The Dinka Noun: Singular and Plural

Like in other languages the noun in Dinka can be regular or irregular. Some that cannot be easily predicted, you just have to get used to;) The regular ones involve prolonging or shortening of a vowel sound (or leaving it the same except for a change in pronunciation). For non-Dinka learners, most of the Dinka alphabet are pronounced as Latin.

• Regular Nouns:

Singular ------------------------------------------------------ Plural

Tim tree-------------------------------------------Tiim trees

Alath cloth-----------------------------------------Aläth clothes

Piny land/earth-----------------------------------Piiny lands

Thom guitar----------------------------------------Thoom guitars

Akɔɔn elephant-------------------------------------Akön elephants

Akɔl Day/Sun-------------------------------------Aköl days

Kɔmpiööta computer------------------------------Kɔmpiöötaai computers

• Irregular Nouns:

Singular -----------------------------------------------------Plural

Raan person-------------------------------------------Kɔc persons/people

Dhuk/dhɔk boy---------------------------------------Dhuɔk/dhak boys

Nya girl------------------------------------------------Nyïïr girls

Weŋ/woŋ cow ---------------------------------------ɣɔk/wɛɛŋ cows/herds of cows

Adiit metal or iron-----------------------------------Adir metals

Tik woman--------------------------------------------Diäär/Diɔɔr women

Moc Man-----------------------------------------------Röör men




I will next look at the verb and how the nouns connect to each other...