The document provides information about Latin noun declensions. It explains that nouns in Latin are divided into groups called declensions. It then provides detailed declension tables and explanations for each of the main declension types (1st, 2nd, 3rd) including gender, case, number and endings. It highlights some key points about each declension and exceptions like 3rd declension i-stem nouns. The overall purpose is to teach the learner the Latin noun declension system through examples and explanations.

1. NOUNS ARENOUNS ARE
AWESOME!AWESOME!
In Latin, nouns are divided intoIn Latin, nouns are divided into
groups or families calledgroups or families called
DECLENSIONS.DECLENSIONS.

2. What this slide show contains is full models for every typeWhat this slide show contains is full models for every type
of noun you have had thus far, plus notes for each ofof noun you have had thus far, plus notes for each of
them and explanations.them and explanations.
Now, if you have not memorized your noun models, youNow, if you have not memorized your noun models, you
must do it immediately. Every subsequent thing youmust do it immediately. Every subsequent thing you
learn is dependent upon these noun models.learn is dependent upon these noun models.
If you do not have them memorized, you will not be able toIf you do not have them memorized, you will not be able to
do exercises, translation passages, and other items.do exercises, translation passages, and other items.
All of the chapters assume that you have these memorizedAll of the chapters assume that you have these memorized
as do the exercises.as do the exercises.
In order to work as efficiently as possible, you must haveIn order to work as efficiently as possible, you must have
these in your brains.these in your brains.
Magistra Lido’s note on MACRONS: I use macrons when itMagistra Lido’s note on MACRONS: I use macrons when it
is convenient to tell the difference between two cases.is convenient to tell the difference between two cases.
Not all Latin passages will have them so you may needNot all Latin passages will have them so you may need
to rely on context or knowledge of declensions.to rely on context or knowledge of declensions.

3. FIRST DECLENSION NOUNSFIRST DECLENSION NOUNS
*mostly feminine*mostly feminine
*listed in vocab like*listed in vocab like puella, puellaepuella, puellae
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative puellapuella puellaepuellae
GenitiveGenitive puellaepuellae puellarumpuellarum
DativeDative puellaepuellae puellpuellīīss
AccusativeAccusative puellampuellam puellaspuellas
AblativeAblative puellpuellāā puellpuellīīss
VocativeVocative puellapuella puellaepuellae
*if you can decline puella, you can decline ANY first declension noun*if you can decline puella, you can decline ANY first declension noun
that exists.that exists.
*Remember, to find your stem, take the genitive singular and drop the-*Remember, to find your stem, take the genitive singular and drop the-
ae ending.ae ending.
*The macron (long mark) in the abl. sg. differentiates from nom. sg.*The macron (long mark) in the abl. sg. differentiates from nom. sg.
And, in the pl. dat./abl., it differentiates from 3rd declension gen. sg.And, in the pl. dat./abl., it differentiates from 3rd declension gen. sg.

4. SECOND DECLENSION MASCULINESECOND DECLENSION MASCULINE
NOUNS IN –USNOUNS IN –US
• These second declension nouns that end in –us areThese second declension nouns that end in –us are
masculine nouns.masculine nouns.
• They are listed in the vocab asThey are listed in the vocab as amicus, amiciamicus, amici
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative amicusamicus amiciamici
GenitiveGenitive amiciamici amicorumamicorum
DativeDative amicoamico amicamicīīss
AccusativeAccusative amicumamicum amicosamicos
AblativeAblative amicoamico amicamicīīss
VocativeVocative amiceamice amiciamici
** If you can decline amicus, you can decline any noun that looks like it.If you can decline amicus, you can decline any noun that looks like it.
* To find the stem, go to the genitive singular and drop the -i* To find the stem, go to the genitive singular and drop the -i

5. SECOND DECLENSION MASCULINESECOND DECLENSION MASCULINE
NOUNS IN –ERNOUNS IN –ER
*These are also masculine, but there are fewer of them*These are also masculine, but there are fewer of them
*they have the same endings as amicus does, but the nominative*they have the same endings as amicus does, but the nominative
singular ends in –ersingular ends in –er
*they are listed in the vocab like*they are listed in the vocab like ager, agriager, agri
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative agerager agriagri
GenitiveGenitive agriagri agrorumagrorum
DativeDative agroagro agragrīīss
AccusativeAccusative agrumagrum agrosagros
AblativeAblative agroagro agragrīīss
VocativeVocative agerager agriagri
• If you can decline ager, you can decline any noun like it.If you can decline ager, you can decline any noun like it.
• To find the stem go to the genitive singular and drop the –i.To find the stem go to the genitive singular and drop the –i.

