Number

1. Gujarati distinguishes between singular and plural. The singular forms are unmarked, while the plural are marked with –o. Examples:

    1. Singular

sap serpent

bhen sister

peiNsl pencil

pg leg

n` nail

2okro boy

2okrI girl

2okru& child

varta story

    1. Plural
      2.

      sap sapo serpents

      bhen bheno sisters

      peiNsl peiNslo pencils

      pg pgo legs

      n` n`o nails

      2okro 2okra/ 2okraAo boys

      2okrI 2okrIAo girls

      2okru& 2okra& / 2okra&Ao children

      varta vartaAo stories

2. However, Gujarati speakers normally avoid using plural marker with consonant ending words, if the plurality is taken care by agreement morphology or numeral. Examples:

1. sap AaVya.

‘The serpents came.’

Note: The verbal form takes care of plurality.

2. be sap l6e 2e.

‘Two serpents are fighting.’

Note: The number adjective takes care of plurality.
  1. However, in certain context a consonant-ending noun takes plural marker obligatorily. Consider the following two examples:

1. sape dr kyaR.

2. sapoAe dr kyaR.

The sentence 1 means ‘A serpent made a hole’, while the 2 means ‘Serpents made a hole’. In 2, where ôÜÜÆÜ takes -†å, the use of plural marker is obligatory.