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Nouns and Phrases

Nominal Predicates

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Predicates in Beja are the last part of a sentence. Nominal predicates are used to identify or describe things, and they employ nominal words like nouns or adjectives, as in 'Ali is a teacher' or 'Ali is strong'.

Greeting People

How are you?

<128>

In the next set of greetings, adjectives like 'fine, happy', etc. are used to ask about someone's well-being. Beja adjectives behave very much like nouns. Therefore 'I am happy' might also be translated as 'I am a happy (one).'

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These nominal predicates have different endings, depending on the number, gender, and person of the subject: The -u is typical for Singular and the -a for Plural. Likewise, the -t is typical for Feminine and the -b for Masculine gender - as the table shows. Note that the -b will only be attached if the word ends in a vowel, as in daayii -b-u 'good-he-is'. If the word already ends in a consonant, the -b will not be attached. This is true for the entire noun system.

Table 10: First and Second Person

Sg:

(akraa-) -(b)u / -tu

I (M) / (F) (I'm fine)

أكرا بُ / تُ

(akraa-) -(b)wa / -tuwi

You (M) / (F) (you are fine)

أكرا بوه / تُوے

Pl:

(akraa-) -(b)a

We (are fine)

أكرا به

(akraa-) -(b)aana

You (Pl) (you are fine)

أكرا بانه
How are you (M)? (Addressed to, and answered by, a male)

Akraawa?

Are you (M) strong?

أكراو أ?

Akraabu.

I am strong.

أكرابُ.

Dabaaywa?

Are you (M) OK?

دَبايوه?

Dabaayu.

I am OK.

دَبايُ.

Kwatiibwa?

Are you (M) well?

كْوَتٍيبوه?

Kwatiibu.

I am well.

كْوَتٍيبُ.

Libaabiiwa?

Are you (M) happy?

لِبابٍيوه?

Libaabiibu.

I am happy.

لِبابٍيبُ.

Aafiimaawa?

Are you (M) healthy?

آفٍيماوه?

Aafiimaabu.

I am healthy.

آفٍيمابُ.

<130>

Note that several of these greetings may be used in a row.

How are you (F)? (Addressed to, and answered by, a female)

Akraatuwi?

Are you (F) strong?

أكراتُوے?

Akraatu.

I (F) am strong.

أكراتُ.

Dabaaytuwi?

Are you (F) OK?

دَبايتُوے?

Dabaaytu.

I (F) am OK.

دَبايتُ.

Kwatiituwi?

Are you well?

كْوَتٍيتُوے?

Kwatiitu.

I (F) am well.

كْوَتٍيتُ.

Libaabiituwi?

Are you (F) happy?

لِبابٍيتُوے?

Libaabiitu.

I (F) am happy.

لِبابٍيتُ.

Aafiimaatuwi?

Are you (F) healthy?

آفٍيماتُوے?

Aafiimaatu.

I am healthy.

آفٍيماتُ.
How are you (Pl)? (Addressed to, and answered by several people)

Akraabaana?

Are you (Pl) strong?

أكرابانه?

Akraaba.

We are strong.

أكرابه.

Dabaayaana?

Are you (Pl) OK?

دَبايانه?

Dabaaya.

We are OK.

دَبايه.

Kwatiibaana?

Are you (Pl M) well?

كْوَتٍيبانه?

Kwatiiba.

We are well.

كْوَتٍيبه.

Libaabiibaana?

Are you (Pl) happy?

لِبابٍيبانه?

Libaabiiba.

We are happy.

لِبابٍيبه.

Aafiimaabaana?

Are you (Pl) healthy?

آفٍيمابانه?

Aafiimaaba.

We are healthy.

آفٍيمابه.
Conversation 1: 'A Visitor' (Examples of Interjections and Greetings)

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A: the host, B: the visitor

#1

A: Aabwa?

aab-wa

A: Who are you (M)?

whoObjM-IdSg2M

#2

B: Ani Aliibu.

ani aliib-u

B: I am Ali.

Sg1 Ali-IdSg13M

#3

A: Anaa sanu! Yaa marhaba, yaa marhaba.

anaa san-u yaa marhaba yaa marhaba

A: My brother! Hello, hello.

hey brother-PossSg1 hello hello hello hello

#4

Eetaaneena!

ee-taan-ee-na

Welcome (Lit you (Pl) come)!

come-PerfPl2-WH-thing

#5

B: Tisniyeena!

ti-sni-yee-na

B: Good to await me (Lit you (Pl) await)!

PerfSg2MPf-stay-PerfSg2M-WH-thing

#6

A: Suur baya! Ma'aahoon!

suur bay-a ma'-aa-hoon

A: Go ahead! Come to us!

before go-ImpvM come-ImpvM-ObjPl1

#7

Shuumaa!

shuum-aa

Come in!

enter-ImpvM

#8

B: Daayiitu.

daayiit-u

B: Good.

good-IdSg13F

#9

A: Sa'a!

sa'-a

A: Sit down!

sit-ImpvM

#10

Oon'oomhiin sa'a!

oon-'oo-mhiin sa'-a

Sit down here!

NearSgMObjPf-ArtSgMObj-place sit-ImpvM

#11

B: Daayiitu.

daayiit-u

B: Good.

good-IdSg13F

#12

A: Dabaaywa?

dabaay-wa

A: Are you (M) OK?

well-IdSg2M

#13

B: Dabaayu.

dabaay-u

B: I am OK.

well-IdSg13M

#14

Batuukehan dabaaytuwi?

batuuk-ehan dabaayt-uwi

What about you, are you (F) OK?

Sg2F-also well-IdSg2F

#15

A: Ani daayiitu. Baruuk libaabiiwa?

A: ani daayiit-u baruuk libaabii-wa

A: I am fine (F). Are you (M) happy?

Sg1 good-IdSg13F Sg2M happy-IdSg2M

#16

B: Gwirhaab kaabaru,

gwirhaab kaa-baru

B: I don't have any trouble,

problem NegImpfSg1Pf-have

#17

batuukehan libaabiituwi?

batuuk-ehan libaabiit-uwi

are you (F) also happy?

Sg2F-also happy-IdSg2F

#18

A: Ani daayiit iha.

ani daayiit iha

A: I am fine (good).

Sg1 good PerfSg1Pf-be

#19

Naan gw'ata?

naan gw'-ata

What do you want to drink?

what drink-SubM

#20

Shaahiib gw'atahan, hana jabanaat [5]?

shaahiib gw'-ata-han hana jabanaat

Do you want to drink some tea, or coffee?

tea drink-SubM-also or coffee.pot

#21

B: Naat gw'i kaadi.

naat gw'-i kaa-di

B: I won't drink anything.

thing drink-FutSg NegImpfSg1Pf-say

#22

Dawil door buun gw'aabu.

dawil door buun gw'-aab-u

I just drank coffee.

closeness time coffee drink-PtcpPast-IdSg13M

#23

Laakiin, anaa kwaatu, yam gw'asiiheeb!

laakiin anaa kwaat-u yam gw'as-ii-heeb

But, my sister, give (F) me (some) water!

but hey sister-PossSg1 water let.drink-ImpvF-ObjSg1

#24

A: Daayiitu. Yihaa!

daayiit-u yiha-a

A: Fine. Take (M)!

good-IdSg13F take-ImpvM

#25

B: Ahamidehook. Uusheek keeya?

a-hamid-ehook uusheek kee-ya

B: Thank you. Where is Oosheek?

PerfSg1Pf-praise-ObjSg2 Oosheek be.where-PerfSg3M

#26

A: Ushanhooh abaayu.

A: u-shanh-ooh abaay-u

A: He has gone (went) to his work.

ArtSgM-work-PossSg3 go-PtcpPast-IdSg13M

#27

B: Naadoor eeyiini?

naadoor ee-yiini

B: When does he (usually) come?

what.time come-ImpfSg3M

#28

A: Nabhoob eeyiini.

nabhoob ee-yiini

A: He comes in the afternoon.

afternoon come-ImpfSg3M

#29

Haalooku?

haal-ook-u

What is the (your) matter?

condition-PossSg2-IdSg13M

#30

B: Dibiloot halaagaay hooy abari.

dibiloot halaagaay hooy a-bari

B: I have a little request for him.

small business for PerfSg1Pf-have

#31

A: Hagita! Dawil door y'i indi.

hagit-a dawil door y'-i i-ndi

A: Wait! He will come soon.

wait-ImpvM closeness time come-FutSg ImpfSg3MPf-say

#32

B: Oond'aab, ani shawaay kaaki.

oond'aab ani shawaay kaa-ki

B: (Right) now, I am not free.

this.time Sg1 free NegImpfSg1Pf-be

#33

Ashshigani.

ashshig-ani

I'm in a hurry.

hurry-ImpfSg1

#34

Laakiin weer door y'i andi.

laakiin weer door y'-i a-ndi

But (some) other time I will come.

but other time come-FutSg ImpfSg1Pf-say

#35

A: Ba'ashshigaa! Hooy baashinhaya!

ba-'ashshig-aa hooy baa-shinha-ya

A: Don't (M) hurry! Don't worry about it!

