Latin declension

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Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender. For simple declension paradigms, visit the Wiktionary appendices: First declension, Second declension, Third declension, Fourth declension, Fifth declension.

Contents

[edit] Grammatical cases

A complete declension consists of seven grammatical cases:

  • The nominative case, which is used to express the subject of a statement. It is also used with copulative verbs.
  • The vocative case, which is used to address someone or something in direct speech. This case is indicated in English by intonation or punctuation, e.g. "Mary is going to the store" ("Mary" is nominative) compared to "Mary, are you going to the store?" or "Mary!" ("Mary" is vocative).
  • The accusative case, which expresses the direct object of a verb. In English, except for a small number of words which display a distinct accusative case (e.g., who > whom), the accusative and nominative cases are identical.
  • The genitive case, which expresses possession, measurement, or source. In English, the genitive case is represented analytically by the preposition of or by the enclitic "–'s", which itself developed from the genitive case. This –'s closely resembles the Latin suffix "–is".
  • The dative case, which expresses the recipient of an action, the indirect object of a verb. In English, the prepositions to, from and for most commonly denote this case analytically.
  • The ablative case, which expresses separation, indirection, or the means by which an action is performed. In English, the prepositions by, with, from, in and on are most commonly used to indicate this case.
  • The locative case, which is used to express the place in or on which, or the time at which, an action is performed. The locative case is extremely marginal in Latin, applying only to the names of cities and small islands and to a few other isolated words, and is identical to the genitive case (in the first and second declension singular), the dative case (in the first and second declension plural and in the third declension) or the ablative case (fourth and fifth declension).

The sequence of the grammatical cases above has been the usual order in Britain and many European and Commonwealth countries since the publication of Hall Kennedy's Latin Primer (1866). This order is argued to reflect the tendencies of different cases to share similar endings. NOM-GEN-DAT-ACC-ABL-VOC is standard in North America, and in fact goes back to Byzantine grammarians originally writing about Greek. In modern American texts, there is an increasing tendency to put the VOC at the end due to it appearing so rarely as to not disturb the order of the 4½ declensions that it does not appear in.

In Polish-language Latin learner texts, the most common order is NOM-GEN-DAT-ACC-ABL-VOC, which is a similar order to the one conventionally adopted for Modern Polish. Likewise, in German textbooks, the order NOM-GEN-DAT-ACC-VOC-ABL is used, to mirror the conventional order of the four grammatical cases of Modern German (NOM-GEN-DAT-ACC). The same order is used in Italian textbooks, although Italian has no grammatical cases. In Dutch textbooks, the order NOM-GEN-DAT-ACC-ABL-VOC is predominant. Dutch doesn't have grammatical cases, but this order is the most convenient because it corresponds to the traditional order used in ancient Greek and modern German, two languages which are often taught besides Latin in secondary school. However, Brazilian grammarian Napoleão Mendes uses the unusual sequence NOM-VOC-GEN-DAT-ABL-ACC. Finnish Latin text books usually use the order NOM-ACC-GEN-DAT-ABL (The vocative case is used only in the second declension and the locative case is not usually taught alongside the other cases, but, instead, it is separated into its own chapter).

[edit] Syncretic trends

Syncretism, where one form in a paradigm shares the ending of another form in the paradigm, is common in Latin. The following are the most notable patterns of syncretism:

  • The accusative is always identical to the nominative in the neuter (both singular and plural, across all declensions). In addition, the accusative is the same as the nominative in the plural of the third, fourth and fifth declensions (but note the alternative –īs accusative plural ending for i-stem nominals, different from nominative –ēs).
  • The vocative is always identical to the nominative in the plural, and also in the singular except in the second declension and a few Greek nouns. For example, the vocative of Aeneās is Aenea, although Aeneās is first declension.
  • The dative is always the same as the ablative in the plural, and in the singular in the second declension, the third-declension full i-stems i.e. neuter i-stems, adjectives), and fourth-declension neuters.
  • The genitive singular is the same as the nominative plural in first-, second-declension, and fourth declension nouns that are not neuter.
  • The dative singular is the same as the genitive singular in first- and fifth-declension nouns.
  • Plural neuter nominative/accusative always ends in -a (with a few exceptions: demonstrative hic and related istic and illic, relative/interrogative quī and friends; in all of them, the neuter plural takes the same form as feminine singular nominative).
  • The accusative singular ends in short vowel plus -m, except for a few neuters with unusual base forms.
  • The accusative plural (assuming not neuter) ends in a long vowel plus -s; so does the nominative plural of the third, fourth and fifth declensions (again assuming not neuter).

[edit] History and development of the Latin case system

A careful study of the declensions of Latin will reveal that originally there were only two patterns of ending; those of the first and second declension and those of the third declension. It was common for some words to borrow endings from the other set of endings which is why we see words like animabus in place of animis. This process also likely helped to give birth to the fourth and fifth declensions. Also note that all adjectives follow either the pattern of the first and second declensions or that of the third. The pattern of the first and second declensions as seen in Old Latin clearly show a mutual origin with the first and second declensions of Ancient Greek.

