Adjectives may also be used as nouns; however, identifying this use is usually problematic for beginners. Thankfully, when adjectives are used as nouns, they use the same endings as other nouns. In some cases, a determinative will follow the adjective-noun, in order to specify to whom or what the adjective is referring. Lets look at an example.

𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅪𓀀

nḏs

Poor man

In this example, the adjective nḏs, “poor, small”  is followed by the seated man determinative. With the addition of this determinative, we should more precisely translate this as “poor man.” If the seated woman determinative followed the word, “poor woman” would be more appropriate. A very common use of the adjective as a noun uses the feminine, singular gender and number. This use describes a “thing” as containing a certain quality. One often cited example is 𓄤𓆑𓂋 𓏏𓏛 nfrt, “a good thing.”  The book roll is commonly found as a determinative under these circumstances, but that is not always the case. Now, because adjectives can function as nouns, we find these adjective-nouns constructions similar to those where we find nouns, such as direct genitives or in noun phrases. One such construction has been termed the nfr ḥr construction by Egyptologists. In this construction, the adjective assumes the form of a noun and forms a noun phrase with the noun is precedes. For example, lets look at two words this construction is named after, nfr  and ḥr 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓁷𓏤. Here, nfr is used as a noun “a good one” and precedes the noun ḥr “face.” So, a literal translation could be  “a good one of face.” A more refined English translation would be “good of face”  This type of construction is commonly found after a god, king, or person, in order to qualify the type of person they are or a specific skill set they possess.