NegImpvMPf-hurry-NegImpvM at NegImpvMPf-worry-NegImpvM

#36

Sooyi andi.

sooy-i a-ndi

I will inform him.

tell-FutSg ImpfSg1Pf-say

#37

B: Daayiitu.

daayiit-u

B: That is good.

good-IdSg13F

#38

L'aab aayimi!

l'-aab aayim-i

Have (F) a good (Lit cool) day!

be.cool-PtcpPast spend.day-ImpvF

#39

A: Asigaab! L'aab aayima!

asigaab l'-aab aayim-a

A: The same to you! Have (M) a good day!

peaceful be.cool-PtcpPast spend.day-ImpvM

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١ أ آبوه? ٢ أنے ألٍيبُ. ٣ أنا سَنُ! يا مَرهَبَ, يا مَرهَبه. ٤ێتانێنه! ٥تِسنِيێنه! ٦سٌور بَيه! مَآهۆن! ٧شٌوما! ٨دايٍيتُ. ٩سَأه! ١٠ ۆنؤۆمهٍين سَأه! ١١ دايٍيتُ. ١٢ دَبايوه? ١٣ دَبايُ. ١٤ بَتٌوكهَن دَبايتُوے? ١٥ أنے دايٍيتُ. بَرٌوك لِبابٍيوه? ١٦ قْوِرهاب كابَرُ, ١٧ بَتٌوكهَن لِبابٍيتُوے? ١٨ أنے دايٍيت إهه. ١٩ نان قْوأَته? ٢٠ شاهٍيب قْوأَتَهَن, هَنه جَبَنات? ٢١ نات قْوإِ كادے. ٢٢ دَوِل دۆر بٌون قْوآبُ. ٢٣ لاكٍين, أنا كْواتُ, يَم قْوأَسٍيهێب! ٢٤ دايٍيتُ. يِها! ٢٥ أهَمِدهۆك.أُو شێك كێيه? ٢٦ أُشَنهۆه أبايُ. ٢٧ نادۆر ێيٍينے? ٢٨ نَبهۆب ێيٍينے. ٢٩ هالۆكُ? ٣٠ دِبِلۆت هَلاقاي هۆي أبَرے. ٣١ هَقِته! دَوِل دۆر يِإِ إندے. ٣٢ ۆندآب, أنے شَواي كاكے. ٣٣ أششِقَنے. ٣٤ لاكٍين وێر دۆر يِإِ أندے. ٣٥ بَأَششِقا! هۆي باشِنهَيه! ٣٦ سۆيے أندے. ٣٧ دايٍيتُ. ٣٨ لآب آيِمے! ٣٩ أسِقاب! لآب آيِمه!

Who is it? Copula

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To identify people or things, words like 'Who?' and 'What' are used together with a copula like the English word 'is'. The answers will be identification clauses where names, nouns, or pronouns are used, such as 'It is Ali.' 'It is me' or 'We are guests.'

<134>

The endings which identify things have already been introduced with the adjectives (above). They are not only used for adjectives, but for all nominals (nouns, pronouns, names, adjectives, numerals). Two genders (M / (F) are distinguished, and two numbers (Sg / (Pl).

<135>

When people or things are named or listed or identified, Beja uses the Object case. This is common in Cushitic languages, but strange for Indo-European languages. So the identifying suffixes -(b)u, -(t)u, -(b)wa, -tuwi etc. (see the table above) can only be attached to words which are in the Object case.

<136>

There is an additional condition here: The Object case requires that a word ends in a consonant. So if a masculine name or noun doesn't already end in a consonant, the consonant -b must be attached. Therefore a person called Ali- will identify himself as Alii-b-u 'I am Ali'.

<137>

The same condition applies with feminine words: The Object case requires a consonant at the end of the word. But to a feminine name and noun - whether it already ends in a consonant or not - the consonant -t must always be attached. Therefore a person called Haliima or Zaynab will identify herself as Haliimaab-t-u, or Zaynab-t-u 'I am Halima', 'I am Zaynab'.

Interrogative Pronouns

<138>

Beja has question pronouns for as many as 10 or 12 persons, from 'I' to 'they'. But in real life, only some of them are used frequently: Aabu, aabtu? 'Who is it (M) / (F)?' and Aaba, aabta? 'Who are they (M) / (F)?'

Table 11: Interrogative Pronouns

Aabu?

Who am I (M)?

آبُ?

Aabtu?

Who am I (F)?

آبتُ?

Aabuwa?, aabwa?, aawwa?

Who are you (M)?

آبوه, آوّه?

Aabtuwi?

Who are you (F)?

آبتُوے?

Aabu?

Who (Lit whom (M)) is he?

آبُ?

Aabtu?

Who (Lit whom (F)) is she?

آبتُ?

Aaba?

Who are we?

آبه?

Aabaana?

Who are you (Pl M)?

آبانه?

Aaba?

Who (Lit whom) are they (M)?

آبه?

Aabta?

Who (Lit whom) are they (F)?

آبته?
Interrogative Pronouns and Names

Aabu? / Aliibu.

Who is it (M)? / It is Ali.

آبُ?/ ألٍيبُ.

Aabtu? / Zaynabtu.

Who is it (F)? / It is Zaynab.

آبتُ?/ زَينَبتُ.

Aaba? / Aliiwwa Hasanwaaya.

Who are they (M)? / They are Ali and Hassan.

آبه?/ ألٍيوّه هَسَنوايه.

Aabta? / Zaynabwa Haliimaabwaata. [6]

Who are they (F)? / They are Zaynab and Halima.

آبته?/ زَينَبوه هَلٍيمابواته.*
It is me / you

Aabu? / aabtu?

Who (Lit whom) is it? (M) / (F)

آبُ? / آبتُ?

Aneebu, aneebu.

It is me (M Obj).

أنێبُ.

Aneebtu.

It is me (F Obj).

أنێبتُ.

Barooku.

It is you (M Obj).

بَرۆكُ.

Batooktu.

It is you (F Obj).

بَتۆكتُ.

Baroohu.

It is him.

بَرۆهُ.

Batoohtu.

It is her.

بَتۆهتُ.

Aaba? / aabta?

Who (Lit whom) are they? (M) / (F)

آبه?/ آبته?

Hinina, hinina.

It is us.

هِنِنه.

Bareeknaaya.

It is you (Pl M Obj).

بَرێكنايه.

Bateeknaata.

It is you (Pl F Obj).

بَتێكناته.

Bareeh(naay)a.

It is them (M Obj).

بَرێهنايه.

Bateeh(naa)ta.

It is them (F Obj).

بَتێهناته.

Identifying Things

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Many nominal predicates have the form of equations like A = B, where the second part is a noun, as in 'Ali is a teacher'.

What is it?

<140>

To identify things or to ask about things - like 'What is it?' - the numbers (Sg) and (Pl) need to be distinguished:

Interrogative Pronouns

Naa naatu?

What (thing) is it? (Sg)

نا ناتُ?

Naa naata?

What (things) are they? (Pl)

نا ناته?
Identifying Days 1

Amsi naa b'eeyu?

What day is it today?

أمسے نا بئێيُ?

Amsi hattu, hadtu.

Today it is Sunday (Lit first day).

أمسے هَتُّ ; هَدتُ.

Amsi litneentu.

Today is Monday.

أمسے لِتنێنتُ.

Amsi talataatu.

Today is Tuesday.

أمسے تَلَتاتُ.

Amsi arb'aatu.

Today is Wednesday.

أمسے أربآتُ.

Amsi khamiistu, hamiistu

Today is Thursday.

أمسے خَمٍيستُ, هَمٍيستُ

Amsi jim'aatu, jum'aatu.

Today is Friday.

أمسے جِمآتُ.

Amsi sabtu, subtu

Today is Saturday.

أمسے سَبتُ, سُبتُ
Identifying Days 2

Iru bitkaayt naa b'eeyu?

What day was the day before yesterday?

إرُ بِتكايت نا بئێيُ?

Iru bitkaayt jim'aatu.

The day before yesterday was Friday.

إرُ بِتكايت جِمآتُ.

Iru naa b'eeyu?

What day was yesterday?

إرُ نا بئێيُ?

Iru sabtu.

Yesterday was Saturday.

إرُ سَبتُ.

Amsi naa b'eeyu?

