While English only has plural and singular forms of nouns, Arabic also has the dual form to denote two of something. Adjectives that describe a dual noun will also be in dual form.

Forming dual nouns

To form a dual noun, a suffix is added:

انِ (-ani) or ينِ (ayni)

The انِ (-ani) suffix is used for nouns (and adjectives) in the nominative case, that is when the noun is the subject of the sentence.

For example:

• كنابانِ (kitabani) - two books
• طلفانِ (tilfani) - two kids

Note that in casual speech (colloquial), the final kasra is usually not pronounced.

A different suffix (ينِ or “-ayni”) is used for words that are in the accusative (object of the sentence) or genitive (object of a preposition) case.

For example:

• أكلتُ تفاحينِ (akaltu tufaahayni) - I ate two apples.
• في كتابينِ (fi kitabayni) - in two books

When a word ends in a ta marbuta, the ta marbuta is becomes a ت (”ta”).