Nouns With No Plural Ending

Level 1

No -s. Add a number, ọtụtụ or ndị to show how many.

How It Works

Igbo nouns do not change for number.

Way	Example	Meaning
number	akwụkwọ atọ	three books
many	ọtụtụ akwụkwọ	many books
people	ndị enyi	friends

The same word akwụkwọ is one book, a book, or books. Context decides. Some nouns have a separate group word, such as ụmụ for children,. Verbs do not change for number either.

When translating from English, do not worry about the plural “s”: pick the number word that fits.

Examples (4)

akwụkwọ atọ
three books
The number follows the noun.
ọtụtụ akwụkwọ
many books
Ọtụtụ comes first.
ndị enyi
friends
Ndị marks a group of people.
ọtụtụ nri
a lot of food
Ọtụtụ also works with food.

How It Connects

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

Nouns With No Plural EndingLevel 1

Learn This First

A number shows how many when the noun does not change, so the numbers come first.

Counting to Ten
Know the numbers to ten, because a number shows how many when the noun does not change: akwụkwọ atọ “three books”.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Thing and Person: ihe, mmadụThing and PersonLevel 1

Words in This Pattern

ọtụtụatọakwụkwọ

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