What day is it today?

أمسے نا بئێيُ?

Amsi hattu.

Today is Sunday.

أمسے هَتُّ.

Lhayt naa b'eeyu?

What day is it tomorrow?

لهَيت نا بئێيُ?

Lhayt litneentu.

Tomorrow is Monday.

لهَيت لِتنێنتُ.

Lhayt baakaayt naa b'eeyu?

What day is it after tomorrow?

لهَيت باكايت نا بئێيُ?

Lhayt baakaayt talataatu.

The day after tomorrow is Tuesday.

لهَيت باكايت تَلَتاتُ.
Plural Formation of Nouns
Plural of Nouns 1

<141>

Beja has various ways of forming the plural of a noun. The most common ones will be presented first.

<142>

The first, straightforward way is to attach the plural suffix -a (it is -ya after vowels).

Examples

gaw / gawa

house / houses

قَو / قَوه

galam / galama

pen / pens

قَلَم / قَلَمه

kwursi / kwursiiya

chair / chairs

كْوُرسے / كْوُرسٍييه

<143>

Note that in Beja, word final vowels typically are short (or shortened), like a in gawa 'houses', or i in kwursi 'chair'. But when a suffix syllable is attached, these vowels will be long, like ii in kwursii-ya 'chairs'.

Examples

(Uunbaruuh) naa naatu? / Gawu.

(This), What (thing) is it? / It is a house (M).

أُونبَرٌوه نا ناتُ?قَوُ.

Naa naata? / Gawaaba.

What (things) are they? / They are houses (Pl M).

نا ناته?قَوابه.

Naa naatu? / Galamu.

What (thing) is it? / It is a pen (M).

نا ناتُ?قَلَمُ.

Naa naata? / Galamaaba.

What (things) are they? / They are pens (Pl M).

نا ناته?قَلَمابه.

Naa naatu? / Kwursiibu.

What (thing) is it? / It is a chair (M).

نا ناتُ?كْوُرسٍيبُ.

Naa naata? / Kwursiiyaaba.

What (things) are they? / They are chairs (Pl M).

نا ناته?كْوُرسٍييابه.

<144>

Like other final vowels, the plural -a, will also be long when a suffix follows - as in gaw-a / gaw-aa-ba, 'houses / they are houses', kwursii-ya / kwursii-yaa-ba 'chairs / they are chairs'.

Plural of Nouns 2

<145>

Another way of forming the plural is to shorten the last vowel of the noun.

kaam / kam

camel / camels

كام / كَم

kaamt / kamt, kamit

she-camel / she-camels

كامت / كَمت كَمِت

n'aayt / n'ayt

goat / goats

نآيت / نأَيت

hataay / hatay

horse / horses

هَتاي / هَتَي

(Uunbatuuh) naa naatu? / Kaamu.

(This,) What (thing) is it? / It is a camel.

( أُونبَتٌوه ) نا ناتُ? / كامُ.

Naa naata? / Kama.

What (things) are they? / They are camels (Pl M).

نا ناته? / كَمه.

Naa naatu? / Kaamtu.

What (thing) is it? / It is a camel (F).

نا ناتُ? / كامتُ.

Naa naata? / Kamta, kamitta.

What (things) are they? / They are camels (Pl F).

نا ناته? / كَمته, كَمِتّه.

Naa naatu? / N'aaytu.

What (thing) is it? / It is a goat (F).

نا ناتُ? / نآيتُ.

Naa naata? / N'ayta.

What (things) are they? / They are goats (Pl F).

نا ناته? / نأَيته.

Naa naatu? / Hataayu.

What (thing) is it? / It is a horse (M).

نا ناتُ? / هَتايُ.

Naa naata? / Hataya.

What (things) are they? / They are horses (Pl M).

نا ناته? / هَتَيه.
Plural of Nouns 3

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A third way of expressing the plural is to front-shift the pitch-accent, as the next examples show. All of these nouns are given in the object case.

bissaab / bissaab

cat (Sg M) / (Pl)

بِسّاب / بِسّاب

bissaat / bissaat

cat (Sg F) / (Pl)

بِسّات / بِسّات

eer'iib, eer'iib / iireeb, iireeb

eagle (Sg M) / (Pl)

ێرإيب, ێرإيب / إي رێب, إيرێب

b'ashoob / b'ashoob

fox (Sg M) / (Pl)

بأَشۆب / بأَشۆب

b'ashoot / b'ashoot

fox (Sg F) / (Pl)

بأَشۆت / بأَشۆت

hadhaab / hadhaab

lion (Sg M) / (Pl)

هَڈاب / هَڈاب

hadhaat / hadhaat

lioness (Sg F) / (Pl)

هَڈات / هَڈات

biileeb / biileeb

bag (Sg) / (Pl)

بٍيلێب / بٍيلێب

hadhiib / hadhiib

bread (Sg) / (Pl)

هَڈٍيب / هَڈٍيب

dheefaab / dheefaab

door (Sg) / (Pl)

ڈێفاب / ڈێفاب

ayeeb / ayeeb

hand (Sg) / (Pl)

أيێب / أيێب

ribaab / ribaab

mountain (Sg) / (Pl)

رِباب / رِباب

akaat / akaat

palm tree fruit (Sg) / (Pl)

أكات / أكات

gwibeeb / gwibeeb

shield (Sg) / (Pl)

قْوِبێب / قْوِبێب

aweeb / aweeb

stone (Sg) / (Pl)

أوێب / أوێب

gwharaab / gwharaab

thief (Sg) / (Pl)

قْوهَراب / قْوهَراب

hindiib / hindiib

tree, wood (Sg) / (Pl)

هِندٍيب / هِندٍيب
Plural of Nouns 4

<147>

There are words which do not use any affixes to form the plural - especially those words whose last vowel is already -a, and some loan words.

riba / riba

hill (M) / hills

رِبه / رِبه

tarabeedaat / tarabeedaat

table (F) / tables

تَرَبێدات / تَرَبێدات

<148>

The context - or something else - will take care of these (apparent) ambiguities.

Ribaabu / ribaaba.

It is a hill (M) / They are hills.

رِبابُ / رِبابه.

Tarabeedaatu / tarabeedaata.

It is a table (F) / They are tables.

َرَبێداتُ / تَرَبێداته.
Table 12: Summary of Plural Formations

Plural Formation:

Example (Sg):

Example (Pl):

1. Suffix -a

house / pen

gaw / galam

قَو / قَلَم

gawa / galama

قَوه / قَلَمه

2. Shortening of the last syllable

camel / horse

kaam / hataay

كام / هَتاي

kam / hatay

كَم / هَتَي

3. Front-Shifting of the Pitch-Accent

cat / hand

bissaab / ayeeb

بِسّاب / أيێب

bissaab / ayeeb

بِسّاب / أيێب

4. Zero Marking

hill / table

riba / tarabeezaat

رِبه / تَرَبێزات

riba / tarabeezaat

رِبه / تَرَبێزات

5. Different root

man / woman

tak / takat

تَك / تَكَت

da / M'at

ده / مأَت

6. No singular (or rarely used)

water / face

-

-

yam / Fiir

يَم / فٍير
Frequent Plural Nouns: People

<149>

The plural form of a noun is not predictable. Therefore it should always be considered an important property of the noun. Some of the most frequent irregular plurals, such as 'men', 'women', 'boys' and 'girls' have already been given in the previous sections. Here is a summary of important unpredictable plurals.

tak / da

man (Sg) / (Pl)

تَك / ده

takat / m'a

woman (Sg) / (Pl)

تَكَت / مأه

oor / ar

boy (Sg) / (Pl)

ۆر / أر

oot / arit

girl (Sg) / (Pl)

ۆت / أرِت
More Examples of Plural Forms
Plural Forms of Things

raat / rat

leaf (Sg) / (Pl)

رات / رَت

faas / fas

axe (Sg) / (Pl)

فاس / فَس

kaar / kar

hill (Sg) / (Pl)

كار / كَر

yaay / yay

rope (Sg) / (Pl)

ياي / يَي

siyaam / siyam

grass (Sg) / (Pl)

سِيام / سِيَم
Plural Forms: Animals 1

yaas / yas

dog (Sg M) / (Pl)

ياس / يَس

yaast / yast

bitch (Sg F) / (Pl)

ياست / يَست

kaam / kam

camel (Sg M) / (Pl)

كام / كَم

n'aayt / n'ayt

goat (Sg F) / (Pl)

نآيت / نأَيت

hataay / hatay

horse (Sg M) / (Pl)

هَتاي / هَتَي
Plural Forms: Animals 2

argin / arginaab

sheep (Sg M) / (Pl)

أرقِن / أرقِناب

sh'aab / sh'aab

ox (Sg M) / (Pl)

