Latin Grammar I, Lesson 12. The Second Declension of Nouns

by William C. Michael

In lesson 10, we learned the general precepts of the declensions of Latin nouns. In the last lesson, we studied the first declension of Latin nouns. In this lesson, we will study the second declension. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:

- Read the lesson from beginning to end.
- Study each rule with its examples for mastery.
- Memorize the rules (if possible).
- Complete the lesson assessment.

Lesson

1. Latina nomina secundae declinationis in syllabas -er, -ir, -ur, -us, -um exeunt, ut faber, vir, satur, populus, praemium, et sic declinantur.

Translation: Latin nouns in the second declension end in in the syllables -er, -ir, -ur, -us, -um, as faber, vir, satur, populus, praemium, and are thus declined.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic domin-us, the lord
- Gen. domin-i, of the lord
- Dat. domin-o, to the lord
- Acc. domin-um, the lord
- Voc. O domin-e, O lord
- Abl. a domin-o, from the lord

Plural Number

- Nom. domin-i, the lords
- Gen. domin-orum, of the lords
- Dat. domin-is, to the lords
- Acc. domin-os, the lords
- Voc. O domin-i, O lords
- Abl. a domin-is, from the lords

Note, again, that the general precepts of noun declensions learned in lesson 10 are visible here. First, the forms of the Nominative and Vocative plural forms are the same (domini, domini). Second, note that the Dative and Ablative plural forms are the same (dominis, dominis)

After memorizing the declension above, learn the following phrases. Note that the adjective noun always agrees with the substantive in gender, number and case. When the adjective is declined following the first declension, the endings will be the same for the adjective and the substantive. Here the adjective justus means just.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic dominus justus, the just lord
- Gen. domini justi, of the just lord
- Dat. domino justo, to the just lord
- Acc. dominum justum, the just lord
- Voc. O domine juste, O just lord
- Abl. a domino justo, from the just lord

Plural Number

- Nom. domini justi, the just lords
- Gen. dominorum justorum, of the just lords
- Dat. dominis justis, to the just lords
- Acc. dominos justos, the just lords
- Voc. O domini justi, O just lords
- Abl. a dominis justis, from the just lords

Here learn another phrase composed of a second declension substantive and adjective. The noun puer means “boy”. The adjective ingeniosus means clever. Note how puer and ingeniosus agree in gender, number and case.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic puer ingeniosus, the clever boy
- Gen. pueri ingeniosi, of the clever boy
- Dat. puero ingenioso, to the clever boy
- Acc. puerum ingeniosum, the clever boy
- Voc. O puer ingeniose, O clever boy
- Abl. a puero ingenioso, from the clever boy

Plural Number

- Nom. pueri ingeniosi, the clever boys
- Gen. puerorum ingeniosorum, of the clever boys
- Dat. pueris ingeniosis, to the clever boys
- Acc. pueros ingeniosos, the clever boys
- Voc. O pueri ingeniosi, O clever boys
- Abl. a pueris ingeniosis, from the clever boys

Often, the substantive noun and the adjective noun will not be of the same declension. Therefore, their endings will not be the same as those above. Nevertheless, they will continue to agree in gender, number and case. We will learn the forms of other noun declension in future lessons, but you can see this agreement in the following expressions.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic puer sagax, the sharp boy
- Gen. pueri sagacis, of the sharp boy
- Dat. puero sagaci, to the sharp boy
- Acc. puerum sagacem, the sharp boy
- Voc. O puer sagax, O sharp boy
- Abl. a puero sagaci, from the sharp boy

Plural Number

- Nom. pueri sagaces, the sharp boys
- Gen. puerorum sagacium, of the sharp boys
- Dat. pueris sagacibus, to the sharp boys
- Acc. pueros sagaces, the sharp boys
- Voc. O pueri sagaces, O sharp boys
- Abl. a pueris sagacibus, from the sharp boys

In the phrases below, we see the second declension noun vir, joined with a third declension adjective prudens, which means “wise”. These will agree in gender, number and cased but, since their declensions differ, their endings will differ.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic vir prudens, the wise man
- Gen. viri prudentis, of the wise man
- Dat. viro prudenti, to the wise man
- Acc. virum prudentem, the wise man
- Voc. O vir prudens, O wise man
- Abl. a viro prudente, from the wise man

Plural Number

- Nom. viri prudentes, the wise men
- Gen. virorum prudentium, of the wise men
- Dat. viris prudentibus, to the wise men
- Acc. viros prudentes, the wise men
- Voc. O viri prudentes, O wise men
- Abl. a viris prudentibus, from the wise men

In the example below, note that the second declension noun vir is masculine (hic). The comparative adjective generosior is of the third declension, with genitive singular ending in -is. Though the endings are different, each pair agrees in gender, number and case. Note also that the general precepts learned in lesson 10 are visible in the declension.

