3.1.1 - Cases
The Na’vi case endings change depending on whether the word ends in a consonant, a vowel, or a diphthong.
| Vowel | Consonant and Pseudovowel | Diphthong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective | |||
| Agentive | -l | -ìl | -ìl |
| Patientive | -t, -ti | -it, -ti | -ti, -it, -ay-t, -ey-t |
| Dative | -r, -ru | -ur, -'-ru | -ru, -ur, -aw-r, -ew-r |
| Genitive | -yä, -o-ä, -u-ä | -ä | -ä |
| Topical | -ri | -ìri | -ri |
3.1.1.1
Note that words ending in the pseudo-vowels ll and rr take the consonant endings: trr-ä, ’ewll-it.
3.1.1.2
After the vowels o and u, the genitive is just -ä, but after all other vowels, it is -yä. So, tsulfätuä from tsulfätu, but Na’viyä from Na’vi and lì’fyayä from lì’fya.
3.1.1.3
Nouns in -ia have the genitive in -iä, as in soaiä from soaia.
3.1.1.4
In addition to several pronouns (3.2.1.6), there are a few nouns with irregular genitives: Omatikayaä (from Omatikaya). These are marked in the dictionary.
3.1.1.5
Due to the similarity in sound between y and i, the patientive ending -it is simplified when suffixed to a diphthong ending in y, as in keyeyt errors instead of *keyeyit. [1]
3.1.1.6
A noun ending in the glottal stop may also take the dative in -ru, such as lì’fyaolo’ru. Otherwise, nouns ending in consonants take -ur. [2]
3.1.1.7
The variation between the long and short endings in the patientive and dative appears to be largely a matter of style and euphony.
3.1.1.7.1
The Reef Na'vi dialect prefers the patientive form -ti to -it and -t.
3.1.2 - Foreign Nouns
When human words are borrowed into Na’vi, some words need to be adapted to the phonology of the Na’vi language, such as Kerìsmìsì Christmas.
| Case | Word | Pronunciation Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subjective | Kelnì | |
| Agentive | Kelnìl | Keln-ìl, not Kelnì-l |
| Patientive | Kelnit | |
| Dative | Kelnur | |
| Genitive | Kelnä | |
| Topical | Kelnìri | Keln-ìri, not Kelnì-ri |
3.1.3 - Indefinite -o
A noun may take the indefinite suffix -o, “one, some.” Case endings follow the -o, such as puk-o-t. [3]
3.1.4 - Number
Na’vi nouns and pronouns may be singular, dual, trial, or plural (four or more). Number is indicated by prefixes, all of which cause lenition.
| Number | Prefix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dual | me+ | mefo (me+ + po) |
| Trial | pxe+ | pxehilvan (pxe+ + kilvan) |
| Plural | ay+ | ayswizaw |
3.1.4.1
The plural prefix only may be dropped if there is lenition. The plural of prrnen is either ayfrrnen or the short plural frrnen (but see 6.5.2.2).
3.1.4.2
In the dual and trial, if a word begins with e or ’e, the resulting *ee is simplified, so me+ + ’eveng is meveng.
See also 2.3.1.2.
3.1.4.3
In Reef Na'vi pxe- will be pronounced as though be-.