In Inuktut, we use different endings to distinguish between the singular (one of something), the dual (two of something) and the plural (3+ of something):
| illuk |
one house |
| illok |
(two) houses |
| illuit |
(3+) houses |
You can often recognize the
dual form of a noun becuase the last vowel sound in the word is a long vowel:
| titigutik / allautik |
(one) pen |
| titigutek / allautek |
two pens |
| |
|
| fonnik |
one phone |
| fonnek |
two phones |
| |
|
| Kagitaujak |
computer |
| Kagitaujâk |
two computers |
If the last vowel sound in a word is a double vowel or a vowel combination, it is not always easy to distinguish the singular from the dual. In this case, you have to rely on the context of the conversation:
| ukkuak |
one door |
| ukkuak |
two doors |
| |
|
| sâk |
one table |
| sâk |
two tables |