First declension, land Second declension, word
Greek Old Latin Classical Latin Greek Old Latin Classical Latin
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative chora chorai terra terrai terra terrae logos logoi logos logoi logus logi
Vocative chora chorai terra terrai terra terrae loge logoi loge logoi loge logi
Accusative choran choras terram terras terram terras logon logous logom logos logum logos
Genitive choras choron terras terrom terrae terrarum logou logon logoi logom logi logorum
Dative chora chorais terrai terrais terrae terris logoi logon logoi logom logo logis
Ablative —— —— terrad terris terrā terris —— —— logod logois logo logis

However, we see that in the third declension, even cognates between Greek and Latin have very different endings in Latin. This probably shows that the third declension is a Latin-specific development, though this has yet to be proved completely.[citation needed]

leon, –is
lion
Greek Old Latin Classical Latin
Nominative Leon Leon Leo
Vocative Leon Leon Leon
Accusative Leonta Leonem Leonem
Genitive Leontos Leonis Leonis
Dative Leonti Leonei Leoni
Ablative XXX Leoneid Leone
Nominative Leontes Leones Leones
Vocative Leontes Leones Leones
Accusative Leontas Leones Leones
Genitive Leonton Leonom Leonum
Dative Leousi Leonebos Leonibus
Ablative XXX Leonebus Leonibus

As seen here, the Greek and Latin are somewhat similar, but are more different than they are similar. It is likely that if these declensions ever were the same in the past that they began to separate far sooner than the first and second declensions.[citation needed] New words being brought into Latin were usually put into the Third declension and this may reveal the fact that the basic grammatical thinking of the Latins was along the lines of the Third declension and that the First and Second are the exceptions.[citation needed]

[edit] First declension (a)

Nouns of this declension usually end in –a and are typically feminine, for example 'road' (via, viae fem.) and 'water' (aqua, aquae fem.), with a few masculine exceptions, including 'farmer' (agricola, agricolae masc.), 'sailor' (nauta, nautae masc.), 'charioteer' (auriga, aurigae masc.), 'inhabitant' (incola, incolae masc.), 'pirate' (pīrāta, pīrātae masc.), 'writer' (scrība, scrībae masc.), and 'poet' (poēta, poētae masc). The predominant letter in the ending forms of this declension is a. The nominative singular form consists of the stem and the affix -a, and the genitive singular form is the stem plus -ae.

puella, –ae
girl, maiden f.
Singular Plural
Nominative puella –a puellae –ae
Vocative puella –a puellae –ae
Accusative puellam –am puellās –ās
Genitive puellae –ae puellārum –ārum
Dative puellae –ae puellīs –īs
Ablative puellā –ā puellīs –īs

[edit] First declension Greek nouns

The first declension also holds three types of Greek nouns. They are declined irregularly in the singular. These nouns are derived from Ancient Greek's Alpha Declension.

neaniās, –ae
boy, chap m.		 psychē, –ēs
psyche, mind, spirit f.		 athlētēs, –ae
athlete, wrestler m.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative neaniās –ās neaniae –ae psychē –ē psychae –ae athlētēs –ēs athlētae –ae
Vocative neaniā –ā neaniae –ae psychē –ē psychae –ae athlētēs –ēs3 athlētae –ae
Accusative neaniān –ān1 neaniās –ās psychēn –ēn psychās –ās athlētēn –ēn athlētās –ās
Genitive neaniae –ae neaniārum –ārum psychēs –ēs psychārum –ārum athlētae –ae athlētārum –ārum
Dative neaniae –ae neaniīs –īs psychae –ae psychīs –īs athlētae –ae athlētīs –īs
Ablative neaniā –ā neaniīs –īs psychē –ē psychīs –īs athlētē –ē2 athlētīs –īs

1—may be –am
2—may be –ā
3—may be –a

Sometimes, Greek nouns may be declined as if they were native, Latin nouns. For example, athlētēs may be athlēta.

[edit] Peculiarities

  • The older genitive singular termination is an –ās. This is often used with familia as in pater familiās and māter familiās.
  • In poetry, the genitive singular –āī occurs. Aquae becomes aquāī.
  • The genitive plural ending –um replaces –ārum. This is actually a contraction. Puellum.
  • Because first declension nouns and second declension nouns display an –īs in the dative and ablative plural, words like equus (horse) and equa (mare) will end up looking alike in these cases. However, if a distinction must be made, equīs for 'mares' would become equābus in the dative and ablative plural.

[edit] Second declension (o)

The second declension is a large group of nouns consisting of mostly masculine nouns like equus, equī ("horse") and puer, puerī ("boy') and neuter nouns like castellum, castellī ("fort"), with a few feminine exceptions including names of gemstones, trees, and some cities. In the nominative singular, most masculine nouns consist of the stem and the affix -us, although some end in -er, which is not necessarily attached to the complete stem. Neuter nouns generally have a nominative singular consisting of the stem and the ending -um. However, every second-declension noun has the affix -ī attached as a suffix to the root of the noun in the genitive singular form. The predominant letter in the ending forms of this declension is o.

campus, –ī
field, plain m.		 bellum, –ī
war n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative campus –us campī –ī bellum –um bella –a
Vocative campe –e campī –ī bellum –um bella –a
Accusative campum –um campōs –ōs bellum –um bella –a
Genitive campī –ī campōrum –ōrum bellī –ī bellōrum –ōrum
Dative campō –ō campīs –īs bellō –ō bellīs –īs
Ablative campō –ō campīs –īs bellō –ō bellīs –īs

[edit] Second declension R nouns

Some masculine nouns of the second declension end in an –er or an –ir in the nominative singular. The genitive singular must be learned to see if the E is dropped. For example, socer, –erī keeps its E. Though, in magister, –trī drops its E. (The I in nouns that have –ir in the nominative singular is never dropped.) Below is an example of magister and armiger.

