Classical Latin: declension of nouns
Nouns of the first declension are largely feminine but there are some masculine exceptions (eg poeta, agricola, nauta) whereas the second declension is either masculine or neuter for nouns ending in -um (eg regnum); some second declension nouns end in -er (eg soccer, liber). The third declension incorporates all genders (eg amor (m), vox (f), caput (n), and sometimes the genitive plural ends in -ium (eg, animalium, montium). Where this is the case the ablative singular ends in -ī and nominative and accusative plural forms end in -ia. The fourth declension includes two widely used feminines, which are manus and domus and a handful of neuters ending in -ū (eg cornū, with only the genitive singular being modified to cornūs). The plural for these ends in -ua (cornua). In the fifth declension you will only come across two feminines, which are diēs and meridiēs. The vocative form (cf 'et tu Brute') has been omitted.
| I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
|
| Singular |
|||||
| Nominative |
terra |
annus |
pēs |
gradus |
rēs |
| Accusative |
terram |
annum |
pedem |
gradum |
rem |
| Genitive |
terrae |
annī |
pedis |
gradūs |
reī |
| Dative |
terrae |
annō |
pedī |
graduī |
reī |
| Ablative |
terrā |
annō |
pede |
gradū |
rē |
| Plural |
|||||
| Nominative |
terrae |
annī |
pedēs |
gradūs |
rēs |
| Accusative |
terrās |
annōs |
pedēs |
gradūs |
rēs |
| Genitive |
terrārum |
annōrum |
pedum |
graduum |
rērum |
| Dative |
terrīs |
annīs |
pedibus |
gradibus |
rēbus |
| Ablative |
terrīs |
annīs |
pedibus |
gradibus |
rēbus |