] رُودُونَه = [raadÁ] رادٌه
"weight" - [tol] تول → "weights" - [tolúna] تولونه = [taalÁ] تاله .

Feminine Gender.

Type I: Type I feminine nouns are nouns that end in a consonant or in ه- [-á ]. They have the ending ی [-é] in the plural:

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type I feminine nouns.

Type I Feminine Nouns

("wife" - [KhÁdza] ښٌڂَه , "day" - [wradz] وْرَڂ , "apple" - [maNá] - مَڼَه )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[KhÁdza] - ښٌڂَه [wradz] - وْرَڂ [maNá] - مَڼَه	[KhÁdze] - ښٌڂی [wrádze] - وْرَڂی [maNé] - مَڼی
Indirect	[KhÁdze] - ښٌڂی [wrádze] - وْرَڂی [maNé] - مَڼی	[KhÁdzo] -ښٌڂُو [wrádzo] - وْرَڂُو [maNó] - مَڼُو
Vocative	[KhÁdze !] - ! ښٌڂی	[KhÁdzo !] - ! ښٌڂُو

Type II: Type II feminine nouns are nouns that end in -ې [-e] and formed from masculine nouns that end in -ی [-ay]. For example, "male friend" - [malgÁray] مَلْگٌرَی → "female friend" - [malgÁre] مَلْگٌرې . They have the ending -ى [-i] in the plural.

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type II feminine nouns.

Type II Feminine Nouns

("female friend" - [malgÁre] مَلْگٌرې , "sow" - [sarkúze] سَرْکُوزې )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[malgÁre] - مَلْگٌرې [sarkúze] - سَرْکُوزې	[malgÁri] - مَلْگٌرى [sarkúzi] - سَرْکُوزى
Indirect	[malgÁri] - مَلْگٌرى [sarkúzi] - سَرْکُوزى	[malgÁro] - مَلْگٌرُو [sarkúzo] - سَرْکُوزُو

Type III: Type III feminine nouns are nouns that end in -ۍ [-Áy], or -ى [-í]. They have the ending -ۍ [-Áy] in the plural.

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type I masculine nouns.

Type III Feminine Nouns

("window" - [kARkÁy] کٌړْکۍ , "game" - [baazí] بازى )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[kARkÁy] - کٌړْکۍ [baazí] - بازى	[kARkÁy] - کٌړْکۍ [baazÁy] - بازۍ
Indirect	[kARkÁy] - کٌړْکۍ [baazÁy] - بازۍ	[kARkÁyo] - کٌړْکٌیُو [baazÁyo] - بازیُو

Type IV: Type IV feminine nouns are nouns that end in -انی [-aáni], -گانی [-gaáni], or -وی [-wi]. The type of ending depends on the specific word. Among the nouns of this type are the following:

a) Words that end in -ا [-aa] and -اح [-aah].

b) Most nouns that end in -گانی [-gaáni].

c) Some words that end in -وی [-wi]. (-و [-o] in the plural.)

d) Nouns that denote female people and that end in -ی [-i] or -ۍ [-Ay].

These words have the endings -گانی [-gaáni] or -انی [-aáni] in the plural.

e) Nouns that end in -ې [-e]. These words add -انی [-aáni] in the plural.

f) Words that end in -یح [-ih] or -وع [-u']. These words add -انی [-aáni] or -گانی [-gaáni] in the plural.

The table below lists the patterns of declension and the forms of the indirect and vocative cases for type IV feminine nouns.

Type IV Feminine Nouns

( "back" - [shaa] شا , "side" - [khwaa] خْوا , "monkey" - [bizó] بیزُو , "old woman" - [buDÁy] بُوډۍ , "fiancée" - [naáwe] ناوې , "beginning" - [shurú ] شُرُوع )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[shaa] - شا [khwaa] - خْوا [bizó] - بیزُو [buDÁy] - بُوډۍ , [naáwe] - ناوې [shurú] - شُرُوع	[shaagaáni] -شاگانی [khwaáwi]- خْواوی [bizogaáni] - بیزوگانی [buDAygaáni] - بوډۍگانی [naaweaáni] - ناوېانی [shurugaáni] - شُرُوع گانی
Indirect	[shaa] - شا [khwaa] - خْوا [bizó]- بیزو [buDÁy] - بُوډۍ , [naáwe] - ناوې [shurú] - شُرُوع	[shaagaáno] - شاگانو [khwaáwo] - خْواوُ [bizogaáno] - بیزوگانو [buDAygaáno] - بُوډۍگانو [naaweaáno] - ناوېانو [shurugaáno] - شُرُوع گانو

Note: Some nouns can combine the plural endings of Type III and Type IV: "scissors" - [byaatí] بیاتی → [byaatÁy] بیاتۍ = [byaatigaáni] بیاتیگانی .

Many nouns denoting male or female people or relatives have unique forms in the plural and in the indirect case. The table below shows the features of declension of these nouns.

("mother" - [mor] مُور , "daughter" - [lur] لُور , "sister" - [khor] خُور , "girl" - [njAlÁy] نْجٌلۍ , "son" - [zoy] زُوی , "aunt" - [tror] تْرُور , "husband's sister" - [ndror] نْدْرُور )

Case	Number
Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	[mor] - مُور [lur] - لُور [khor] - خُور [njAlÁy] - نْجٌلۍ [zoy] - زُوی [tror] - تْرُور [ndror] - نْدْرُور	[méndi] - مېنْدی [lúNi] - لُوڼی [khwéndi] -خوېنْدی [njúni] - نْجُونی [zaamÁn] - زامٌن [tréndi] - تْرېنْدی [ndrénde] - نْدْرېنْدې
Indirect	[mor] - مُور [lur] - لُور [khor] - خُور [njAlÁy] - نْجٌلۍ [zoy] - زُوی [tror] - تْرُور [ndror] - نْدْرُور	[méndo] - مېنْدو [lúNo] - لُوڼو [khwéndo] - خوېنْدو [njúno] - نْجُونو [zaamÁno] - زامٌنو [tréndo] - تْرېنْدو [ndréndo] - نْدْرېنْدو