magister, –trī
teacher, director m.		 armiger, –erī
armor-bearer m.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative magister –er magistrī –ī armiger –er armigerī –ī
Vocative magister –er magistrī –ī armiger –er armigerī –ī
Accusative magistrum –um magistrōs –ōs armigerum –um armigerōs –ōs
Genitive magistrī –ī magistrōrum –ōrum armigerī –ī armigerōrum –ōrum
Dative magistrō –ō magistrīs –īs armigerō –ō armigerīs –īs
Ablative magistrō –ō magistrīs –īs armigerō –ō armigerīs –īs

[edit] Second declension Greek nouns

There are two types of masculine Greek nouns, and there is one type of neuter Greek noun. These nouns are irregular only in the singular as are their first declension counterparts. Greek nouns in the second declension are derived from Omicron Declension.

barbitos, –ī
lyre, zither m.		 archigōs, –ō
head, top m.		 theātron, –ī
theatre, amphitheatre n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative barbitos –os barbitī –ī archigōs –ōs archigī –ī theātron –on theātra –a
Vocative barbite –e barbitī –ī archigōs –ōs archigī –ī theātron –on theātra –a
Accusative barbiton –on barbitōs –ōs archigōn –ōn archigōs –ōs theātron –on theātra –a
Genitive barbitī –ī barbitōrum –ōrum archigō –ō1 archigōrum –ōrum theātrī –ī theātrōrum –ōrum
Dative barbitō –ō barbitīs –īs archigō –ō archigīs –īs theātrō –ō theātrīs –īs
Ablative barbite –e barbitīs –īs archigō –ō archigīs –īs theātrō –ō theātrīs –īs

1—may be –ī

Some Greek nouns may be declined as normal, Latin nouns. For example, theātron can appear as theātrum.

[edit] Peculiarities

  • Nouns ending with –vus, –quus and –vum may be declined in two ways. The following inflection resembles Old Latin.
servos, –ī
slave, servant m.		 equos, –ī
horse m.		 aevom, –ī
eternity, age n.
Singular Singular Singular
Nominative servos –os equos –os aevom –om
Vocative serve –e eque –e aevom –om
Accusative servom –om equom –om aevom –om
Genitive servī –ī equī –ī aevī –ī
Dative servō –ō equō –ō aevō –ō
Ablative servō –ō equō –ō aevō –ō
  • The plural of deus (god, deity) is also irregular.
Nom. dī
Voc. dī
Acc. deōs
Gen. deōrum
Dat. dīs
Abl. dīs
  • The vocative singular of deus is also irregular, and identical to the nominative: deus.

[edit] Third declension (i)

The third declension is the largest group of nouns. These nouns may end in –a,–e, –ī, –ō, –y, –c, –l, –n, –r, –s, –t, or –x It consists of masculine, neuter, and feminine nouns of variable nominative cases and roots. The third declension includes flumen, fluminis neut. ("river"), flos, floris masc. ("flower"), and pax, pacis fem. ("peace"). Each noun has the affix -is as a suffix attached to the root of the noun in the genitive singular form. Masculine, feminine and neuter nouns each have their own special nominative singular endings. For instance, only masculine nouns end in an –or (amor). Only feminine nouns end in an –īx (phoenīx), and only neuter nouns end in an –us (onus). As in all declensions, some nouns defy these rules.

prīnceps, –cipis
leader, chief, prince m.		 phoenīx, –īcis
phoenix, fire-bird f.		 cōnāmen, –inis
effort, struggle n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative prīnceps –ps prīncipēs –ēs phoenīx –īx phoenīcēs –ēs cōnāmen –en cōnāmina –a
Vocative prīnceps –ps prīncipēs –ēs phoenīx –īx phoenīcēs –ēs cōnāmen –en cōnāmina –a
Accusative prīncipem –em prīncipēs –ēs phoenīcem –em phoenīcēs –ēs cōnāmen –en1 cōnāmina –a
Genitive prīncipis –is prīncipum –um phoenīcis –is phoenīcum –um cōnāminis –is cōnāminum –um
Dative prīncipī –ī prīncipibus –ibus phoenīcī –ī phoenīcibus –ibus cōnāminī –ī cōnāminibus –ibus
Ablative prīncipe –e prīncipibus –ibus phoenīce –e phoenīcibus –ibus cōnāmine –e cōnāminibus –ibus

1—The nominative and accusative of neuter nouns are always identical. It should not be assumed that –en is always the appropriate ending, as it might appear above.

[edit] Third declension i-stem nouns

The third declension also has a set of nouns which are declined differently. They are called i-stems. One can tell whether a word is an i-stem or not based on the following criteria.

  • Masculine & Feminine
    • Parisyllabic Rule: Some masculine and feminine third declension i-stem nouns have the same number of syllables in the genitive as they do in the nominative. For example: amnis, –is
    • Double-Consonant Rule: The rest of the masculine and feminine third declension i-stem nouns have two consonants before the –is in the genitive singular. For example: pars, partis
  • Neuter
    • Special Neuter Ending: Neuter third declension i-stems have no rule. However, all of them end in either an –al, –ar or –e. For example: animal, –ālis
amnis, –is
stream, torrent m.		 pars, partis
part, piece f.		 animal, –ālis
animal, living being n.
Parisyllabic Rule Double Consonant Rule Special Neuter Ending
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative amnis –is amnēs –ēs pars –rs partēs –ēs animal –al animālia –ia
Vocative amnis –is amnēs –ēs pars –rs partēs –ēs animal –al animālia –ia
Accusative amnem –em1 amnēs –ēs2 partem –em1 partēs –ēs2 animal –al animālia –ia
Genitive amnis –is amnium –ium partis –is partium –ium animālis –is animālium –ium
Dative amnī –ī amnibus –ibus partī –ī partibus –ibus animālī –ī animālibus –ibus
Ablative amne –e3 amnibus –ibus parte –e3 partibus –ibus animālī –ī animālibus –ibus

1—may end in –im
2—may end in –īs
3—may end in –ī

[edit] Peculiarities

In the third declension, there are four irregular nouns.

