Plural Formation

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  • for a definition of plural see Plural (definition)
  • for an article on the inflection of adjectives in the plural see XXX

Attenuation (Slenderization)

Orthographic i

Make the final consonant slender orthographically by inserting an i before the final consonant (attenuate the final consonant). This sometimes shifts the pronunciation of the final vowel as well. /bor'əNəx/ --> /bor'əNiç/.

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an cat na cait cat
am boireannach na boireannaich woman
an t-òran na h-òrain song


Orthographic vowel change

Make the final vowel slender (attenuate it) by changing the orthographic vowel

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an t-iasg na h-èisg fish
am bòrd na bùird table


Suffix (e)an

Suffix -an

Common singular Common/Dative Plural English
a' bhròg na brògan shoe
a' bhùth na bùthan shop
a' chraobh na chraobhan tree
an gille na gillean boy
a' nighean na nigheanan girl
an làr an làran
an leanabh na leanabhan child
am pàisde na pàisdean infant
a' phòg na pògan kiss
a' sgian na sgianan knife

Suffix -ean

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an taigh na taighean house
an t-iasgadair na h-iasgadairan fisherman
an caraid na caraidean friend
an càird na càirdean relative

Make slender and suffix -ean

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an clàrsach na clàrsaichean harp
an rathad na rathaidean road
am monadh na monaidhean moor


Syncope and suffix -(e)an

Adjust new consonant cluster to meet Broad and Slender of original final consonant, then suffix -ean or -an

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an t-ubhal na h-ubhlan egg
am bràthair na bràithrean brother

Suffix anan

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Suffix t(e)an

(other changes including deleting final vowel and broadening and making slender)

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
am baile na bailtean a' bheinn na beanntan mountain
an sgoil na sgoiltean


Suffix (a)ichean/achan

Suffix aichean

singular plural English
am bus na busaichean bus
an car na càraichean car
an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren

Suffix -ichean

singular plural English
an bocsa na bocsaichean box
am bàta na bàtaichean boat
an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren

Syncope and Suffix -aichean

singular plural English
an seòmar na seòmraichean box
cathair cathraichean chair

Irregular Plurals

singular plural English
a' bhò na ba cow
a' chaora na caoraich sheep
an cù na coin dog
an duine na daoine husband/person
an mac na mic son
a' mhuir na marannan sea
a' phiuthair na peathraichean sister

See Also

External Links

References

  • Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications.