Latin declensions

Latin declensions

(Latin is an example of an inflected language).

In an inflected language nouns, pronouns and adjectives decline with the result that their form changes according to word meaning and grammatical requirement.

Brief and incomplete introduction to the declension of Latin nouns - missing out exceptions and riddled with sufficient errors to make J. Caesar wince (et tu Brute).

In Latin, nouns, adjectives and pronouns decline.

Declension of Latin nouns

Latin nouns are divided into five groups, and each of these decline differently and so have different endings. There are also numerous exceptions which means that ideally you need to learn by heart not only how to decline regular nouns for each declension (from which you decline any regular noun), but the irregulars or exceptions.

A good approach is to learn well (or over learn) the regular nouns and not worry to much about the irregulars. It is also worth remembering that in Latin, as in other languages, certain forms of the nouns are used more than other, and it is worth concentrating on these.

Why is declension of nouns important ?

Sentence order is flexible in Latin. In English, sentence structure is Subject, Verb, Object. In Latin, the word order could be Verb Subject Object or some other combination. You can re-arrange the sentence into a way that makes sense by understanding the grammar, and you can’t do this unless you know whether a noun is in the nominative, vocative …. Case etc.

First declension nouns

For example, in Latin, hasta (spear), a first declension noun is declined as follows. The endings after the dash change depending on the meaning but the first part of the word (the stem) remains the same.

hast - a
hast - a
hast - am
hast - ae
hast - ae
hast - a

hast - ae
Hast - ae
Hast - as
Hast -arum
Hast - is
Hast - is

Second declension nouns

Annus (year) is an example of a noun classed as second declension in Latin.

Annus
Annue
Annum
Anni
Anno
Anno

Anni
Anni
Annos
Annorum
Annis
Annis

As was mentioned earlier, even within declensions, not all nouns are declined in the same way.

Second declension nouns are split into two groups, and the group a noun falls within is dependent on its ending in the nominative and genative singular. Nouns with the nominative singular - us will decline following the pattern of annus. However, second declension nouns with the ending -um will decline following the pattern of bellum (war).

Bellum
Bellum
Bellum
Belli
Bello
Bello

Bella
Bella
Bella
Bellorum
Bellis
Bellis

Third declension nouns

Third declension nouns are classed depending on whether their stems are consonant or I-stems. In other words, dependent on whether the stem ends in a consonant or -I.

I-Stems

Civis, is (citizen) is an example of an I-Stem The stem is civi-

Civis
Civis
Civem
Civis
Civi
Cive

Cives
Cives
Cives

Civium
Civibus
Civibus

Third declension nouns - Consonant Stems

Consonant stems are further split into gutteral, dentals, labials and more and the following is incomplete but probably sufficient for the casual Latin learner.

Rex
Rex
Regem
Regis
Regi
Rege

Reges
Reges
Reges
Regum
Regibus
Regibus

Pes
Pes
Pedem
Pedis
Pedi
Pede

Pedes
Pedes
Pedes
Pedum
Pedibus
Pedibus

Princeps
Princeps
Principem
Principis
Principi
Principe

Principes
Principes
Principes
Principium
Principibus
Principibus

Flos
Flos
Florem
Floris
Flori
Flore

Flores
Flores
Flores
Florum
Floribus
Floribus

How to learn Latin

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