Case
vis
force, power f.		 sūs, suis
swine, pig, hog c.		 bōs, bovis
ox, bullock c.		 Iuppiter, Iovis
Jupiter m.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular
Nominative vis vīrēs sūs suēs bōs bovēs Iuppiter
Vocative vis vīrēs sūs suēs bōs bovēs Iupitter
Accusative vim vīrēs suem suēs bovem bovēs Iovem
Genitive roboris1 vīrium suis suum bovis bovum Iovis
Dative robori1 vīribus suī subus bovī bōbus Iovī
Ablative vī vīribus sue subus bove bōbus Iove

1—Borrowed from robur, roboris (oak)

[edit] Fourth declension (u)

The fourth declension is a group of nouns consisting of mostly masculine words like 'wave' (fluctus, fluctūs masc.) and 'port' (portus, portūs masc.) with a few feminine exceptions, including 'hand' (manus, manūs fem.). The fourth declension also includes several neuter nouns like 'knee' (genu, genūs neut.). Each noun has the affix -ūs as a suffix attached to the root of the noun in the genitive singular form. The predominant letter in the ending forms of this declension is u.

portus, –ūs
port, haven, harbor m.		 cornū, –ūs
horn, strength n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative portus –us portūs –ūs cornū –ū cornua –ua
Vocative portus –us portūs –ūs cornū –ū cornua –ua
Accusative portum –um portūs –ūs cornū –ū cornua –ua
Genitive portūs –ūs portuum –uum cornūs –ūs cornuum –uum
Dative portuī –uī portibus –ibus cornū –ū cornibus –ibus
Ablative portū –ū portibus –ibus cornū –ū cornibus –ibus

In the dative and ablative plural, –ibus may be replaced with –ubus. This is so for only a few nouns.

The declension of domus is irregular:

domus, –ūs
house, home m.
Singular Plural
Nominative domus –us domūs –ūs
Vocative domus –us domūs –ūs
Accusative domum –um domos –os
Genitive domūs –ūs domōrum –ōrum
Dative domuī –uī domibus –ibus
Ablative domō –ō domibus –ibus
Locative domi –i domibus –ibus

[edit] Fifth declension (e)

The fifth declension is a small group of nouns consisting of mostly feminine words like 'affair, matter, thing' (rēs, reī fem.) and 'day' (diēs, diēī usually feminine, except on notable days when it is masculine). Each noun has either the affix -ēī or –eī as a suffix attached to the root of the noun in the genitive singular form.

effigiēs, –ēī
effigy, ideal f.		 spēs, –eī
hope, anticipation f.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative effigiēs –ēs effigiēs –ēs spēs –ēs spēs –ēs
Vocative effigiēs –ēs effigiēs –ēs spēs –ēs spēs –ēs
Accusative effigiem –em effigiēs –ēs spem –em spēs –ēs
Genitive effigiēī –ēī effigiērum –ērum speī –eī spērum –ērum
Dative effigiēī –ēī effigiēbus –ēbus speī –eī spēbus –ēbus
Ablative effigiē –ē (effigiēbus) –ēbus spē –ē (spēbus) –ēbus

Note that nouns ending in iēs have long ēī in the dative and genitive, while nouns ending in a consonant + ēs have short eī in these cases.

This declension class is the last to develop in Latin.

[edit] Pronoun declensions

Relative and demonstrative pronouns are generally declined like first and second declension adjectives, with the following differences:

  • the nominatives are often irregular
  • the dative singular ends in -ī: rather than -ae or -ō.
  • the genitive singular ends in -īus rather than -ae or -ī.

These differences identify the "pronominal" declension, and a few adjectives also follow this pattern.

[edit] Personal Pronouns

The first and second persons are irregular. They may be only masculine or feminine.

First Person Second Person
ego, meī
I m. and f.		 nōs, nostrum
we m. and f.		 tū, tuī
thou m. and f.		 vōs, vestrum
ye m. and f.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative ego nōs tū vōs
Vocative —— —— tū vōs
Accusative mē nōs tē vōs
Genitive meī nostrum1 tuī vestrum1
Dative mihi nōbīs tibi vōbīs
Ablative mē nōbīs tē vōbīs

1—may be nostrī or vestrī

Usually, to show the ablative of accompaniment, cum would be added to the ablative form. Though, with personal pronouns and the interrogative (not with 3rd person), cum is added on to the end of the ablative form. For example: mēcum, nōbīscum, tēcum, vōbīscum and quōcum (sometimes quīcum).

is, eī
he, they m.		 ea, eae
she, they f.		 id, ea
it, they n.
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative is eī, iī ea eae id ea
Vocative - - - - - -
Accusative eum eōs eam eās id ea
Genitive eius eōrum eius eārum eius eōrum
Dative eī eīs, iīs eī eīs, iīs eī eīs, iīs
Ablative eō eīs, iīs eā eīs, iīs eō eīs, iīs

The third person reflexive pronouns always refer back to the subject whether it be singular or plural.

