English has two numbers, one and many. Egyptian has three: singular, plural (from The Plural) and the dual, for two of something, especially natural pairs.
Key idea
| Singular | Dual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ꜥ | ꜥwj | the two arms |
| rd | rdwj | the two feet |
| sn | snwj | the two brothers |
| tꜣ | tꜣwj | the Two Lands (Egypt) |
| jrt | jrtj | the two eyes |
| drt | drtj | the two hands |
| nbt | nbtj | the Two Ladies |
| zꜣt | zꜣtj | the two daughters |
Two duals appear on almost every royal monument. tꜣwj “the Two Lands” is Egypt itself, Upper and Lower Egypt together: the king is nb tꜣwj “lord of the Two Lands”. nbtj “the Two Ladies” are the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, vulture and cobra, who protect the king; one of his five names is named after them.
Writing the dual
The script shows the dual by writing a sign twice, or by two oblique strokes 𓏭 after it, much as three strokes show the plural. The ending may also be spelled out with the quail chick and two reeds or strokes. Whatever the spelling, the transliteration writes -wj or -tj.
Why it works
Common mistake
The Two Lands were a favorite theme of royal art. A motif called smꜣ-tꜣwj “uniting the Two Lands” shows two figures tying the plants of Upper and Lower Egypt together, often carved on the sides of royal thrones. The dual in the king’s title nb tꜣwj carries the same idea: one ruler over a land made of two halves.
Worked example: Two arms
- ꜥ “arm” is masculine.
- Masculine dual: ꜥ + wj.
Answer: ꜥwj
Worked example: Masculine
- Masculine: add -wj.
Answer: nṯrwj “the two gods”
Worked example: Feminine
- Feminine: the t stays, add j: -tj.
Answer: zꜣtj “the two daughters”