Latin Second Declension Nouns
There are several major classes of nouns in this declension. Each of
the
following is considered in turn:
- Masculine and (a few) feminine nouns ending in -us
- Masculine and (a few) feminine nouns ending in -ius
- Strong nouns ending in -er or -ir
- Weak nouns ending in -er
- Neuter nouns ending in -um
- Neuter nouns ending in -ium
Masculine and feminine nouns ending in -us
Basic paradigm
somnus, somni. nm., sleep.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
somnus |
somni |
| Genitive |
somni |
somnorum |
| Dative |
somno |
somnis |
| Accusative |
somnum |
somnos |
| Ablative |
somno |
somnis |
| Locative |
somni |
somnis |
| Vocative |
somne |
somni |
Some examples
- amicus, -i. nm., friend.
- animus, -i. nm., mind, spirit.
- campus, -i. nm., plain, field.
- caseus, -i. nm., cheese.
- cervus, -i. nm., deer.
- cibus, -i. nm., food.
- deus, -i. nm., god.
- domus, -us (-i). nf., house, home. (irreg.:
Usually fourth declension, but sometimes it is declined as a second
declension
noun.)
- equus, -i. nm., horse.
- fagus, -i. nf., beech tree.
- fraxinus, -i. nf., ash tree.
- locus, -i. nm., place.
- modus, -i. nm., manner, means.
- mundus, -i. nm., world.
- oculus, -i. nm., eye.
- pinus, -i. nf., pine tree.
- servus, -i. nm., servant.
- sinus, -i. nm., large drinking cup,
stein.
(Not to
be confused with sinus, -us. nm. indentation,
curve.)
- somnus, -i. nm., sleep.
- ventus, -i. nm., wind.
Occupational nouns ending in -icus
- mathematicus, -i. nm., mathematician.
- medicinus, -i. nm., doctor, physician.
- physicus, -i. nm., physicist.
Masculine and feminine nouns ending in -ius
Basic paradigm
gladius, gladi. nm., sword.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
gladius |
gladii |
| Genitive |
gladi |
gladiorum |
| Dative |
gladio |
gladiis |
| Accusative |
gladium |
gladios |
| Ablative |
gladio |
gladiis |
| Locative |
gladi |
gladiis |
| Vocative |
gladi |
gladii |
In the genitive and locative singular, the ending -ii is
contracted
to -i. In the vocative singular, the ending -ie is also
contracted
to -i.
Some examples
- filius, fili. nm., son.
- gladius, gladi. nm., sword.
- socius, soci. nm., ally.
Strong nouns ending in -er or -ir
Basic paradigm
vesper, vesperi. nm., evening.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
vesper |
vesperi |
| Genitive |
vesperi |
vesperorum |
| Dative |
vespero |
vesperis |
| Accusative |
vesperum |
vesperos |
| Ablative |
vespero |
vesperis |
| Locative |
vesperi |
vesperis |
| Vocative |
vesper |
vesperi |
The vocative singular takes the form of the nominative. For all but
nominative
and vocative singular, endings are added to the base or nominative
singular
form.
Some examples
- adulter, -i. nm., adulterer.
- miser, -i. nm., wretch, (figurative
slang)
poor boy.
- puer, -i. nm., boy.
- socer, -i. nm., father-in-law.
- vesper, -i. nm., evening. (Also sometimes
third declension: vesper, vesperis.)
- vir, -i. nm., man.
Weak nouns ending in -er
Basic paradigm
cancer, cancri. nm., crab.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
cancer |
cancri |
| Genitive |
cancri |
cancrorum |
| Dative |
cancro |
cancris |
| Accusative |
cancrum |
cancros |
| Ablative |
cancro |
cancris |
| Locative |
cancri |
cancris |
| Vocative |
cancer |
cancri |
The vocative singular takes the form of the nominative. For all but
nominative
and vocative singular, endings are added to the base.
Some examples
- ag-er, -ri. nm., field.
- canc-er, -ri. nm., crab.
- lib-er, -ri. nm., book.
- magist-er, -ri. nm., teacher.
Neuter nouns ending in -um
Basic paradigm
pabulum, pabuli. nn., fodder.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
pabulum |
pabula |
| Genitive |
pabuli |
pabulorum |
| Dative |
pabulo |
pabulis |
| Accusative |
pabulum |
pabula |
| Ablative |
pabulo |
pabulis |
| Locative |
pabuli |
pabulis |
| Vocative |
pabulum |
pabula |
Some examples
- adiectivum, -i. nn., adjective.
- arithmetica, -orum. nn. pl.,
arithmetic.
- bellum, -i. nn., war.
- castrum, -i. nn., fort. pl.,
camp.
- chemicum, -i. nm., chemical.
- crustulum, -i. nn., cookie.
- hiberna, -orum. n. pl., winter quarters.
- oppidum, -i. nn., (fortified) town, city.
- pabulum, -i. nn., fodder.
- quadratum, -i. nn., square.
- simulacrum, -i. nn., image.
- triangulum, -i. nn., triangle.
- venenum, -i. nn., poison.
- verbum, -i. nn., verb.
Neuter abstract nouns ending in -mentum
- impedimentum, -i. nn., hindrance.
- medicamentum, -i. nn., drug, medicine. Modo
medicamentis
negate. Just say no to drugs. Modo medicamentis assentite.
Just
say yes to drugs.
- tormentum, -i. nn., anguish, torment.
Neuter nouns ending in -ium
Basic paradigm
adverbium, adverbi. nn., adverb.
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
adverbium |
adverbia |
| Genitive |
adverbi |
adverbiorum |
| Dative |
adverbio |
adverbiis |
| Accusative |
adverbium |
adverbia |
| Ablative |
adverbio |
adverbiis |
| Locative |
adverbi |
adverbiis |
| Vocative |
adverbium |
adverbia |
In the genitive and locative singular, the ending -ii is
contracted
to -i.
Some examples
- adverbium, adverbi. nn., adverb.
- convivium, convivi. nn., banquet.
- labia, labiorum. nn. pl., lips.
Neuter abstract nouns ending in -ium
- augerium, augeri. nn., augery,
interpretation
of omens.
- concilium, concili. nn., assembly.
- hospitium, hospiti. nn., hospitality.
- magisterium, magisteri. nn., governance,
presidency,
political control.
- sacrificium, sacrifici. nn., sacrifice.
- servitium, serviti. nn., slavery.
Mail comments to Eric
Conrad
(econrad@math.ohio-state.edu).
Sursum
adeamus! (Back to the Latin home page)
Domum Erici
adeamus!
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Last updated: Monday, March 15, 2010.