—, suī
himself, herself
itself, oneself, themselves
Nominative —
Vocative -
Accusative sē, sēsē
Genitive suī
Dative sibi
Ablative sē, sēsē

[edit] Interrogative Pronouns

The interrogative pronouns are used strictly for asking questions. It is best not to confuse them with the relative pronoun and the interrogative adjective (which is declined like the relative pronoun). Interrogative pronouns rarely occur in the plural, though they may. The plural interrogative pronouns are the same as the plural relative pronouns.

quis
who? m. and f.		 quid
what? n. only
Singular
Nominative quis quid
Vocative - -
Accusative quem quid
Genitive cūius cūius
Dative cui cui
Ablative quō quō

[edit] Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives

hic, haec, hōc
this, this one		 ille, illa, illud
that, that one
Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative hic hī haec hae hōc haec ille illī illa illae illud illa
Accusative hunc hōs hanc hās hōc haec illum illōs illam illās illud illa
Genitive hūius hōrum hūius hārum hūius hōrum illīus illōrum illīus illārum illīus illōrum
Dative huic hīs huic hīs huic hīs illī illīs illī illīs illī illīs
Ablative hōc hīs hāc hīs hōc hīs illō illīs illā illīs illō illīs
  • Another demonstrative pronoun iste, ista, istud, which means 'that of yours', and the intensive pronoun ipse, ipsa, ipsum follow the preceding declension.

[edit] Relative pronouns

quī, quae, quod
who, which, that
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative quī quī quae quae quod quae
Accusative quem quōs quam quās quod quae
Genitive cūius quōrum cūius quārum cūius quōrum
Dative cui quibus cui quibus cui quibus
Ablative quō quibus quā quibus quō quibus

[edit] Indefinite Pronouns

[edit] Definite Pronouns

[edit] First and second declension adjectives

First and second declension are inflected in the masculine, the feminine and the neuter; the masculine form typically ends in –us (although some end in -er, see below), the feminine form ends in –a, and the neuter form ends in –um. Therefore, adjectives are given like altus, alta, altum.

altus, –a, –um
high, long, tall
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative altus –us altī –ī alta –a altae –ae altum –um alta –a
Vocative alte –e altī –ī alta –a altae –ae altum –um alta –a
Accusative altum –um altōs –ōs altam –am altās –ās altum –um alta –a
Genitive altī –ī altōrum –ōrum altae –ae altārum –ārum altī –ī altōrum –ōrum
Dative altō –ō altīs –īs altae –ae altīs –īs altō –ō altīs –īs
Ablative altō –ō altīs –īs altā –ā altīs –īs altō –ō altīs –īs

[edit] First and second declension –r adjectives

Some first and second declension adjectives' masculine form end in an –er. As with second declension nouns –r nouns, some adjectives retain the e throughout inflection, and some omit it. Sacer, sacra, sacrum omits its e while miser, misera, miserum keeps it.

miser, –era, –erum
sad, poor, unhappy
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative miser –er miserī –ī misera –a miserae –ae miserum –um misera –a
Vocative miser –er miserī –ī misera –a miserae –ae miserum –um misera –a
Accusative miserum –um miserōs –ōs miseram –am miserās –ās miserum –um misera –a
Genitive miserī –ī miserōrum –ōrum miserae –ae miserārum –ārum miserī –ī miserōrum –ōrum
Dative miserō –ō miserīs –īs miserae –ae miserīs –īs miserō –ō miserīs –īs
Ablative miserō –ō miserīs –īs miserā –ā miserīs –īs miserō –ō miserīs –īs
sacer, –cra, –crum
sacred, holy
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative sacer –er sacrī –ī sacra –a sacrae –ae sacrum –um sacra –a
Vocative sacer –er sacrī –ī sacra –a sacrae –ae sacrum –um sacra –a
Accusative sacrum –um sacrōs –ōs sacram –am sacrās –ās sacrum –um sacra –a
Genitive sacrī –ī sacrōrum –ōrum sacrae –ae sacrārum –ārum sacrī –ī sacrōrum –ōrum
Dative sacrō –ō sacrīs –īs sacrae –ae sacrīs –īs sacrō –ō sacrīs –īs
Ablative sacrō –ō sacrīs –īs sacrā –ā sacrīs –īs sacrō –ō sacrīs –īs

[edit] First and second –īus genitive adjectives

There are nine first and second declension adjectives that are irregular in the genitive and the dative in all genders. Here belong:

alius, –a, –ud; (gen. sing. alterīus to avoid aliīus); another
ūllus, –a, –um; any
uter, –tra, –trum; which (of two)
solus, –a, –um; sole, alone
alter, –era, –erum; the other (of two)
nūllus, –a, –um; no, none (of any)
neuter, –tra, –trum; neither (of two)
tōtus, –a, –um; whole
ūnus, –a, –um; one

ūllus, –a, –um
any
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative ūllus –us ūllī –ī ūlla –a ūllae –ae ūllum –um ūlla –a
Vocative ūlle –e ūllī –ī ūlla –a ūllae –ae ūllum –um ūlla –a
Accusative ūllum –um ūllōs –ōs ūllam –am ūllās –ās ūllum –um ūlla –a
Genitive ūllīus –īus ūllōrum –ōrum ūllīus –īus ūllārum –ārum ūllīus –īus ūllōrum –ōrum
Dative ūllī –ī ūllīs –īs ūllī –ī ūllīs –īs ūllī –ī ūllīs –īs
Ablative ūllō –ō ūllīs –īs ūllā –ā ūllīs –īs ūllō –ō ūllīs –īs

[edit] Third declension adjectives

Third declension adjectives are, of course, declined like third declension i-stem nouns.