6. SECOND DECLENSION NEUTER NOUNSSECOND DECLENSION NEUTER NOUNS
• These follow the neuter rule: nominative and accusativeThese follow the neuter rule: nominative and accusative
are the same, and the nominative and accusative pluralare the same, and the nominative and accusative plural
end in –aend in –a
• Aside from the neuter rule, they have the same endingsAside from the neuter rule, they have the same endings
as masculine 2as masculine 2ndnd
declension nouns.declension nouns.
• Listed in the vocab as periculum, periculiListed in the vocab as periculum, periculi
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative periculumpericulum periculapericula
GenitiveGenitive periculipericuli periculorumpericulorum
DativeDative periculopericulo periculpericulīīss
AccusativeAccusative periculumpericulum periculapericula
AblativeAblative periculopericulo periculpericulīīss
VocativeVocative periculumpericulum periculapericula
*If you can decline periculum, you can decline any noun*If you can decline periculum, you can decline any noun
like it.like it.
*to find the stem, go to the genitive singular and drop the –i.*to find the stem, go to the genitive singular and drop the –i.

7. THIRD DECLENSION REMINDERS:THIRD DECLENSION REMINDERS:
• There are masculine, feminine and neuterThere are masculine, feminine and neuter
nouns in third declensionnouns in third declension
• Masculine and feminine third declensionMasculine and feminine third declension
nouns have the same endingsnouns have the same endings
• Neuter third declension nouns have theNeuter third declension nouns have the
same endings as masculine and femininesame endings as masculine and feminine
nouns, but they follow the neuter rule.nouns, but they follow the neuter rule.
• The ONLY way to tell if a noun is thirdThe ONLY way to tell if a noun is third
declension is if you look at its genitivedeclension is if you look at its genitive
singular and it ends in –is.singular and it ends in –is.

8. THIRD DECLENSION MASCULINE ANDTHIRD DECLENSION MASCULINE AND
FEMININE NOUNSFEMININE NOUNS
*Remember, to find the STEM, you have to know the genitive singular. Go to it*Remember, to find the STEM, you have to know the genitive singular. Go to it
and drop the –is. The nominative singular WILL NOT HELP YOU AT ALL.and drop the –is. The nominative singular WILL NOT HELP YOU AT ALL.
*rex, regis is masculine, but any feminine noun will have the same endings.*rex, regis is masculine, but any feminine noun will have the same endings.
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative rexrex regesreges
GenitiveGenitive regisregis regumregum
DativeDative regiregi regibusregibus
AccusativeAccusative regemregem regesreges
AblativeAblative regerege regibusregibus
VocativeVocative rex*rex* reges*reges*
*the vocative is the same as the nominative. -x is not an ending*the vocative is the same as the nominative. -x is not an ending
for anything except nouns where the nominative singular endsfor anything except nouns where the nominative singular ends
in –x.in –x.

9. THIRD DECLENSION NEUTER NOUNSTHIRD DECLENSION NEUTER NOUNS
• These follow the neuter rule, but like all third declension nouns,These follow the neuter rule, but like all third declension nouns,
you have to use the genitive singular to find the stem.you have to use the genitive singular to find the stem.
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative tempustempus temporatempora
GenitiveGenitive temporistemporis temporumtemporum
DativeDative temporitempori temporibustemporibus
AccusativeAccusative tempustempus temporatempora
AblativeAblative temporetempore temporibustemporibus
VocativeVocative tempustempus temporatempora
* Notice how the endings are the same as rex, regis except for the* Notice how the endings are the same as rex, regis except for the
forms that are affected by the neuter rule.forms that are affected by the neuter rule.

