�� Grammar: Nouns

1st(M/F) 2nd(M) 2nd (N) 3rd (M/F)
3rd (N) 4th (M/F) 4th (N) 5th (M/F)

Declining a noun

A declension is a group of nouns (or adjectives) which has a specific pattern of case endings.

To decline a Latin noun means to add various case endings to the noun's stem in order to achieve a specific meaning. (For example, if a noun ends in -as [1st declension accusitive plural], it will be a direct object.)

You always form a noun stem by removing the ending from the noun's genitive singular. If you do not know the noun's genitive singular, you cannot form a noun stem and if you cannot form a noun stem, you cannot decline a noun.

First declension (M/F)

rosa, rosae, feminine, rose
(In this case, the stem is ros)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	rosa	rosae
Genitive	rosae	rosarum
Dative	rosae	rosis
Accusative	rosam	rosas
Ablative	rosa	rosis
Vocative	rosa	rosae

Second declension (M)

dominus, domini, masculine, master
(In this case, the stem is domin)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	dominus	domini
Genitive	domini	dominorum
Dative	domino	dominis
Accusative	dominum	dominos
Ablative	domino	dominis
Vocative	domine*	domini

*See "Case Usage" for more info on the vocative endings.

Second declension (N)

templum, templi, neuter, temple
(In this case, the stem is templ)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	templum	templa
Genitive	templi	templorum
Dative	templo	templis
Accusative	*templum	*templa
Ablative	templo	templis

*Note the the accusative is the same form as the nominative

Third declension (M/F)

consul, consulis, masculine, consul
(In this case, the stem is consul)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	consul	consules
Genitive	consulis	consulum
Dative	consuli	consulibus
Accusative	consulem	consules
Ablative	consule	consulibus

Third declension (N)

fulgur, fulguris, neuter, thunder
(In this case, the stem is fulgur)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	fulgur	fulgura
Genitive	fulguris	fulgurum
Dative	fulguri	fulguribus
Accusative	fulgur	fulgura
Ablative	fulgure	fulguribus

Fourth declension (M/F)

exercitus, exercitus, masculine, army
(In this case, the stem is exercit)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	exercitus	exercitus
Genitive	exercitus	exercituum
Dative	exercitui	exercitibus
Accusative	exercitum	exercitus
Ablative	exercitu	exercitibus

Fourth declension (N)

cornu, cornus, neuter, horn -or- wing of an army
(In this case, the stem is corn)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	cornu	cornua
Genitive	cornus	cornuum
Dative	cornui	cornibus
Accusative	cornu	cornua
Ablative	cornu	cornibus

Fifth declension (M/F)

res, rei, feminine, thing
(In this case, the stem is r)

CASE	SINGULAR	PLURAL
Nominative	res	res
Genitive	rei	rerurm
Dative	rei	rebus
Accusative	rem	res
Ablative	re	rebus