[edit] Third declension adjectives with one ending

Third declension adjectives with one ending have single nominative ending for all genders. Like nouns, a genitive is given for the purpose of inflection.

atrōx, –ōcis
terrible, mean, cruel
Masculine & Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative atrōx –ōx atrōcēs –ēs atrōx –ōx atrōcia –ia
Vocative atrōx –ōx atrōcēs –ēs atrōx –ōx atrōcia –ia
Accusative atrōcem –em atrōcēs –ēs1 atrōx –ōx atrōcia –ia
Genitive atrōcis –is atrōcium –ium atrōcis –is atrōcium –ium
Dative atrōcī –ī atrōcibus –ibus atrōcī –ī atrōcibus –ibus
Ablative atrōcī –ī2 atrōcibus –ibus atrōcī –ī2 atrōcibus –ibus

1—may end in –īs
2—may end in –e

[edit] Third declension adjectives with 2 endings

Third declension adjectives that have 2 endings have one form for the masculine and feminine, and a separate form for the neuter. The ending for the masculine and feminine is –is, and the ending for the neuter is –e. Because the sexed form ends in an –is, we find the adjective genitive singular.

agilis, –e
nimble, swift
Masculine & Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative agilis –is agilēs –ēs agile –e agilia –ia
Vocative agilis –is agilēs –ēs agile –e agilia –ia
Accusative agilem –em agilēs –ēs1 agile –e agilia –ia
Genitive agilis –is agilium –ium agilis –is agilium –ium
Dative agilī –ī agilibus –ibus agilī –ī agilibus –ibus
Ablative agilī –ī agilibus –ibus agilī –ī agilibus –ibus

1—may end in –īs

[edit] Third declension adjectives with three endings

Third declension adjectives with three endings have three separate nominative forms for all three genders. Like third and second declension –r nouns, the masculine ends in an –er. The feminine ends in an –ris, and the neuter ends in an –re. With that information, we come upon the genitive singular needed for inflection, the feminine form.

celer, –eris, –ere
swift, rapid, brash
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative celer –er celerēs –ēs celeris –is celerēs –ēs celere –e celeria –ia
Vocative celer –er celerēs –ēs celeris –is celerēs –ēs celere –e celeria –ia
Accusative celerem –em celerēs –ēs1 celerem –em celerēs –ēs1 celere –e celeria –ia
Genitive celeris –is celerium –ium celeris –is celerium –ium celeris –is celerium –ium
Dative celerī –ī celeribus –ibus celerī –ī celeribus –ibus celerī –ī celeribus –ibus
Ablative celerī –ī celeribus –ibus celerī –ī celeribus –ibus celerī –ī celeribus –ibus
alacer, –cris, –cre
lively, jovial, animated
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative alacer –er alacrēs –ēs alacris –is alacrēs –ēs alacre –e alacria –ia
Vocative alacer –er alacrēs –ēs alacris –is alacrēs –ēs alacre –e alacria –ia
Accusative alacrem –em alacrēs –ēs1 alacrem –em alacrēs –ēs1 alacre –e alacria –ia
Genitive alacris –is alacrium –ium alacris –is alacrium –ium alacris –is alacrium –ium
Dative alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus
Ablative alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus alacrī –ī alacribus –ibus

1—may end in –īs

[edit] Declension of numerals

See also: Roman numerals.

All numerals, except ūnum (one), duo (two), tria (three), mīlia (thousand, sing. mīlle) and ducentī (two-hundred) are indeclinable adjectives. Ūnus, ūna, ūnum is declined like a first and second declension adjective with an –īus in the genitive, and –ī in the dative. Duo is declined irregularly and tria is declined like a third declension adjective.

duo, duae, duo
two
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Plural
Nominative duo duae duo
Vocative duo duae duo
Accusative duōs duās duo
Genitive duōrum duārum duōrum
Dative duōbus duābus duōbus
Ablative duōbus duābus duōbus

It should be noted that ambō, "both", is declined as duo is, though its o is long.

trēs, tria
Masculine & Feminine Neuter
Plural
Nominative trēs tria
Vocative trēs tria
Accusative trēs, trīs tria
Genitive trium trium
Dative tribus tribus
Ablative tribus tribus

The word, mīlle, is singular, an adjective and indeclinable. However, its irregular plural, mīlia is used in the same way plūs is.

mīlia, mīlium
(a) thousand n.
Plural
Nominative mīlia
Vocative mīlia
Accusative mīlia
Genitive mīlium
Dative mīlibus
Ablative mīlibus

As stated before, the rest of the numbers are indeclinable adjectives. They are also indeclinable as substantives.

