N- (Plural)

Plurals with a Nasal Prefix

Level 1

Plural = nasal + noun: abofra → mmofra (children), akokɔ → nkokɔ (chickens), dua → nnua (trees).

How It Works

Two ways the nasal attaches

  • It replaces a-: akokɔ → nkokɔ (chickens), afe → mfe (years), adaka → nnaka (boxes).
  • It is added to a noun with no prefix: dua → nnua (trees), kraman → nkraman (dogs), safoa → nsafoa (keys).

How to spell it
The nasal is written m before b, f, m and p, and n before other sounds: mfe, nkokɔ, nsafoa.
Two sounds change after it. B becomes m and d becomes n, so you get a double letter:

  • aboa → mmoa (animals), abofra → mmofra (children)
  • dua → nnua (trees), adaka → nnaka (boxes)

Negative verbs show the same change: see nasal mutation after N-.

When to use the plural
Use it for more than one, including after numbers and words like pii (many): nkokɔ mmiɛnsa (three chickens), mmoa pii (many animals). Words for things you do not count, such as nsuo (water) and sika (money), have no plural. Nouns that already start with a nasal stay the same: nwoma (book, books).

Other plural patterns
Many nouns that start with ɔ- or ɛ- take a- instead. Some person nouns with ɔ- take the nasal too: see ɔ- nouns with N- plural.

Examples (6)

  1. Mmofra no redi agorɔ.

    The children are playing.

    Word by Word: children the are-eating play

    Abofra (child) becomes mmofra: the a- goes and b turns into m.

  2. Nnua pii wɔ ha.

    There are many trees here.

    Word by Word: trees many are-at here

    Dua (tree) has no prefix, so the nasal is added and d turns into n.

  3. Nkokɔ no redidi.

    The chickens are eating.

    Word by Word: chickens the are-eating

  4. Mmoa no wɔ wuram.

    The animals are in the forest.

    Word by Word: animals the are-at forest-in

  5. Nsafoa no wɔ he?

    Where are the keys?

    Word by Word: keys the are-at where

    Safoa (key) takes n- before s.

  6. Madi mfe du.

    I am ten years old.

    Word by Word: I-have-eaten years ten

    Afe (year) becomes mfe, written with m because f follows.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the nasal but keeping b or d.

    Mboa no wɔ wuram.
    Mmoa no wɔ wuram.

    After the nasal, b turns into m: aboa → mmoa. In the same way d turns into n: dua → nnua.

  • Keeping the singular with a word for many.

    Aboa pii wɔ wuram.
    Mmoa pii wɔ wuram.

    Pii (many) and numbers above one go with the plural form: mmoa pii.

How It Connects

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

N- (Plural)Level 1Plurals with a Nasal Prefix

Learn This First

The nasal plural uses syllabic m and n.