شآب / شآب

sh'aat / sh'aat

cow (Sg F) / (Pl)

شآت / شآت

meek / mak

donkey (Sg M) / (Pl)

مێك / مَك

meekt / makt

donkey (Sg F) / (Pl)

مێكت / مَكت

anoot / anoot, anut

ewe (Sg F) / (Pl)

أنۆت / أنۆت, أنُت

bissaab / bissaab

cat (Sg M) / (Pl)

بِسّاب / بِسّاب

bissaat / bissaat

cat (Sg F) / (Pl)

بِسّات / بِسّات

hadhaab / hadhaab

lion (Sg M) / (Pl)

هَڈاب / هَڈاب

hadhaat / hadhaat

lioness (Sg F) / (Pl)

هَڈات / هَڈات
Plural Forms: Body Parts 1

ayeeb / ayeeb

hand (Sg) / (Pl)

أيێب / أيێب

ginuuf / ginif

nose (Sg) / (Pl)

قِنٌوف / قِنِف

ragad / ragadaab

foot (Sg) / (Pl)

رَقَد / رَقَداب

tiikas / tiikasaab

heel (Sg) / (Pl)

تٍيكَس / تٍيكَساب

gw'aj / gw'aj

eye (Sg) / (Pl)

قْوأَج / قْوأَج

angwiil / angwil

ear (Sg) / (Pl)

أنقْوٍيل / أنقْوِل

liiliit / liiliit

pupil of the eye (Sg) / (Pl)

لٍيلٍيت / لٍيلٍيت
Plural Forms: Body Parts 2

tiibalaayt / tiibalayt

finger (Sg F) / (Pl)

تٍيبَلايت / تٍيبَلَيت

tiibalaay / tiibalay

thumb (Sg M) / (Pl)

تٍيبَلاي / تٍيبَلَي

kwireet / kwireet

tooth (Sg) / (Pl)

كْوِرێت / كْوِرێت

girma / girmaab

head (Sg) / (Pl)

قِرمه / قِرماب

gin'a / gin'aab

heart (Sg) / (Pl)

قِنأه / قِنآب

yaf / yafaab

mouth (Sg) / (Pl)

يَف / يَفاب

haaf / haf

stomach (Sg) / (Pl)

هاف / هَف
Plural Forms: Nouns without Singular

<150>

Nouns which are only used in the plural include body parts, liquids and mass nouns.

fiir

face (Pl M)

فٍير

hamoot

hair (Pl F)

هَمۆت

yam

water (and other liquids) (Pl M)

يَم

sikwkwart

sugar (and other mass nouns) (Pl F)

سِكْوكْوَرت

mhallagaab

money (Pl M)

مهَلَّقاب

Identifying People

<151>

The interrogative pronoun for identifying things is naa (naatu)? 'What?' The interrogative pronouns for identifying persons are Aaw, aab? 'Who, whom?' And as responses to these questions, Beja has a rich set of person suffixes and personal pronouns.

Person Suffixes

<152>

The answers to the question aabu 'Who is it?' use the same copula suffixes as for adjectives. Some of them (marked with *) have already been introduced in the context of greetings. Below follows the full list with all person suffixes (table 13). This should be compared with table 11.

Table 13: Person Suffixes

Sg:

-bu / -(y)u

*I (M) am

-tu

*I (F) am

-buwa / -wa

*you (M) are

-tuwi

*you (F) are

-bu / -(y)u

he is

-tu

she is

Pl:

-ba / -(y)a

we (M) are

-ta

we (F) are

-baana / -(y)aana

you (Pl M) are

-taana

you (Pl F) are

-ba / -(y)a

they (M) are

-ta

they (F) are
Subject Pronouns

<153>

Beja pronouns take case. The two cases subject case (responding to the question 'who?') and object case (responding to the question 'whom?') have already been introduced above. Beja has different interrogative pronouns for these two: The pronoun which asks for the subject case - like 'Who' in 'Who came?' - is different from the pronoun which asks for the object case - like 'Whom' in 'Who (M) did he see?'

Interrogative Pronouns

Aaw?

Who?

آو?

Aab?

Whom ?

آب?

Aaw eeya? / Baruuh eeya.

Who came? / He came.

آو ێيه? / بَرٌوه ێيه.

Aab rhiya? / Barooh rhiya.

Whom did he see? / Him he saw.

آب رهِيه? / بَرۆه رهِيه.

<154>

Here follows the full set of subject and object case independent pronouns. They are used for subjects (who) and objects (whom) respectively. Their vowels differ:

<155>

The subject case typically uses the vowels -uu (Sg) and -aa (Pl). The object case typically uses the vowels -oo (Sg) and -ee (Pl).

Table 14: Subject / Object Personal Pronouns

Sg:

ani / aneeb

I / me

أنے / أنێب

baruuk / barook

you (M Subj) / (M Obj)

بَرٌوك / بَرۆك

batuuk / batook

you (F Subj) / (F Obj)

بَتٌوك / بَتۆك

baruuh / barooh

he / him

بَرٌوه / بَرۆه

batuuh / batooh

she / her

بَتٌوه / بَتۆه

Pl:

hinin / hinin.

we / us

هِنِن / هِنِن

baraakna / bareekna.

you (Pl M Subj / (Pl M Obj)

بَراكنه / بَرێكنه

bataakna / bateekna.

you (Pl F Subj) / (Pl F Obj)

بَتاكنه / بَتێكنه

baraah / bareeh.

they / them (M)

بَراه / بَرێه

bataah / bateeh.

they / them (F)

بَتاه / بَتێه

Subject Pronouns

<156>

The first part of the following sentences also involves subject pronouns. Note that the plural forms are distinguished by pitch-accent.

Subject Pronouns and Identities

Aaw gawkinaabu?

Who is (the owner) of the house?

آو قَوكِنابُ?

Sg:

Ani gawkinaabu / gawkinaatu.

I (M) / (F) am (the owner) of the house.

أنے قَوكِنابُ / قَوكِناتُ.

Baruuk gawkinaawa.

You (M) are (the owner) of the house.

بَرٌوك قَوكِناوه.

Batuuk gawkinaatuwi.

You (F) are (the owner) of the house.

بَتٌوك قَوكِناتُوے.

Baruuh gawkinaabu.

He is (the owner) of the house.

بَرٌوه قَوكِنابُ.

Batuuh gawkinaatu.

She is (the owner) of the house.

بَتٌوه قَوكِناتُ.

Pl:

Hinin gawkinaaba / gawkinaata.

We (M) / (F) are (the owner) of the house.

هِنِن قَوكِنابه / قَوكِناته.

Baraakna gawkinaabaana.

You (Pl M) are (the owner) of the house.

بَراكنه قَوكِنابانه.

Bataakna gawkinaataana.

You (Pl F) are (the owner) of the house.

بَتاكنه قَوكِناتانه.

Baraah gawkinaaba.

They (M) are (the owner) of the house.

بَراه قَوكِنابه.

Bataah gawkinaata.

They (F) are (the owner) of the house.

بَتاه قَوكِناته.
Subject Pronouns with Verbs

<157>

To introduce the subject pronouns, a few common verbs will be used, such as 'to come, to start' etc. but is not necessary to study the verb endings at this point. The full verb system will be introduced later.

<158>

If subject pronouns like baruuh 'he' are found in sentences which also have a verb like eeyaa 'he-came', then the focus is on the pronoun. Therefore a sentence like baruuh eeya 'he came' really means 'It is he who came, not someone else.'

Verb 'to come'

Aaw eeya?*

Who came?

آو ێيه? *

Sg:

Ani y'an.

I came.

أنے يِأَن

Baruuk eetaa.

You (M) came.

بَرٌوك ێتا

Batuuk eetaayi.

You (F) came.

بَتٌوك ێتايے

Baruuh eeya.*

He came.

بَرٌوه ێيه. *

Batuuh eeta.

She came.

بَتٌوه ێته

Pl:

Hinin eena.

We came.

هِنِن ێنه

Baraakna eetaana.

You (Pl) came.

بَراكنه ێتانه

Bataakna eetaana.

You (Pl) came.

بَتاكنه ێتانه

Baraah eeyaan.*

They (M) came.

بَراه ێيان. *

Bataah eeyaan.*

They (F) came.

بَتاه ێيان. *

<159>

* Instead of eeya, eeyaan, full forms such as eeyiya, eeyiyaan may also be used.

Verb 'to start, get up'

Aaw yakiya?

Who started?

آو يَكِيه?

Sg:

(Ani) yakan.

I started

(أنے) يَكَن.

(Baruuk) yaktaa.

You (M) started.

(بَرٌوك) يَكتا.

(Batuuk) yaktaayi.