1 I ūnus, –a, –um 11 XI ūndecim 21 XXI ūnus et vigintī 101 CI centum et ūnus
2 II duo, –ae, –o 12 XII duodecim 22 XXII duō et vigintī 200 CC ducentī, –ae, –a
3 III trēs, –ia 13 XIII trēdecim 30 XXX trīgintā 300 CCC trecentī
4 IV quattuor 14 XIV quattuordecim 40 XL quadrāgintā 400 CD quadrigentī
5 V quīnque 15 XV quīndecim 50 L quīnquāgintā 500 D quīngentī
6 VI sex 16 XVI sēdecim 60 LX sexāgintā 600 DC sescentī
7 VII septem 17 XVII septendecim 70 LXX septuāgintā 700 DCC septingentī
8 VIII octō 18 XVIII duodēvigintī 80 LXXX octōgintā 800 DCCC octingentī
9 IX novem 19 XIX ūndēvigintī 90 XC nōnāgintā 900 CM nōngentī
10 X decem 20 XX vigintī 100 C centum 1000 M mīlle

[edit] Declension of īdem

The adjective īdem, eadem, idem means 'same.' It is a variant of the third person pronouns which were declined earlier. Generally, they are formed by adding –dem to a declined third person pronouns. However, some forms have been changed to ease pronunciation.

īdem, eadem, idem
the same, same as
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative īdem eīdem,
iīdem		 eadem eaedem idem eadem
Vocative īdem eīdem,
iīdem		 eadem eaedem idem eadem
Accusative eundem eōsdem eandem eāsdem idem eadem
Genitive eiusdem eōrundem eiusdem eārundem eiusdem eōrundem
Dative eīdem eīsdem,
iīsdem		 eīdem eīsdem,
iīsdem		 eīdem eīsdem,
iīsdem
Ablative eōdem eīsdem,
iīsdem		 eādem eīsdem,
iīsdem		 eōdem eīsdem,
iīsdem

[edit] Comparison and superlative forms of adjectives

As in English, adjectives have superlative and comparative forms. For regular first and second declension and third declension nouns with one or two endings, the comparison is formed by adding an –ior for the masculine and feminine, and an –ius for the neuter to the base. The genitive for both are formed by adding an –iōris. Therefore, they are declined like the third declension. However, they are not declined as i-stems are. Superlatives formed by adding an –issimus, –a, –um to the base. Now, we find that superlatives are declined like first and second declension adjectives.

Adjective Positive Comparative Superlative
benīgnus, –a, –um (kind, nice) benīgnior, –ius benīgnissimus, –a, –um
frīgidus, –a, –um (cold, chilly) frīgidior, –ius frīgidissimus, –a, –um
calidus, –a, –um (hot, fiery) calidior, –ius calidissimus, –a, –um
pūgnāx, –ācis (pugnacious) pūgnācior, –ius pūgnācissimus, –a, –um
fortis, –e (strong, robust) fortior, –ius fortissimus, –a, –um
aequālis, –e (equal, even) aequālior, –ius aequālissimus, –a, –um

[edit] Comparisons and superlatives of –er adjectives

Adjectives (in the third and first and second declensions) that have masculine nominative singular forms ending in –er have different forms. If the feminine and neuter forms drom the E, use that for the comparative form. The superlative is formed by adding an –rimus onto the masculine form.

Adjective Positive Comparative Superlative
pulcher, –cra, –crum (pretty, beautiful) pulchrior, –ius pulcherrimus, –a, –um
sacer, –cra, –crum (sacred, holy) sacrior, –ius sacerrimus, –a, –um
tener, –era, –erum (delicate, tender) tenerior, –ius tenerrimus, –a, –um
ācer, –cris, –cre (sharp) ācrior, –ius ācerrimus, –a, –um
celēber, –bris, –bre (celebrated, famous) celēbrior, –ius celēberrimus, –a, –um
celer, –eris, –ere (quick, fast) celerior, –ius celerrimus, –a, –um

[edit] Comparisons and superlatives of –lis adjectives

Some third declension adjectives with two endings in –lis in the sexed nominative singular have irregular superlative forms. It should be noted that the following are the only adjectives that have this unique form.

Adjective Positive Comparative Superlative
facilis, –e (easy) facilior, –ius facillimus, –a, –um
difficilis, –e (hard, difficult) difficilior, –ius difficillimus, –a, –um
similis, –e (similar, like) similior, –ius simillimus, –a, –um
dissimilis, –e (unlike, dissimilar) dissimilior, –ius dissimillimus, –a, –um
humilis, –e (low, humble) humilior, –ius humillimus, –a, –um

[edit] Irregular comparisons and superlatives

As in most languages, Latin has adjectives that have irregular comparisons and superlatives.

Adjective Positive Comparative Superlative
bonus, –a, –um (good) melior, –ius optimus, –a, –um
malus, –a, –um (bad, evil) peior, –ius pessimus, –a, –um
magnus, –a, –um (great, large) maior, –ius maximus, –a, –um
parvus, –a, –um (small, slight) minor, –us minimus, –a, –um
multus, –a, –um (much, many) plūs1 plurimus, –a, –um
nēquam2 (worthless) nēquior, –ius nēquissimus, –a, –um
posterus, –a, –um (next, future) posterior, –ius postremus, –a, –um
superus, –a, –um (above, upper) superior, –ius supremus, –a, –um
exterus, –a, –um (outer, outward) exterior, –ius extremus, –a, –um
novus, –a, –um (new, strange) recentior, –ius novissimus, –a, –um
senex, senis (old, aged) senior, –ius ——
iuvenis, –is (young, youthful) iunior, –ius ——
  • 1: noun used with genitive to express more of something
  • 2: indeclinable

[edit] Adverbs and their comparisons and superlatives

To the relief of many Latin students, adverbs are not declined. However, adverbs must be formed if one wants to make an adjective into an adverb.