Singular Number

- Nom. hic animus generosior, the nobler soul
- Gen. animi generosioris, of the nobler soul
- Dat. animo generosiori, to the nobler soul
- Acc. animum generosiorem, the nobler soul
- Voc. O anime generosior, O nobler soul
- Abl. a animus generosiori, from the nobler soul

Plural Number

- Nom. animi generosiores, the nobler souls
- Gen. animorum generosiorum, of the nobler souls
- Dat. animis generosioribus, to the nobler souls
- Acc. animos generosiores, the nobler souls
- Voc. O animi generosiores, O nobler souls
- Abl. ab animis generosioribus, from the nobler souls

Lastly, we have the masculine first declension substantiv e noun poeta (poet) modified by the 2nd declension masculine adjective optimus (best). Again, though the forms differ, the substantive and adjective agree in gender, number and case:

Singular Number

- Nom. haec populus procerissima, the tallest poplar
- Gen. populi procerissimae, of the tallest poplar
- Dat. populo procerissimae, to the tallest poplar
- Acc. populum procerissimam, the tallest poplar
- Voc. O popule procerissima, O tallest poplar
- Abl. a populo procerissima, from the tallest poplar

Plural Number

- Nom. populi procerissimae, the tallest poplars
- Gen. populorum procerissimarum, of the tallest poplars
- Dat. populis procerissimis, to the tallest poplars
- Acc. populos procerissimas, the tallest poplars
- Voc. O populi procerissimae, O tallest poplars
- Abl. a populis procerissimis, from the tallest poplars

Neuter Nouns

Above, we have looked at the declension of masculine and feminine nouns of the second declension. Below, we will study the declension of neuter nouns of the second declension. First, note the general principle of noun declensions, “Neuter nouns have three cases similar: the Nominative, the Accusative and the Vocative, which in the plural number are terminated with the letter -a.” Looking below, we can see that the Nominative, Accusative and Vocative forms are the same for both the singular (templum) and plural (templa) numbers. Also, note that the last of the general principles — “The Dative and Ablative cases of the plural number are always the same.” — and note that this is true here with templis.

With those general precepts in view, note also the important differences in the neuter declension. The nominative, accusative and vocative end in -um in the singular number, and in -a in the plural number.

Singular Number

- Nom. hoc templ-um, the temple
- Gen. templ-i, of the temple
- Dat. templ-o, to the temple
- Acc. templum, the temple
- Voc. O templum, O temple
- Abl. a templo, from the temple

Plural Number

- Nom. templa, the temples
- Gen. templorum, of the temples
- Dat. templis, to the temples
- Acc. templa, the temples
- Voc. O templa, O temples
- Abl. a templis, from the temples

After mastering the declension of neuter nouns of the second declension above, let us study the declension of second declension neuter nouns with adjectives. Remember that adjectives and substantives must always agree in gender, number and case. The adjective sanctissimum (most holy) is of the second declension, so the endings will be the same:

Singular Number

- Nom. hoc templum sanctissimum, the most holy temple
- Gen. templi sanctissimi, of the most holy temple
- Dat. templo sanctissimo, to the most holy temple
- Acc. templum sanctissimum, the most holy temple
- Voc. O templum sanctissimum, O most holy temple
- Abl. a templo sanctissimo, from the most holy temple

Plural Number

- Nom. templa sanctissima, the most holy temples
- Gen. templorum sanctissimorum, of the most holy temples
- Dat. templis sanctissimis, to the most holy temples
- Acc. templa sanctissima, the most holy temples
- Voc. O templa sanctissima, O most holy temples
- Abl. a templis sanctissimis, from the most holy temples

Below, let us study another second declension noun, hoc ingenium (character):

Singular Number

- Nom. hoc ingenium eximium, extraordinary character
- Gen. ingenii eximii, of extraordinary character
- Dat. ingenio eximio, to extraordinary character
- Acc. ingenium eximium, the extraordinary character
- Voc. O ingenium eximium, O extraordinary character
- Abl. a ingenio eximio, from extraordinary character

Plural Number

- Nom. ingenia eximia, extraordinary characters
- Gen. ingeniorum eximiorum, of extraordinary characters
- Dat. ingeniis eximiis, to extraordinary characters
- Acc. ingenia eximia, the extraordinary characters
- Voc. O ingenia eximia, O extraordinary characters
- Abl. a ingeniis eximiis, from extraordinary characters

Now, let us study the declension of a second declension neuter substantive noun hoc saxum (stone) with a third declension adjective noun ingens (huge). Note that while the endings may differ, these nouns agree in gender, number and case.

