paucal

Paucal is a grammatical number used to refer to a small, finite set of items, typically two to five. It sits between singular (one) and plural (many) in languages that mark it, and it often affects nouns, adjectives, pronouns, and sometimes verbs. In paucal systems, the form used for counting a small group can be distinct from both the singular and the plural.

The term paucal derives from the Latin paucus, meaning “few,” and is used in linguistic typology to describe a number category other than the basic singular and plural. It is not universally present in languages, but where it occurs, it helps speakers talk about small quantities without resorting to plural forms or bare numerals alone.

Morphology and syntax associated with paucal can vary widely. In some languages, paucal is marked with dedicated noun inflections, case endings, or stem modifications; in others, adjectives and demonstratives must agree with the paucal form, and verbs may show paucal agreement or take paucal markers. Other languages use numerals or quantifiers in combination with a separate paucal marker, or rely on syntactic context to convey the small-number meaning rather than a distinct morphological form.

Distribution and typology: Paucal is relatively rare compared with singular and plural and tends to appear in languages with rich nominal or verbal agreement systems. It may coexist with other number categories such as dual (two) or trial (three), or be part of a three-way system that includes singular, paucal, and plural. The precise range of items included in a paucal set—often two to four or five—varies by language.

See also: singular, plural, dual, trial, numeral.