Personal Pronouns
First Person Singular (I)
ñán
First Person Plural (we)
This has two forms
ñaŋŋaļ
This is used when the listener(s) is/are not in the group the speaker is referring to.
ňammaļ
This is used when the listener(s) is/are in the group the speaker is referring to.
Second Person Singular (you, thou)
ňí
This is used only when the listener is quite familiar to the speaker ( Caution: This is equivalent to Hindi tu ,German du or French tu)
θán
This is used when the listener is familiar to the speaker.
Using name as a pronoun
The most common form is using the name of the listener as a pronoun. It is safe to use this form in most contexts. I advise learners to use this form.
Jóņ evide pókuvaa ?
Where are you going? (The listener is John)
Second Person Plural (you)
ňiŋŋaļ
Third Person Singular (he, she , it)
avan he
avaļ she
aθë it/that
aθë oru ňalla aidia aa
That is a good idea
The first two are considered impolite forms. The alternative form is the name of the person referred to.
Third Person Plural (they)
avanmárr they (males)
avaļëmárr they(females). This is considered a solecism and is seldom used.
avarr they ( males or females or males and females).
When avarr is followed by a word beginning with a vowel it gets modified to avar
aθellám they (plural form of it)
The first two are considered impolite forms. The alternative form is avarr or the names of the persons referred to.
Singular | Plural | |
First | ñán | ñaŋŋaļ , ňammaļ |
Second | ňí , name | ňiŋŋaļ |
Third | avan , avaļ , aθë | avarr , avanmárr , avaļëmárr , aθellám |