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.
cantus, -i. nm., song.
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.
fragus, -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).

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Last updated: Monday, September 15, 1997.