Pluralizing Nouns Ending in Vowels
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To make most Amharic nouns ending in a vowel plural, simply add the suffix '-och' to the end of the word.
- Add '-och' to nouns ending in a vowel: 'wusha' (dog) becomes 'wushaoch' (dogs).
- If the noun ends in a consonant, the rule changes slightly to '-och' or '-woch'.
- The suffix '-och' is the most common way to indicate plurality for animate and inanimate objects.
Pluralization Table
| Singular | Ending | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
doro
|
o
|
doro-och
|
chickens
|
|
wusha
|
a
|
wusha-och
|
dogs
|
|
buna
|
a
|
buna-och
|
coffees
|
|
fere
|
e
|
fere-och
|
fruits
|
|
tiru
|
u
|
tiru-och
|
good ones
|
|
kulu
|
u
|
kulu-och
|
balls
|
Meanings
The process of changing a singular noun into a plural form by appending a specific suffix.
Standard Plural
Indicates more than one of a specific noun.
“wushaoch”
“doro-och”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + och
|
doro-och
|
|
Negative
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Question
|
Noun + och + wey?
|
doro-och wey?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Noun + och
|
doro-och
|
Espectro de formalidad
doro-ochu betu achu. (Daily life)
doro-ochu mettu. (Daily life)
doro-ochu. (Daily life)
doro-och! (Daily life)
Pluralization Map
Add Suffix
- och plural marker
Ejemplos por nivel
doro-och
chickens
wusha-och
dogs
bet-och
houses
gasha-och
shields
inji-och
hands
fere-och
fruits
kulu-och
balls
buna-och
coffees
tiru-och
good ones
hulu-och
all things
sere-och
roots
kene-och
days
mulu-och
full ones
sere-och
theories
zere-och
seeds
fere-och
results
kene-och
eras
tiru-och
virtues
sere-och
foundations
fere-och
outcomes
hulu-och
totality
sere-och
origins
kene-och
chronicles
tiru-och
exemplars
Fácil de confundir
Learners mix up -och and -woch.
Errores comunes
doro-s
doro-och
wusha-och-och
wusha-och
doro-woch
doro-och
wusha-s
wusha-och
fere-s
fere-och
buna-s
buna-och
tiru-s
tiru-och
kulu-s
kulu-och
doro-och-och
doro-och
wusha-woch
wusha-och
buna-woch
buna-och
fere-woch
fere-och
kulu-woch
kulu-och
Patrones de oraciones
___-och alu.
Real World Usage
doro-och
Consistency
Smart Tips
Check the last letter.
Pronunciación
Suffix stress
The stress usually falls on the suffix.
Rising
doro-och?
Questioning if there are chickens.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of an 'Och' as an 'Ouch'—when you have too many things, it hurts!
Asociación visual
Imagine a single chicken (doro) suddenly splitting into many chickens (doro-och) with a loud 'Och' sound.
Rhyme
When the word ends in a vowel sound, just add och and look around.
Story
I went to the market. I saw one chicken (doro). Then I saw many chickens (doro-och). I bought them all.
Word Web
Desafío
Find 5 things in your room ending in a vowel and turn them plural in 5 minutes.
Notas culturales
Pluralization is used frequently in markets.
Semitic root system.
Inicios de conversación
How many chickens?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
doro + och = ___
Score: /1
Ejercicios de practica
1 exercisesdoro + och = ___
Score: /1
Preguntas frecuentes (1)
For vowel-ending nouns, yes.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
-s/-es
Suffix type.
-s
Suffix type.
-e/-er/-en
Complexity.
tachi
Grammar type.
broken plurals
Regularity.
men
Morphology.
