Modern Hebrew Grammar - Nouns - Number: Singular, Plural, and Dual - Dual

Dual

Hebrew also has a dual number, expressed in the ending /-ajim/, but even in ancient times its use was very restricted. In modern times, it is usually used in expressions of time and number, or items that are inherently dual. These nouns have plurals as well, which are used for numbers higher than two, for example:

The dual is also used for some body parts, for instance:

• רגל /ˈreɡel/ (leg) → רגליים /raɡˈlajim/ (legs)
• אוזן /ʔozen/ (ear) → אוזניים /ozˈnajim/ (ears)
• עין /ʕajin/ (eye) → עיניים /e(j)ˈnajim/ (eyes)
• יד /ˈjad/ (hand) → ידיים /jaˈdajim/ (hands)

In this case, even if there are more than two, the dual is still used, for instance /leˈkelev jeʃ ˈarbaʕ raɡˈlajim/ ("a dog has four legs").

The dual is also used for certain objects that are "inherently" dual. These words have no singular, for instance משקפיים /miʃkaˈfajim/ (eyeglasses) and מספריים /mispaˈrajim/ (scissors). As in the English "two pairs of pants", the plural of these words uses the word זוג /zuɡ/ (pair), e.g. /ʃne(j) zuˈɡot mispaˈrajim/ ("two pairs-of scissors-").

The name of the city גבעתיים Giv'ʕatayim (Тwo Peaks, or Twin Peaks) is an atypical use of the dual number. But it also refers to the two hills of the landscape on which the city is built, keeping with the grammatical rule of natural pairs.