The nouns have no cases. A letter prefixed to the noun sometimes indicates the case: as, Ay`m, I; M`ay`m, to me; Akami, thou; M'akami, to thee.
The formation of the plural number of nouns is very difficult to beginners; for it is so various that hardly any rule can be set down. I give you some examples:
| Singular. | Plural. | |
| Laetar̂at, a son | Laetkaté, sons | |
| Lekàt, a metal | Lekachì, metals | |
| Ahëpegak, a horse | Ahëṕega, horses | |
| Yúihák, an ox | Yúihà, oxen | |
| Nekététàk, a goose | Neketéteri, geese | |
| Oachígranigà, a stag | Oachigranigal, stags | |
| Iñier̂à, the flower of | Iñiegari, flowers, or years | |
| the alfaroba, | or a year | |
| Neogà, a day | Neogotà, days | |
| Eergr̃aík, a star | Eèrgr̂aiè, stars | |
| Aápar̃aìk, linen or woollen cloth | Aapar̃aikà, pieces of cloth | |
| Yapòt, a brave man | Yapochì, brave men | |
| Lachaogè, a river | Lachaokè, rivers | |
| Letèk, the leaf of a tree | Letegkè, leaves | |
| Ketélk, a mule | Ketelr̂a, mules | |
| Panà, a root | Panarì, roots | |
| Ìíbichigì, angry, sing. | Ìíbichigeri, angry, plur. |
From these few examples it appears that nouns ending in the same letter have different plurals. Moreover, as the Greeks, beside a plural number, have also a dual by which they express two things, so the Abipones have two plurals, of which the one signifies more than one, the other many: thus Joalé, a man. Joaleè, or Joaleèna, some men. Joalíripì, many men. Ahëpegak, a horse. Ahëpega, some horses. Ahëpegeripì, many horses.
I wonder that the Abipones have not two words for the first person plural, we, like many other American nations. The Guaranies express it in two ways: they sometimes say, ñandè, sometimes ore. The first they call the inclusive, the second the exclusive. In their prayers, addressing God, they say, We sinners, ore angaypabiyà; because God is excluded from the number of sinners. Speaking with men, they say, ñandè angaypabiyà, because those whom they address are sinners likewise, and they accordingly use the inclusive ñandè.
As they have no possessive pronouns, mine, thine, his, the want of them is supplied in every noun, by the addition or alteration of various letters. Amongst the Abipones a great difficulty is occasioned by the various changes of the letters, especially in the second person. Take these examples. Netà, a father indeterminately. Yità, my father. Gretaỳ, thine. Letà, his. Gretà, our father. Gretayi, yours. Letai, theirs.
Naetar̃at, a son, without expressing whose. Yaetr̃at, my son. Graetr̃achi, thy son. Laetr̃at, his son.
Nepèp, a maternal grandfather. Yepèp, mine. Grepepè, thine. Lepèp, his.
Naàl, a grandson. Yaàl, mine. Graalí, thine. Laàl, his.
Nenàk, a younger brother. Yenàk, mine. Grenarè, thine. Lenàk, his.