You (F) started.

(بَتٌوك) يَكتايے.

(Baruuh) yakiya.

He started.

(بَرٌوه) يَكِيه.

(Batuuh) yakta.

She started.

(بَتٌوه) يَكته.

Pl:

(Hinin) yakna.

We started.

(هِنِن) يَكنه.

(Baraakna) yaktaana.

You (Pl M) started.

(بَراكنه) يَكتانه.

(Bataakna) yaktaana.

You (Pl F) started.

(بَتاكنه) يَكتانه.

(Baraah) yakiyaan.

They (M) started.

(بَراه) يَكِيان.

(Bataah) yakiyaan.

They (F) started.

(بَتاه) يَكِيان.
Verb 'to see'

Aaw rhiya?

Who saw (it)?

آو رهِيه?

Sg:

(Ani) rhan.

I saw (it).

( أنے) رهَن.

(Baruuk) rhitaa.

You (M) saw.

(بَرٌوك) رهِتا.

(Batuuk) rhitaayi.

You (F) saw.

(بَتٌوك) رهِتايے.

(Baruuh) rhiya.

He saw.

(بَرٌوه) رهِيه.

(Batuuh) rhita.

She saw.

(بَتٌوه) رهِته.

Pl:

(Hinin) rhina.

We saw.

(هِنِن) رهِنه.

(Baraakna) rhitaana.

You (Pl M) saw.

(بَراكنه) رهِتانه.

(Bataakna) rhitaana.

You (Pl F) saw.

(بَتاكنه) رهِتانه.

(Baraah) rhiyaan.

They (M) saw.

(بَراه) رهِيان.

(Bataah) rhiyaan.

They (F) saw.

(بَتاه) رهِيان.

Definiteness

Indefinite / Definite

<160>

Indefinite Beja nouns are nouns without a definite article. So the word tak could be translated as 'man' or 'a man' - but not as 'man in general'.

<161>

Definite or general Beja nouns are nouns with a definite article. So the word oo-tak could be translated as 'the man, man in general'. (Note that the object case is used when a noun is just mentioned or listed, such as here above.)

Indefinite Nouns

<162>

There are only few occasions where indefinite nouns will be used, and the main use is to identify or introduce someone or something, as in the following examples.

Sg:

tak / Taku.

man / It is a man.

تَك / تَكُ.

takat / Takattu.

woman / It is a woman.

تَكَت / تَكَتُّ.

oor / Ooru.

boy / It is a boy.

ۆر / ۆرُ.

oot / Ootu.

girl / It is a girl.

ۆت / ۆتُ.

Pl:

da / Daaba.

men / They are men.

ده / دابه.

m'a / M'ata.

women / They are women.

مأه / مأَته.

ar / Ara.

boys / They are boys.

أر / أره.

arit / Aritta.

girls / They are girls.

أرِت / أرِتّه.
Definite Nouns

<163>

Most of the time, nouns are used in their definite form, i.e. with an article. This is true even for general statements such as 'water will run its course' or 'advice is a good thing':

Aayam oodham sakeen.

[The] waters follow [the] course.

آيَم ۆڈَم سَكێن.

Uumkir daayi naatu.

[The] advice is a good thing.

أُومكِر دايے ناتُ.

<164>

The definite article and the plural form should be considered part of a noun. To take an example: It is not enough to consider tak 'man' as one lexical item, and da 'men' as another lexical item. Instead, one should consider ootak, eenda 'the man / the men' as belonging together. Thus, for a language learner it is not recommended to just remember the indefinite forms such as tak, da- 'man, men (Indef)' - but the following forms should be stored in memory:

ootak / eenda

man / men (Def)

ۆتَك / ێ نده

tutakat / teem'a

woman / women (Def)

تُتَكَت / تێمأه

w'oor / y'ar

boy / boys (Def)

وؤۆر / يِأَر

tu'oor / ti'arit

girl / girls (Def)

تُؤۆر / تِأَرِت

<165>

It is not correct to use an indefinite noun if the item is already in everybody's mind. There actually are only few occasions where indefinite nouns can be used. Examples such as those below might be found at the beginning of a conversation, or when a new turn is introduced in a story - but hardly anywhere else.

Indefinite NPs
Indefinite Nouns

Hataay eeya.

A horse (M) came.

هَتاي ێيه.

Hatay eeyaan.

Some horses (M) came.

هَتَي ێيان.

Hataay rhan.

I saw a horse (M).

هَتاي رهَن.

Hatay rhan.

I saw some horses (M).

هَتَي رهَن.

Kaam eeya.

A camel (M) came.

كام ێيه.

Kam eeyaan.

Some camels (M) came.

كَم ێيان.

Kaam rhan.

I saw a camel (M).

كام رهَن.

Kam rhan.

I saw some camels (M).

كَم رهَن.

Kaamt eeta.

A camel (F) came.

كامت ێته.

Kamit eeyaan.

Some camels (F) came.

كَمِت ێيان.

Kaamt rhan.

I saw a camel (F).

كامت رهَن.

Kamit rhan.

I saw some camels (F).

كَمِت رهَن.

Tak eeya.

A man came.

تَك ێيه.

Da eeyaan.

Some men came.

ده ێيان.

Tak rhan.

I saw a man.

تَك رهَن.

Daab rhan.

I saw some men.

داب رهَن.
Definite NPs

<166>

As has been said above, nouns usually come with a definite article. The definite article would even be used in general statements such as W-hataay daayi naatu 'A horse (Lit the-horse) is a good thing'.

<167>

The following sentences introduce different forms of the definite article.

Nouns with Definite Article

Uukaam eeya.

The camel (M) came.

أُوكام ێيه.

Ookaam rhan.

I saw the camel (M).

ۆكام رهَن.

Tuukaam eeta.

The camel (F) came.

تٌوكام ێته.

Tookaam rhan.

I saw the camel (F)

تۆكام رهَن.

Aakam eeyaan.

The camels (M) came.

آكَم ێيان.

Eekam rhan.

I saw the camels (M).

ێكَم رهَن.

Taakam eeyaan.

The camels (F) came.

تاكَم ێيان.

Teekam rhan.

I saw the camels (F)

تێكَم رهَن.

Uutak eeya.

The man came.

أُوتَك ێيه.

Ootak rhan.

I saw the man.

ۆتَك رهَن.

Aanda eeyaan.

The men came.

آنده ێيان.

Eenda rhan.

I saw the men.

ێنده رهَن.

Whataay eeya.

The horse came (M).

وُهَتاي ێيه.

Whataay rhan.

I saw the horse (M).

وُهَتاي رهَن.

Yhatay eeyaan.

The horses came (M).

يِهَتَي ێيان.

Yhatay rhan.

I saw the horses (M).

يِهَتَي رهَن.

Definite Article

<168>

The definite article has different forms. They are conditioned by four properties of the noun:

  1. The initial consonant of the noun - this can be either a Glottal consonant (h or hamzah) or non-Glottal.

  2. The gender of the noun - this can be either masculine or feminine.

  3. The number of the noun - this can be either singular or plural.

  4. And the case of the noun - and this can be either subject or object case.

<169>

Note that Beja words which start with a vowel behave as if they start with a hidden hamzah [']. This hamzah will appear as soon as a syllable is attached in front of it (prefixed).

Table 15: Definite Article

Monosyllabic words [7] which do not start with h or hamzah take the following articles:

uu-, oo- / tuu-, too-

Sg M / Sg F

أُو-, ۆ - / تُو -, تۆ -

aa-, ee- / taa-, tee-

Pl M / Pl F

آ-, ێ - / تا -, تێ -

Examples (Sg):

uu-kaam / uu-nfis / uu-smuuh

camel (M Subj) / appetite(Subj) / his name(Subj)

أُو- كام / أُو - نفِس / أُو - سمٌوه

oo-kaam / oo-nfis / oo-smooh

camel (M Obj) / appetite (Obj) / his name (Obj)

ۆ- كام / ۆ - نفِس / ۆ - سمۆه

tuu-kaam / tuu-ndi / tuu-drim

camel (F Subj) / mother (Subj)/ cattle (Subj)

تُو - كام / تُو - ندے / تُو - درِم

too-kaam / too-ndi / too-drim

camel (F Obj) / mother (Obj)/ cattle (Obj)

تۆ - كام / تۆ - ندے / تۆ - درِم

Examples (Pl):

aa-kam / aa-nda

camels (M Subj) / men (Subj)

آ- كَم / آ - نده

ee-kam / ee-nda

camels (M Obj) / men (Obj)

ێ- كَم / ێ - نده

taa-kam / taa-m'a

camels (F Subj) / women (Subj)

تا - كَم / تا - مأه

tee-kam / tee-m'a

camels (F Obj) / women (Obj)

