Adjectives: Dual

01

Forming the Dual Adjective: Nominative Case

When the dual noun is the subject of the sentence (Nominative case), the adjective takes the suffix ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-ānị-āni-āni-an). This is added to the end of the singular masculine adjective.

If the adjective is feminine and ends in a ⁧ة⁩ (tāʼ mạrbūṭạẗtāʾ marbūṭahtāˈ marbuwṭaẗtaʼ mrbwṭẗ), this letter changes to a regular ⁧⁧ت⁩⁩ (tāʼtāʾtāˈtaʼ) before adding the dual suffix.

• Masculine: Add ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-ānị-āni-āni-an).
• Feminine: Change ⁧ة⁩ (tāʼ mạrbūṭạẗtāʾ marbūṭahtāˈ marbuwṭaẗtaʼ mrbwṭẗ)< to ⁧⁧ت⁩⁩ (tāʼtāʾtāˈtaʼ), then add ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-ānị-āni-āni-an).

• ⁧هَذَانِ طَالِبَانِ ذَكِيَّانِ.⁩

  hạḏānị ṭālịbānị ḏạkịyyānị.had͟hāni ṭālibāni d͟hakiyyāni.haḏāni ṭālibāni ḏakiyyāni.hḏan ṭalban ḏkyan.

  These are two smart students (m).

• ⁧هَاتَانِ طَالِبَتَانِ ذَكِيَّتَانِ.⁩

  hātānị ṭālịbạtānị ḏạkịyyạtānị.hātāni ṭālibatāni d͟hakiyyatāni.hātāni ṭālibatāni ḏakiyyatāni.hatan ṭalbtan ḏkytan.

  These are two smart students (f).

02

Forming the Dual Adjective: Accusative and Genitive Cases

When the dual noun is the object of a verb (Accusative) or follows a preposition (Genitive), the ending changes. Instead of ⁧⁧ـَانِ⁩⁩ (-ānị-āni-āni-an), the adjective takes the suffix ⁧⁧ـَيْنِ⁩⁩ (-ạynị-ayni-ayni-yn).

The pronunciation changes from a long "a" sound to a diphthong "ay" sound.

• ⁧قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَيْنِ جَدِيدَيْنِ.⁩

  qạrạʼtụ kịtābạynị jạdīdạynị.qaraʾtu kitābayni d͟jadīdayni.qaraˈtu kitābayni ǧadiydayni.qrʼt ktabyn jdydyn.

  I read two new books.

• ⁧تَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَ مُهَنْدِسَيْنِ مَاهِرَيْنِ.⁩

  tạkạllạmtụ mạʕạ mụhạndịsạynị māhịrạynị.takallamtu maʿa muhandisayni māhirayni.takallamtu maʿa muhandisayni māhirayni.tklmt mʕ mhndsyn mahryn.

  I spoke with two skilled engineers.

03

Agreement in Definiteness

The adjective must also match the noun in definiteness. If the noun has the definite article ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-) - the, the dual adjective must also have ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-). If the noun is indefinite, the adjective remains indefinite.

• Indefinite: Noun and adjective have no ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-).
• Definite: Noun and adjective both have ⁧⁧ال⁩⁩ (al-al-ʾal-al-).

• ⁧رَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ الطَّوِيلَيْنِ.⁩

  rạʼạytụ ᵃrrạjụlạynị ᵃṭṭạwīlạynị.raʾaytu ᵃrrad͟julayni ᵃṭṭawīlayni.raˈaytu ᵃrraǧulayni ᵃṭṭawiylayni.rˈayt ᵃrjlyn ᵃṭwylyn.

  I saw the two tall men.

• ⁧عِنْدِي قَلَمَانِ صَغِيرَانِ.⁩

  ʕịndī qạlạmānị ṣạḡīrānị.ʿindī qalamāni ṣag͟hīrāni.ʿindiy qalamāni ṣaġiyrāni.ʕndy qlman ṣḡyran.

  I have two small pens.

04

Non-Human Duals

There is a special rule in Arabic for non-human plurals (3+ items), which usually take singular feminine adjectives. However, this rule does not apply to the dual.

If you are describing exactly two non-human objects (like two cars, two books, or two houses), you must use the full dual adjective, not the singular feminine.

• ⁧اِشْتَرَيْتُ سَيَّارَتَيْنِ كَبِيرَتَيْنِ.⁩

  ištạrạytụ sạyyārạtạynị kạbīrạtạynị.is͟htaraytu sayyāratayni kabīratayni.ištaraytu sayyāratayni kabiyratayni.ištryt syartyn kbyrtyn.

  I bought two big cars.

• ⁧اَلْبَيْتَانِ قَدِيمَانِ.⁩

  albạytānị qạdīmānị.albaytāni qadīmāni.ʾalbaytāni qadiymāni.albytan qdyman.

  The two houses are old.