mutum / mutane
An Irregular Human Plural
One person uses mutum; ordinary animate counts above one generally use mutane.
How It Works
Mutum ‘person’ and mutane ‘people’ belong to one lexical singular–plural pair. Learn both complete forms. The written singular ends in -um, while the plural has -ane; this comparison describes this pair rather than a general plural-building rule.
In ordinary Kano cardinal counting, one person takes the singular noun. Counts above one generally take the plural because people are animate. Nawa? ‘how many?’ follows the noun and observes the same general pattern. Completed-action statements contrast singular ya with plural sun. Plural reference also uses continuative suna and demonstrative waɗannan ‘these’. The word ‘generally’ matters: the references do not justify condemning every singular animate counting form, and the supplied FSI excerpt itself contains such a form.
Examples (3)
- Mutum ɗaya ya zo.
One person came.
The singular count takes singular subject marking.
- Mutane huɗu sun zo.
Four people came.
This ordinary animate count uses mutane and plural sun.
- Waɗannan mutane suna aiki.
These people are working.
The demonstrative and continuative marking are plural.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize inherited demonstrative and plural clause agreement and post-noun counting before using the person/people lexical pair.
- Learning Singular and Plural Together
Recognize inherited demonstrative and plural clause agreement and post-noun counting before using the person/people lexical pair.
Level 2 - Counting Nouns
Recognize inherited demonstrative and plural clause agreement and post-noun counting before using the person/people lexical pair.
Level 1
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice mutum / mutane in Bubblegum
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