تێ - كَم / تێ - مأه

Both monosyllabic words and other words which start with h or hamzah take the following articles:

w(u)-, w(u)- / t(u)-, t(u)-

Sg M / Sg F

y(i)-, y(i)- / t(i)-, t(i)-

Pl M / Pl F

Examples (Sg):

w(u)-'oor / w-hiss / w-halak

the boy (Subj) / voice (Subj) / dress (Subj)

و( أُ) - ؤۆر / و- هِسّ / و- هَلَك

w(u)-'oor / w-hiss / w-halak

the boy (Obj) / voice (Obj) / dress (Obj)

و( أُ) - ؤۆر / و- هِسّ / و- هَلَك

t(u)-'oor / tu-haasim / tu-humni

the girl (Subj) / spider (F Subj)/ afternoon (Subj)

ت( أُ) - ؤۆر / تُ - هاسِم / تُ - هُمنے

t(u)-'oor / tu-haasim / tu-humni

the girl (Obj) / spider (F Obj) / afternoon (Obj)

ت( أُ) - ؤۆر / تُ - هاسِم / تُ - هُمنے

Examples (Pl):

y(i)-'ar / y-hissa

the boys (Subj) / voices (Subj)

ي( إ) - أَر / ي- هِسّه

y(i)-'ar / y-hissa

the boys (Obj) / voices (Obj)

ي( إ) - أَر / ي- هِسّه

t(i)-'ar / ti-haasma (haasimi)

the girls (Subj) / spiders (F Subj)

ت( إ) - أَر / تے - هاسمه (هاسِمے)

t(i)-'ar / ti-haasma

the girls (Obj) / spiders (F Obj)

ت( إ) - أَر / تے - هاسمه

Words with more than one syllable which do not start with h or hamzah take the following articles:

u-, u- / tu-, tu- [8]

Sg M / Sg F

i-, i- / ti-, ti-

Pl M / Pl F

Examples (Sg):

u-bissa / u-ganaay / u-sakana

cat (M Subj) / gazelle (M Subj) / news (Subj)

أُ- بِسّه / أُ - قَناي / أُ - سَكَنه

u-bissa / u-ganaay / u-sakana

cat (M Obj) / gazelle (M Obj) / news (Obj)

أُ- بِسّه / أُ - قَناي / أُ - سَكَنه

tu-bissa / tu-ganaay / tu-jabana

cat (F Subj) / gazelle (F Subj) / coffee pot (Subj)

تُ - بِسّه / تُ - قَناي / تُ - جَبَنه

tu-bissa / tu-ganaay / tu-jabana

cat (F Obj) / gazelle (F Obj) / coffee pot (Obj)

تُ - بِسّه / تُ - قَناي / تُ - جَبَنه

Examples (Pl):

i-bissa / i-nisrika

cats (M Subj) / children (M Subj)

إ- بِسّه / إ - نِسرِكه

i-bissa / i-nisrika

cats (M Obj) / children (M Obj)

إ- بِسّه / إ - نِسرِكه

ti-bissa / ti-nisrika

cats (F Subj) / children (F Subj)

تے - بِسّه / تے - نِسرِكه

ti-bissa / ti-nisrika

cats (F Obj) / children (F Obj)

تے - بِسّه / تے - نِسرِكه

Interrogatives and Demonstratives

<170>

Here are more examples for definite articles. The examples will be given in the form of questions like 'Where is...?'.

Interrogative Demonstratives / Local Verbs

Keeya?

Where / which one (M) is it?

كێيه?

Keeta?

Where / which one (F) is it?

كێته?

Keeyaan?

Where / which ones are they?

كێيان?
Where is 1

Examples (M):

Uukaam / uutak keeya?

Where is the camel (M) / man?

أُوكام كێيه?

Aakam / aanda keeyaan?

Where are the camels (M) / men?

آكَم كێيان?

Uumeek keeya?

Where is the donkey (M)?

أُومێك كێيه?

Aamak keeyaan?

Where are the donkeys (M)?

آمَك كێيان?

Examples (F):

Tuukaam / tutakat keeta?

Where is the camel (F) / woman?

تٌوكام كێته?

Taakam / taam'a keeyaan?

Where are the camels (F) / women?

تاكَم كێيان?

Tuumeek keeta?

Where is the donkey (F)?

تٌومێك كێته?

Taamak keeyaan?

Where are the donkeys (F)?

تامَك كێيان?

Tuun'aay keeta?

Where is the goat (F)?

تٌونآي كێته?

Taan'ay keeyaan?

Where are the goats (F)?

تانأَي كێيان?
Where is 2

Examples (Sg):

Uugaw keeya?

Where is the house?

أُوقَو كێيه?

Ugalam keeya?

Where is the pencil?

أُقَلَم كێيه?

Umaktab keeya?

Where is the office?

أُمَكتَب كێيه?

Utambiil keeya?

Where is the car?

أُتَمبٍيل كێيه?

Ukwursi keeya?

Where is the chair?

أُكْوُرسے كێيه?

Tumastara keeta?

Where is the ruler?

تُمَستَره كێته?

Examples (Pl):

Igawa keeyaan?

Where are the houses?

إقَوه كێيان?

Igalama keeyaan?

Where are the pencils?

إقَلَمه كێيان?

Imaktaba keeyaan?

Where are the offices?

إمَكتَبه كێيان?

Itambil keeyaan?

Where are the cars?

إتَمبِل كێيان?

Ikwursiiya keeyaan?

Where are the chairs?

إكْوُرسٍييه كێيان?

Timastara keeyaan?

Where are the rulers?

تِمَستَره كێيان?

Demonstratives

<171>

The answer to the question 'Which?' or 'Where' usually requires demonstratives or deictics. These are special pronouns which point to the particular item in question.

<172>

In Beja, only those items can be pointed to which are considered definite. Therefore, demonstratives can only be attached to pronouns, since they are considered definite (e.g. uun-baruuh 'this-he'), or to names (e.g. uun-Ali 'this Ali'), or to nouns which have a definite article (uun-uu-tak 'this-the-man').

<173>

Beja has two different sets of demonstratives: One for items nearby, which includes uun 'this', aan 'these', and another set for items far away, which includes been 'that', baliin 'those'.

<174>

The near demonstrative pronouns 'this / these' have different forms, depending on number and gender: uun / aan 'these (Sg M / Pl M)', or tuun / taan 'these (Sg F / Pl F)'. In addition, the object case will require the usual object vowels: oon / een (Sg M / Pl M), or toon / teen (Sg F / Pl F)

<175>

Many speakers will change tuun- / toon- into > tuut- / toot- or even into > uut- / oot-, especially when the t- F follows, as in tuut tikati 'this she-is', or uut- tu- takat 'this-the-woman'.

Table 16: Demonstratives Near and Far

Near Subj:

Uun / tuun

This (M) / (F)

أُون / تٌون

Aan / taan

These (M) / (F)

آن / تان

Near Obj:

Oon / toon

This (M) / (F)

ۆن / تۆن

Een / teen

These (M) / (F)

ێن / تێن

Far Subj:

Been / beet

That (M) / (F)

بێن / بێت

Baliin / baliit

Those (M) / (F)

بَلٍين / بَلٍيت

Far Obj:

Been / Beet

That (M) / (F)

بێن / بێت

Baliin / baliit

Those (M) / (F)

بَلٍين / بَلٍيت
Demonstratives Referring To Near Objects
This (M)

Keeya? Uun ikati.

Where is he? He is here (Lit Which one is it? It is this one).

كێيه? / أُون إكَتے.

Keeyaan? Aan ikatiin.

Where are they (M)? They (M) are here.

كێيان? / آن إكَتٍين.

Keeta? Tuut (tuun) tikati.

Where is she? She is here.

كێته? / تٌوت (تٌون) تِكَتے.

Keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are they (F)? They (F) are here.

كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.

Uukaam keeya? Uun ikati.

Where is the camel (M)? It (M) is here.

أُوكام كێيه? / أُون إكَتے.

Aakam keeyaan? Aan ikatiin.

Where are the camels (M)? They (M) are here.

آكَم كێيان? / آن إكَتٍين.

Tuun'aay keeta? Tuut tikati.

Where is the goat (F)? It (F) is here.

تٌونآي كێته? / تٌوت تِكَتے.

Taan'ay keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are the goats (F)? They (F) are here.

تانأَي كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.
This (F)

Tughurfaatu keeta? Tuut tikati.

Where is my room? It is here.

تُغُرفاتُ كێته? / تٌوت تِكَتے.

Tus'aatu keeta? Tuut tikati.

Where is my watch? It is here.

تُسآتُ كێته? / تٌوت تِكَتے.

