Old Plurals in -न्ह

Level 6Sounds Like nha (bahuvacana)

Old texts mark plural forms with -न्ह, as in कपिन्ह (the monkeys) and तिन्ह (them).

How It Works

The -न्ह ending makes a noun or pronoun plural in old verse.

The -न in speech is the ending you already know: परिवारन, फिलिमन. It is a lighter version of the old ending.

The old ending turns up on pronouns too. तिन्ह is the plural of ऊ, and it fills the place speech gives to उनका.

Take कपिन्ह कै सेना. The plural noun is followed by कै, just as परिवारन कै खुसी is in speech. Only the plural ending has changed.

You find -न्ह in poems and older prayers. Do not use it when speaking.

कपिन्ह कै सेना आई।
The army of the monkeys came.
कपिन्ह is the old plural of कपि.
तिन्ह कै बात सुनहु।
Listen to what they say.
तिन्ह means them.
मुनिन्ह कै आश्रम बन मा अहै।
The sages' hermitage is in the forest.
मुनिन्ह is the old plural of मुनि.
परिवारन कै खुसी देखै लायक अहै।
The families' joy is a sight to see.
परिवारन shows today's -न.

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Old Plurals in -न्हLevel 6

-न्ह is the old form of the plural -न.

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