Singular Number

- Nom. hoc saxum ingens, huge stone
- Gen. saxi ingentis, of huge stone
- Dat. saxo ingenti, to huge stone
- Acc. saxum ingens, huge stone
- Voc. O saxum ingens, O huge stone
- Abl. a saxo ingenti, from huge stone

Plural Number

- Nom. saxa ingentia, huge stones
- Gen. saxorum ingentium, of huge stones
- Dat. saxis ingentibus, to huge stones
- Acc. saxa ingentia, huge stones
- Voc. O saxa ingentia, O huge stones
- Abl. a saxis ingentibus, from huge stones

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Singular Number

- Nom. hoc beneficium illustre, the illustrious benefit
- Gen. beneficii illustris, of the illustrious benefit
- Dat. beneficio illustri, to the illustrious benefit
- Acc. beneficium illustre, the illustrious benefit
- Voc. O beneficium illustre, O the illustrious benefit
- Abl. a beneficio illustri, from the illustrious benefit

Plural Number

- Nom. beneficia illustria, the illustrious benefits
- Gen. beneficiorum illustrium, of the illustrious benefits
- Dat. beneficiis illustribus, to the illustrious benefits
- Acc. beneficia illustria, the illustrious benefits
- Voc. O beneficia illustria, O the illustrious benefits
- Abl. a beneficiis illustribus, from the illustrious benefits

2. Genitivus fere aequails est nominativo, ut populus, populi; excipe Iber, Iberi; Celtiber, Celtiberi; liber, liberi et adjectivum et substantivum, satur, saturi; gibber, gibberi; dexter, dexteri et per syncopen dextri; asper, asperi; alter, alterius; uter, utrius et composita alteruter, uterque, neuter, neutrius potius quam neutri, vir, viri et composita triumvir, decemvir, etc. Composita item a verbis gero et fero, ut armiger, armigeri; signifer, signiferi, etc. Crescunt etiam in genitivo solus, totus, unus, ullus, nullus de quibus dicemus cap. 27.

Translation: The Genitive case of the second declension is normally equal in the number of syllables with the Nominative case, as we see in populus, populi; except for Iber, Iberi; Celtiber, Celtiberi; liber, liberi both the adjective and the substantive, satur, saturi; gibber, gibberi; dexter, dexteri and by syncope dextri; asper, asperi; alter, alterius; uter, utrius and the composites alteruter, uterque, neuter, neutrius rather than neutri; vir, viri and the composites triumvir, decemvir, etc. Composite nouns also from the verbs gero and fero, as armiger, armigeri; signifer, signiferi, etc. These also increase in the Genitive case: solus, totus, unus, ullus, nullus concerning which we shall speak in lesson 27.

3. Vocativus similis est Nominativo, O vir, O puer, O satur. Excipe nomina -us syllaba finita, quae -us in -e mutant, populus, O popule; fluvius, O fluvie; tabellarius, O tabellarie; socius, O socie; ebrius, O ebrie; egregius, O egregie; de quo vide Gellium.

Translation: The Vocative case is similar to the Nominative case, as O vir, O puer, O satur. Excepted are the nouns ending in the syllable -us, which change -us into -e, populus, O popule; fluvius, O fluvie; tabellarius, O tabellarie; socius, O socie; ebrius, O ebrie; egregius, O egregie; concerning which see the grammarian Gellius.

4. Ab his tamen excipe Deus, quod similiter exit in Vocativo O Deus: item filius et nomina propria in -ius, quae -us in Vocativo deponunt, O fili, O Antoni, O Pompei. At graeca in -ius retinent -e iuxta graecam flexionem, Tyrinthius, O Tyrinthie; Sperchius, O Sperchie et simila.

Translation: From this, nevertheless, except the noun Deus, which ends similarly in the Vocative case, O Deus: likewise the noun filius and proper nouns ending in -ius, which drop -us in the Vocative case, as O fili, O Antoni, O Pompei. But Greek nouns ending in -ius retain the -e like the Greek inflection.

Summary

In the previous lesson, we studied the first Latin noun declension. In this lesson, we have studied the second declension of Latin nouns. In future lessons, we will continue to study the five declensions of Latin nouns in detail.

© William C. Michael, 2022. No use outside the Classical Liberal Arts Academy is permitted.