Tis'aati keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are my watches? They are here.

تِسآتے كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.

Tutarabeedaatu keeta? Tuut tikati.

Where is my table? It is here.

تُتَرَبێداتُ كێته? / تٌوت تِكَتے.

Titarabeedaati keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are my tables? They are here.

تِتَرَبێداتے كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.

Tukwubbaaytu keeta? Tuut tikati.

Where is my cup (mug)? It is here.

تُكْوُبّايتُ كێته? / تٌوت تِكَتے.

Tikwubbayti keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are my cups (mugs)? They are here.

تِكْوُبَّيتے كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.

Tigidh'aati keeyaan? Taan ikatiin.

Where are my sandals (shoes)? They are here.

تِقِڈآتے كێيان? / تان إكَتٍين.
Demonstratives with Pronouns

<176>

Pronouns often have demonstrative prefixes. In some Beja areas this is the preferred form for all pronouns.

uunbaruuh / oonbarooh

this (M Subj) / (M Obj)

أُونبَرٌوه / ۆنبَرۆه

uunbatuuh / oonbatooh

this (F Subj) / (F Obj)

أُونبَتٌوه / ۆنبَتۆه

aanbaraah / eenbareeh

these (M Subj) / (M Obj))

آنبَراه / ێنبَرێه

aanbataah / eenbateeh

these (F Subj) / (F Obj)

آنبَتاه / ێنبَتێه
Demonstratives Referring To Far Objects

<177>

The far demonstratives 'that, those' have the same forms for all cases and numbers - distinguishing only (M) and (F) gender: been / beet 'that, those (M) / (F)'.

<178>

Some speakers use special forms for the plural: baliin / baliit 'those (Pl M) / (Pl F)'.

Beenbaruuh / beenbarooh.

That (M Subj) / (M Obj)

بێنبَرٌوه / بێنبَرۆه.

Beenbatuuh / beenbatooh.

That (F Subj) / (F Obj)

بێنبَتٌوه / بێنبَتۆه.

Beenbareeh / baliinbaraah, baliinbareeh.

Those (M Subj / M Obj)

بێنبَرێه / بَلٍينبَراه, بَلٍينبَرێه.

Beenbateeh / baliitbataah, baliitbateeh (baliin bataah / baliin bateeh).

Those (F Subj / F Obj)

بێنبَتێه / بَلٍيتبَتاه, بَلٍيتبَتێه (بَلٍين بَتاه / بَلٍين بَتێه ).
Demonstratives with Pronouns, Referring To Near Objects

<179>

In some dialects and with some speakers, the demonstratives will not be attached and assimilated to the articles. They will be used as separate words, as shown in the parentheses here below.

(Uun baruuh) Uunbaruuh aabu?

Who is this (M)?

( أُون بَرٌوه) أُونبَرٌوه آبُ?

(Uun baruuh) Uunbaruuh Aliibu.

This is Ali.

( أُون بَرٌوه) أُونبَرٌوه ألٍيبُ.

(Tuun batuuh) Uunbatuuh aabtu?

Who is this (F)?

(تٌون بَتٌوه) أُونبَتٌوه آبتُ?

(Tuun batuuh) Uunbatuuh Zaynabtu.

This is Zaynab.

(تٌون بَتٌوه) أُونبَتٌوه زَينَبتُ.

(Aan baraah) Aanbaraah aaba?

Who are these (M)?

(آن بَراه) آنبَراه آبه?

(Aan baraah) Aanbaraah Aliiwwa Hasanwaaya.

These are Ali and Hassan.

(آن بَراه) آنبَراه ألٍيوّه هَسَنوايه.

(Taan bataah) Aanbataah aabta?

Who are these (F)?

(تان بَتاه) آنبَتاه آبته?

(Taan bataah) Aanbataah Zaynabwa Haliimaabwaata.

These are Zaynab and Halima.

(تان بَتاه) آنبَتاه زَينَبوه هَلٍيمابواته.
Demonstratives with Pronouns, Referring To Far Objects

Beenbaruuh aabu?

Who is that (M)?

بێنبَرٌوه آبُ?

Beenbaruuh Abuuzaynabu.

That is Abuzaynab.

بێنبَرٌوه أبٌوزَينَبُ.

Beenbatuuh aabtu?

Who is that (F)?

بێنبَتٌوه آبتُ?

Beenbatuuh Zaynabtu.

That is Zaynab.

بێنبَتٌوه زَينَبتُ.

(Baliinbaraah) Beenbaraah aaba?

Who are those (M)?

(بَلٍينبَراه)بێنبَراه آبه?

(Baliinbaraah) Beenbaraah Aliiwwa Hasanwaaya.

Those are Ali and Hassan.

(بَلٍينبَراه)بێنبَراه ألٍيوّه هَسَنوايه.

(Baliitbataah) Beenbataah aabta?

Who are those (F)?

(بَلٍيتبَتاه)بێنبَتاه آبته?

(Baliitbataah) Beenbataah Zaynabwa Haliimaabwaata, Haliimaawwaata.

Those are Zaynab and Halima.

(بَلٍيتبَتاه)بێنبَتاه زَينَبوه, هَلٍيمابواته.هَلٍيماوّاته.
Demonstratives with Nouns

Uun'uutak aabu?

Who is this man?

أُونُوتَك آبُ?

Aliibu.

He is Ali.

ألٍيبُ.

Uuttutakat aabtu?

Who is this woman?

أُوتُّتَكَت آبتُ?

Haliimaabtu.

She is Halima.

هَلٍيمابتُ.
Demonstratives and Nouns (Sg)

Uunbaruuh naa naatu?

What is this (M)?

أُونبَرٌوه نا ناتُ?

Uunbaruuh galamu.

This is a pen.

أُونبَرٌوه قَلَمُ.

Uunbatuuh naa naatu?

What is this (F)?

أُونبَتٌوه نا ناتُ?

Uunbatuuh mastaraatu.

This is a ruler.

أُونبَتٌوه مَستَراتُ.

Beenbaruuh naa naatu?

What is that (M)?

بێنبَرٌوه نا ناتُ?

Beenbaruuh gawu.

This is a house.

بێنبَرٌوه قَوُ.

Beenbatuuh naa naatu?

What is that (F)?

بێنبَتٌوه نا ناتُ?

Beenbatuuh n'aaytu.

That is a goat (F).

بێنبَتٌوه نآيتُ.
Demonstratives and Nouns (Pl)

Aanbaraah naa naata?

What are these (M)?

آنبَراه نا ناته?

Aanbaraah gawaaba.

These are houses.

آنبَراه قَوابه.

Aanbataah naa naata?

What are these (F)?

آنبَتاه نا ناته?

Aanbataah tarabeezaata.

These are tables.

آنبَتاه تَرَبێزاته.

Baliinbaraah naa naata?

What are those (M)?

بَلٍينبَراه نا ناته?

Baliinbaraah kwursiiyaaba.

Those are chairs.

بَلٍينبَراه كْوُرسٍييابه.

Baliitbataah naa naata?

What are those (F)?

بَلٍيتبَتاه نا ناته?

Baliitbataah mastaraata.

Those are rulers.

بَلٍيتبَتاه مَستَراته.
Demonstrative Objects with Verbs

Aab rhita? / Naan rhita?

Whom did you (M) see? / What did you (M) see?

آب رهِته? / نان رهِته?

Oonbarooh rhan.

I saw this (M).

ۆنبَرۆه رهَن.

Oonbatooh rhan.

I saw this (F).

ۆنبَتۆه رهَن.

Eenbareeh rhan.

I saw these (M).

ێنبَرێه رهَن.

Eenbateeh rhan.

I saw these (F).

ێنبَتێه رهَن.

Beenbarooh rhan.

I saw that (M).

بێنبَرۆه رهَن.

Beenbatooh rhan.

I saw that (F).

بێنبَتۆه رهَن.

Beenbareeh rhan.

I saw those (M).

بێنبَرێه رهَن.

Beenbateeh rhan.

I saw those (F).

بێنبَتێه رهَن.
Demonstratives and 'to call'

Oonbarooh aab eeyadna?

What (whom) do they call him?

ۆنبَرۆه آب ێيَدنه?

Oonbarooh Abuuzaynab eeyadna.

They call him Abuzaynab.

ۆنبَرۆه أبٌوزَينَب ێيَدنه.

Oonbatooh aab eeyadna?

What do they call her?

ۆنبَتۆه آب ێيَدنه?

Oonbatooh Zaynab eeyadna.

They call her Zaynab.

ۆنبَتۆه زَينَب ێيَدنه.

Oon'ootak aab eeyadna?

What do they call this man?

ۆنؤۆتَك آب ێيَدنه?