[edit] First and second declension adjectives' adverbs

First and second declension adjectives' adverbs are formed by adding an –ē onto their bases.

Adjective Adverb
clārus, –a, –um (clear, famous) clārē (clearly, famously)
validus, –a, –um (strong, robust) validē (strongly, robustly)
īnfīrmus, –a, –um (weak) īnfīrmē (weakly)
solidus, –a, –um (complete, firm) solidē (completely, firmly)
integer, –gra, –grum (whole, fresh) integrē (wholly, freshly)
līber, –era, –erum (free) līberē (freely)

[edit] Third declension adjectives' adverbs

Typically, third declension adjectives' adverbs are formed by adding an –iter onto their bases. However, most third declension adjectives with one ending simply add an –er to their bases.

Adjective Adverb
prūdēns, –entis (prudent) prūdenter (prudently)
audāx, –ācis (bold) audācter (boldly)
docilis, –e (docile) dociliter (docilely)
virilis, –e (courageous, spirited) viriliter (courageously, spiritedly)
salūber, –bris, –bre (wholesome) salūbriter (wholesomely)
pauper, –eris, –ere (meager) pauperiter (meagerly)

[edit] Adverbs' comparative and superlative forms

Adverbs' comparative forms are actually their neuter adjectives' comparative forms. Adverbs' superlative forms are made in the same way in which first and second declension adjectives' adverbs are made.

First and second declension adjectives' adverbs are formed by adding an –ē onto their bases.

Positive Comparative Superlative
clārē (clearly, famously) clārius clārissimē
solidē (completely, firmly) solidius solidissimē
līberē (freely) līberius līberissimē
prudenter (prudently) prudentius prudentissimē
dociliter (docile) docilius docilissimē
salūbriter (wholesomely) salūberius salūberissimē

[edit] Irregular adverbs and their comparative and superlative forms

As so with adjectives, there are irregular adverbs with peculiar comparative and superlative forms.

Positive Comparative Superlative
bene (well) melius optimē
male (ill, badly) peius pessimē
māgnoperē (greatly) magis maximē
multum (much, a lot) plūs plūrimum
nōn multum (little) minus minimē
nēquiter (worthlessly) nēquius nēquissimē
saepe (often) saepius saepissimē
mātūrē (seasonably, betimes) mātūrius māturrimē
prope (near) propius proximē
nūper (recently) —— nūperrimē
—— potius (rather) potissimē (especially)
—— prius (before, previously) prīmum1 (first)
secus (otherwise) sētius (less) ——
  • 1: may be prīmō

[edit] Peculiarities within declension

[edit] Irregularity in number

Some nouns are declined in the singular only. This is the case with:

  • Materials such as aurum (gold) and aes (copper)
  • Abstract nouns such as celeritās (speed) and scientia (knowledge)
  • Proper names such as Iulius (Julius) and Clāra (Clara)

There are nouns that are declined only in the plural as well (plurale tantum):

  • Many festivals, such as Saturnalia
  • Words like castra (camp) and arma (arms)
  • A few geological places are plural such as Thēbae (Thebes).

[edit] Indeclinable nouns

Indeclinable nouns are neuter nouns which occur only in the nominative and the accusative singular. There are only six such nouns:

  • fās — fate, divine law
  • īnstar — likeness
  • māne — morning (used in the ablative case as well)
  • nefās — sin, abomination
  • nihil — nothing, none
  • secus — sex, coitus

[edit] Heterogeneous nouns

Heterogeneous nouns are nouns which vary in respect to gender.

  • A few nouns in the second declension occur in both the neuter and masculine. However, their meanings remain the same.
  • Some nouns are one gender in the singular, but become another gender in the plural. They may also change in meaning.
Singular Plural
balneum n. bath balneae f. bath-house
epulum n. feast, banquet epulae f. feasts, banquets
frēnum n. bridle, curb frēnī m. bridle, curb
iocus m. joke, jest ioca n. jokes, jests
locus m. place, location loca n. places, locations; locī region
rāstrum n. hoe, rake rāstrī m. hoes, rakes

[edit] Plurals with alternative meanings

The nouns below have a specific singular meaning, yet have a different plural meaning.

Singular Plural
aedēs, –is f. building, temple aedēs, –ium rooms, house
auxilium, –ī n. help, aid auxilia, –ōrum auxiliary troops
carcer, –eris m. prison, cell carcerēs, –um starting-place of a chariot race
castrum, –ī n. fort, castle, fortress castra, –ōrum milit. camp, encampment
cōpia, –ae f. plenty, much, abundance cōpiae, –ārum troops
fīnis, –is m. end, boundary fīnēs, –ium territory
fortūna, –ae f. luck, chance fortūnae –ārum wealth
grātia, –ae f. charm, favor grātiae, –ārum thanks
impedīmentum, –ī m. impediment, hindrance impedīmenta, –ōrum baggage
littera, –ae f. letter (as in A, B, C, etc.) litterae, –ārum epistle, scholarship, literature
mōs, mōris m. habit, inclination mōrēs, –um m. morals, character
opera, –ae f. trouble, pains operae, –ārum workmen
ops, opis f. the goddess Ops (pers.), help opēs, –ium resources, wealth
pars, partis f. part, piece partēs, –ium office, function
sāl, salis m. salt, sea water salēs, –um wit, smarts

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_declension"
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