10. NOTES ABOUT I-STEMSNOTES ABOUT I-STEMS
**I-stem nouns ONLY occur in third declension and they appear in allI-stem nouns ONLY occur in third declension and they appear in all
three genders.three genders.
*There are three rules to know in order to determine whether a noun is an*There are three rules to know in order to determine whether a noun is an
i-stem or not.i-stem or not.
1. Parasyllabics—all this means is that the number of syllables in1. Parasyllabics—all this means is that the number of syllables in
the nominative and genitive singular are the same. For example, howthe nominative and genitive singular are the same. For example, how
many syllables are inmany syllables are in rexrex? One, right? And in? One, right? And in regisregis? Two. The two? Two. The two
formsforms rexrex andand regisregis, do NOT have the same number of syllables, and, do NOT have the same number of syllables, and
therefore this noun is NOT an i-stem. What abouttherefore this noun is NOT an i-stem. What about hostis, hostishostis, hostis ??
What aboutWhat about civitas, civitatiscivitas, civitatis ? What about? What about mare, marismare, maris? You just count? You just count
the syllables.the syllables.
2. Neuter nouns which have a nominative singular in –e, -al, or –2. Neuter nouns which have a nominative singular in –e, -al, or –
ar. There are not many of these. In fact,ar. There are not many of these. In fact, mare, marismare, maris is probably theis probably the
most common, ormost common, or animal, animalis.animal, animalis.
3. Stem in two consonants—these nouns, when you drop the –is3. Stem in two consonants—these nouns, when you drop the –is
of the genitive singular, have two consonants remaining. So, forof the genitive singular, have two consonants remaining. So, for
example, if you takeexample, if you take ars, artisars, artis and you drop the –is, you are left withand you drop the –is, you are left with
art- and r, and t, are consonants. Also, for pons, pontis, you haveart- and r, and t, are consonants. Also, for pons, pontis, you have
pont- after you drop the –is and n and t are consonants.pont- after you drop the –is and n and t are consonants.

11. WHAT DO I-STEMS DO?WHAT DO I-STEMS DO?
• well, really, they are just third declension nouns and share thirdwell, really, they are just third declension nouns and share third
declension endings.declension endings.
• Neuter i-stems still follow the neuter rule.Neuter i-stems still follow the neuter rule.
• I-stems, however do a couple of weird thingsI-stems, however do a couple of weird things
• If the i-stem is masculine or feminine, the genitive plural endingIf the i-stem is masculine or feminine, the genitive plural ending
is –is –iium. Look above at the genitive pl. endings for rex and forum. Look above at the genitive pl. endings for rex and for
tempus. See how they are just –um? I-stem genitive pluralstempus. See how they are just –um? I-stem genitive plurals
end in –ium, regardless of gender.end in –ium, regardless of gender.
• If the i-stem is neuter, the –i- appears in a few more places.If the i-stem is neuter, the –i- appears in a few more places.
The ablative singular ends in –i and the nominative plural andThe ablative singular ends in –i and the nominative plural and
accusative plural end in –ia instead of just –a. Of course, theaccusative plural end in –ia instead of just –a. Of course, the
genitive plural is still –ium.genitive plural is still –ium.
• Look below at the two i-stems I have declined for you. ThenLook below at the two i-stems I have declined for you. Then
compare them to rex and tempus and see where the –i-compare them to rex and tempus and see where the –i-
appears. I have put it in a different color in the following slides.appears. I have put it in a different color in the following slides.

12. MASCULINE AND FEMININE I-STEMSMASCULINE AND FEMININE I-STEMS
• The noun below is feminine, but a masculine i-The noun below is feminine, but a masculine i-
stem would work the same way.stem would work the same way.
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative arsars artesartes
GenitiveGenitive artisartis artartiiumum
DativeDative artiarti artibusartibus
AccusativeAccusative artemartem artesartes
AblativeAblative artearte artibusartibus
VocativeVocative arsars artesartes
• Notice that the ONLY difference between thisNotice that the ONLY difference between this
noun and rex is the –i- in yellow above. That’snoun and rex is the –i- in yellow above. That’s
it.it.

13. NEUTER I-STEM NOUNSNEUTER I-STEM NOUNS
• These nouns have the –i- in more places.These nouns have the –i- in more places.
• Compare this one below to tempus.Compare this one below to tempus.
SingularSingular PluralPlural
NominativeNominative maremare marmariiaa
GenitiveGenitive marismaris marmariiumum
DativeDative marimari maribusmaribus
AccusativeAccusative maremare marmariiaa
AblativeAblative marmarii/e/e ** maribusmaribus
VocativeVocative maremare mariamaria
• Some people use mari for the ablative singular, some useSome people use mari for the ablative singular, some use
mare.mare.
• The only difference between the endings of this noun and a nonThe only difference between the endings of this noun and a non
i-stem third declension are in yellow above.i-stem third declension are in yellow above.