Grammar » 17 » The Plural
In Inuktut, the plural is used to talk about more than two of any noun:
inuk |
person |
inuit |
people (3+) |
The plural form always ends in -t. Depending on the speaker, the plural ending used may be -it or just -t:
ilisaiji |
teacher |
ilisaijit / ilisaijit |
teachers (3+) |
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itsivautaq |
chair |
itsivautat / itsivautait |
chairs (3+) |
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iqaluk |
fish |
iqalut / iqaluit |
fish (3+) |
In nouns where the last vowel sound is a long vowel or a double vowel, the plural is formed by replacing the last consonant sound (if there is one) with -t:
uqaaluutiralaaq |
cell phone |
uqaaluutiralaat |
cell phones (3+) |
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umiaq |
boat |
umiat |
boats (3+) |
With nouns that end in -t, the ending -it or -iit is added directly to the end of the word to form the plural:
angut |
man |
angutit / angutiit |
men (3+) |
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uqaalaut |
phone |
uqaalautit / uqaalautiit |
phones (3+) |
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titiraut |
pen |
titirautit / titirautiit |
pens (3+) |