Oon'ootak Abuuzaynab eeyadna.

They call him Abuzaynab.

ۆنؤۆتَك أبٌوزَينَب ێيَدنه.

Oottutakat aab eeyadna?

What do they call this woman?

ۆتُّتَكَت آب ێيَدنه?

Oottutakat (toon tutakat, toottutakat) Zaynab eeyadna.

They call her Zaynab.

ۆتُّتَكَت (تۆن تُتَكَت, تۆتُّتَكَت) زَينَب ێيَدنه.

Describing Things: Noun Phrases (NPs)

<180>

Noun phrases are about things in the world. To name the qualities of these things or to describe them, adjectives and other attributes can be put next to the noun.

Adjectives and Participles

<181>

Descriptions answer the questions such as 'What is X like?' To describe things, as in 'X is red', the adjective must follow the noun, and a copula (comparable to the English word 'is') must be attached at the end.

<182>

The copula has already been introduced with the greetings, since it is common in forms like ani dabaay-u - baruuk dabaay-wa? 'I am fine - are you fine?' The copula in Beja is a suffix which has different forms, depending on the number and the gender of the noun. As has been presented earlier, the most frequent forms of the copula are -u / -tu 'is (Sg M) / (Sg F)', and -a / -ta 'are (Pl M) / (Pl F)'. In such sentences the adjective must be in the object case.

Adjectives

<183>

The answer to 'what is... like?' is a description in which an adjective may be used. To the adjective a copula is attached. The copula has different forms, depending on whether the adjective ends in:

  1. A glottal consonant (this includes h and hamzah)

  2. any other consonant

  3. or a vowel.

Adjectives of Colors

Naan tan'i?

What is he, she like?

نان تَنإِ?

Uuttuuna, naan tan'i?

This thing, what is it like?

أُوتٌّونه, نان تَنإِ?

Hadaltu / hadalu.

She / he is black

هَدَلتُ / هَدَلُ.

Eeraatu / eeraabu.

She / he is white.

ێراتُ / ێرابُ.

Adarootu / adaroobu.

She / he is red.

أدَرۆتُ / أدَرۆبُ.

Sootaaytu / sootaayu.

She / he is blue-green.

سۆتايتُ / سۆتايُ.
Adjectives ending in C

<184>

The pattern for attaching suffixes is most easily observed in adjectives which end in a simple consonant (i.e. a consonant other than h or hamzah.)

Ani hadalu.

I (M) am black.

أنے هَدَلُ.

Ani hadaltu.

I (F) am black.

أنے هَدَلتُ.

Baruuk hadalwa.

You (M) are black.

بَرٌوك هَدَلوه.

Batuuk hadaltuwi.

You (F) are black.

بَتٌوك هَدَلتُوے.

Baruuh hadalu.

He is black.

بَرٌوه هَدَلُ.

Batuuh hadaltu.

She is black.

بَتٌوه هَدَلتُ.

Hinin hadalaaba.

We (M) are black.

هِنِن هَدَلابه.

Hinin hadalaata.

We (F) are black.

هِنِن هَدَلاته.

Baraakna hadalaabaana.

You (Pl M) are black.

بَراكنه هَدَلابانه.

Bataakna hadalaataana.

You (Pl F) are black.

بَتاكنه هَدَلاتانه.

Baraah hadalaaba.

They (M) are black.

بَراه هَدَلابه.

Bataah hadalaata.

They (F) are black.

بَتاه هَدَلاته.
Adjectives ending in aa

Ani eeraabu.

I (M) am white.

أنے ێرابُ.

Ani eeraatu.

I (F) am white.

أنے ێراتُ.

Baruuk eeraawwa.

You (M) are white.

بَرٌوك ێراوه.

Batuuk eeraatuwi.

You (F) are white.

بَتٌوك ێراتُوے.

Baruuh eeraabu.

He is white.

بَرٌوه ێرابُ.

Batuuh eeraatu.

She is white.

بَتٌوه ێراتُ.

Hinin eeraaba.

We (M) are white.

هِنِن ێرابه.

Hinin eeraata.

We (F) are white.

هِنِن ێراته.

Baraakna eeraabaana.

You (Pl M) are white.

بَراكنه ێرابانه.

Bataakna eeraataana.

You (Pl F) are white.

بَتاكنه ێراتانه.

Baraah eeraaba.

They (M) are white.

بَراه ێرابه.

Bataah eeraata.

They (F) are white.

بَتاه ێراته.
Adjectives ending in ii

Ani dhhaniibu.

I (M) am alive, well.

أنے ڈهَنٍيبُ.

Ani dhhaniitu.

I (F) am alive, well.

أنے ڈهَنٍيتُ.

Baruuk dhhaniiwa.

You (M) are alive, well.

بَرٌوك ڈهَنٍيوه.

Batuuk dhhaniituwi.

You (F) are alive, well.

بَتٌوك ڈهَنٍيتُوے.

Baruuh dhhaniibu.

He is alive, well.

بَرٌوه ڈهَنٍيبُ.

Batuuh dhhaniitu.

She is alive, well.

بَتٌوه ڈهَنٍيتُ.

Hinin dhhaniiba.

We (M) are alive, well.

هِنِن ڈهَنٍيبه.

Hinin dhhaniita.

We (F) are alive, well.

هِنِن ڈهَنٍيته.

Baraakna dhhaniibaana.

You (Pl M) are alive, well.

بَراكنه ڈهَنٍيبانه.

Bataakna dhhaniitaana.

You (Pl F) are alive, well.

بَتاكنه ڈهَنٍيتانه.

Baraah dhhaniiba.

They (M) are alive, well.

بَراه ڈهَنٍيبه.

Bataah dhhaniita.

They (F) are alive, well.

بَتاه ڈهَنٍيته.
Adjectives ending in oo

Ani adaroobu.

I (M) am red.

أنے أدَرۆبُ.

Ani adarootu.

I (F) am red.

أنے أدَرۆتُ.

Baruuk adaroowwa.

You (M) are red.

بَرٌوك أدَرۆوه.

Batuuk adarootuwi.

You (F) are red.

بَتٌوك أدَرۆتُوے.

Baruuh adaroobu.

He is red.

بَرٌوه أدَرۆبُ.

Batuuh adarootu.

She is red.

بَتٌوه أدَرۆتُ.

Hinin adarooyaaba.

We (M) are red.

هِنِن أدَرۆبه.

Hinin adarooyaata.

We (F) are red.

هِنِن أدَرۆته.

Baraakna adarooyaabaana.

You (Pl M) are red.

بَراكنه أدَرۆبانه.

Bataakna adarooyaataana.

You (Pl F) are red.

بَتاكنه أدَرۆتانه.

Baraah adarooyaaba.

They (M) are red.

بَراه أدَرۆبه.

Bataah adarooyaata.

They (F) are red.

بَتاه أدَرۆته.
Adjectives ending in h 1

<185>

(See alternative forms below)

Ani shabhayu.

I (M) am gentle, average.

أنے شَبهَيُ.

Ani shabhatu.

I (F) am gentle, average.

أنے شَبهَتُ.

Baruuk shabhawa.

You (M) are gentle, average.

بَرٌوك شَبهَوه.

Batuuk shabhatuwi.

You (F) are gentle, average.

بَتٌوك شَبهَتُوے.

Baruuh shabhayu.

He is gentle, average.

بَرٌوه شَبهَيُ.

Batuuh shabhatu.

She is gentle, average.

بَتٌوه شَبهَتُ.

Hinin shabhaya.

We (M) are gentle, average.

هِنِن شَبهَيه.

Hinin shabhata.

We (F) are gentle, average.

هِنِن شَبهَته.

Baraakna shabhayaana.

You (Pl M) are gentle, average.

بَراكنه شَبهَيانه.

Bataakna shabhataana.

You (Pl F) are gentle, average.

بَتاكنه شَبهَتانه.

Baraah shabhaya.

They (M) are gentle, average.

بَراه شَبهَيه.

Bataah shabhata.

They (F) are gentle, average.

بَتاه شَبهَته.
Adjectives ending in h 2

Ani shabahu.

I (M) am gentle, average.

أنے شَبَهُ.

Ani shabahtu.

I (F) am gentle, average.

أنے شَبَهتُ.

Baruuk shabahwa.

You (M) are gentle, average.

بَرٌوك شَبَهوه.

Batuuk shabahtuwi.

You (F) are gentle, average.

بَتٌوك شَبَهتُوے.

Baruuh shabahu.

He is gentle, average.

بَرٌوه شَبَهُ.

Batuuh shabahtu.

She is gentle, average.

بَتٌوه شَبَهتُ.

Hinin shabaha.

We (M) are gentle, average.

هِنِن شَبَهه.