Five Dual Nouns Meaning “the Sun and the Moon”

قَمَر

root: ق-م-ر / noun / plural: أَقمار / definition: moon, satellite

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We usually use dual nouns in Arabic to refer to two of the same thing. Like يَومان, “two days”, and مَكتَبَتان, “two libraries”. But sometimes, the dual is used to refer to two things that are usually mentioned together—like the Sun and the Moon.

Remember that the dual endings are: ـانِ for words in the nominative case (مرفوع), and ـَينِ for words in the accusative or genitive (منصوب or مجرور). In the following list, the dual nouns are written in the nominative.

Here are five dual nouns meaning “the Sun and the Moon:

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الأَزهَران

root: ز-ه-ر

The root ز-ه-ر is related to being radiant or shining. أَزهَر is the superlative form, so “the most radiant or shining”.

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القَمَران

root: ق-م-ر

القمران is literally the dual form of قَمَر (“moon”). But the root has a few interesting core meanings. It can refer to a cloudy white colour or being dazzled by light (even in the sense of snow-blindness).

I mean, the root is also related to gambling, but I think that’s irrelevant here.

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النَيِّران

root: ن-و-ر

نَيِّر means “luminous”, “brightly lit”, or “conspicuous”, and it’s derived from the root of fire (نار) and light (نور).

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الأَنوَران

root: ن-و-ر

This one is from the same root as above, أَنوَر is the superlative form meaning “the most luminous or bright”.

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الدائِبان

root: د-ء-ب

الدائبان is more commonly used to refer to the day-and-night pair (الليل والنهار)—but it can also refer to the Sun and Moon.

دائِب is the form I active participle meaning “persistent” or “tireless”—referencing the incessant cycle of the day/Sun and the night/Moon.

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Note that all of these dual words are actually attributes, and can be used as both adjectives and nouns.

I wonder if there are any more dual nouns to refer to this celestial pair… Have you heard of any others?

!إلى اللقاء

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