Classical Latin: declension of nouns

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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

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