There are three grammatical genders in Gujarati.
Gujarati, a language spoken primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat, employs grammatical gender to classify its nouns, pronouns, and sometimes adjectives. This classification impacts how words agree with each other within a sentence.
The three distinct grammatical genders in Gujarati are:
- Masculine Gender (પુલ્લિંગ): This category includes nouns referring to male persons and animals, alongside many inanimate objects and abstract concepts. While there are common patterns, masculine nouns do not always follow a predictable ending.
- Feminine Gender (સ્ત્રીલિંગ): This gender encompasses nouns for female persons and animals, as well as a significant number of inanimate objects and ideas. Feminine nouns frequently feature characteristic endings that help indicate their gender.
- Neuter Gender (નપુંસકલિંગ): This gender is assigned to nouns that do not fit into the masculine or feminine categories. It is commonly found with nouns representing objects, places, or abstract concepts.
Identifying Gender in Gujarati
While there are general guidelines, correctly identifying a noun's gender in Gujarati often requires memorization as much as pattern recognition. Nouns can frequently, but by no means always, be identified by their endings.
Here is a simplified overview of the genders and their general characteristics:
| Gender | Primary Association | Typical Noun Endings (General Trend) |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Male entities, various objects | Often ends in -ઓ (-o) |
| Feminine | Female entities, various objects | Often ends in -ઈ (-ī) or -આ (-ā) |
| Neuter | Neutral objects, concepts | Often ends in -ઉં (-uṃ) |
It is important to note that relying solely on noun endings for gender identification can be misleading, as numerous exceptions exist. For learners, consistent exposure and practice are key to mastering the grammatical gender of Gujarati nouns.
