mu / ku / su

Independent Plural Pronouns

Level 1

Mu, ku, su identify the speaker's group, the addressed group and another group.

How It Works

Independent plural pronouns do not distinguish masculine and feminine groups. They occur in identification, after appropriate prepositions, and after babu. Basic plural identification takes ne.

Mu abokan Musa ne identifies the speaker's group as Musa's friends. In Maryam ta zo da mu, independent mu instead means “with us”. Compare Mu ɗalibai ne “We are students” with Mun shiga ɗaki “We entered a room”: mun includes completive marking.

Ku can address one person respectfully in particular relationships. The supplied social study documents plural address in some family and in-law relationships, influenced by age, status and role. It does not establish an automatic formal pronoun for every elder. Interpret respectful address within the relationship and follow the grammar associated with the chosen plural form.

Examples (4)

  1. Mu abokan Musa ne.

    We are Musa's friends.

    Mu identifies the speaker's group.

  2. Ku ɗalibai ne a wannan makaranta.

    You are students at this school.

    Ku addresses several listeners here.

  3. Su malamai ne a Kano.

    They are teachers in Kano.

    Su identifies another group.

  4. Maryam ta zo da mu.

    Maryam came with us.

    Independent mu follows da.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mu / ku / suLevel 1Independent Plural Pronouns

Learn This First

Extend independent reference from one participant to groups and socially respectful address. In Mu abokan Musa ne, abokan Musa means Musa’s male friends: the plural head uses linked abokan before Musa, whose gender does not determine the linker.

Words in This Pattern

mukusu