dual

THE DUAL

Talking about two of something

In English, when we want to talk about more than one of something, we usually add an s to the end of a noun:

one door two doors three doors

In Inuktitut, we use different endings to distinguish between two of something and more than two of something:

matu matuuk matuit
one door
 (two) doors (three) doors
The dual form is used to talk about two of a particular object. You can recognize the dual form as any noun that ends in a double vowel, followed by a k.

saak uqaalautiik illuuk
(two) tables (two) telephones
 (two) buildings

 

Here's some instructions on changing a noun from its singular form to the dual:

  • if the object ends in a vowel, double the last vowel and add k:
nuvuja nuvujaak
cloud (two) clouds

  • if the object ends in a t, add the ending iik:
paippaamuurijjut paippaamuurijjutiik
printer (two) printers
  • if it ends in any consonant other than t, delete the last consonant, double the last vowel, and add k:
kamik kamiik
traditional boot (two) traditional boots
   
nasaq nasaak
hat (two) hats
   
qarasaujaq qarasaujaak
computer (two) computers


remember: that in Inuktitut, you almost never put together more than two vowels in a row. So if you drop the final consonant and find you already have two vowels, just add k:

luuktaaq luuktaak
doctor (two) doctors
   
nunannguaq nunannguak
map (two) maps