Latin Declensions

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    • 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