The Dual in Modern Standard Arabic: How to Say "Two" of Something

Fusha has a full dual for exactly two of anything. Nouns, adjectives, pronouns and verbs all have dual forms.

Nouns: -aani / -ayni

The ending is -aani for the subject and -ayni otherwise:

• كتابانkitaabaanitwo books (subject)
• قرأتُ كتابينqara2tu kitaabayniI read two books.

Nouns ending in ة keep the t:

• سيارتانsayyaarataanitwo cars
• مدينتينmadiinataynitwo cities (object)

No number needed

The dual already means "two". Add ithnaani / ithnataani only for emphasis:

• عندي أخوان3indii akhawaaniI have two brothers.

Adjectives and verbs agree

• الطالبانِ مُجتهدانِat-taalibaani mujtahidaaniThe two students are hard-working.
• هما يدرسانِhuma yadrusaaniThey (two) study.

The -ni drops before an owner

When a dual noun is followed by an owner or a possessive ending, the final -ni drops:

• يدا الطفلِyadaa at-tiflithe child's two hands
• عيناها3aynaahaaher (two) eyes