Declension of Nouns
Declension of Nouns¶
Declension is a system of adding inflections to a nominal stem indicating gender, number and the case. (rephrasing V. Perniola)
Nouns have 3 genders – masculine, neuter and feminine. (gram.)
Nouns have 2 numbers – singular and plural.
Nouns are declined in 8 cases.
You will become very familiar with these cases in the upcoming weeks
Some Basic Vocabulary to illustrate the case endings¶
| thera | masc. | elder |
| sāvaka | masc. | disciple |
| sīha | masc. | lion |
| upāsaka | masc. | devotee |
| āvāsa | masc. | residence |
| gāma | masc. | village |
| patta | masc. | alms bowl |
| magga | masc. | road |
| gacchati | masc. | goes |
| khādati | masc. | eats |
| carati | masc. | walks |
| deti | masc. | gives |
1. Nominative Case (paṭhamā)¶
The subject of the sentence is in the nominative case.
The elder walks.
thero carati.
2. Accusative Case (dutiyā)¶
The object of a sentence is in the accusative case.
The lion eats the disciple.
sīho sāvakaṃ khādati.
How would you say the disciple eats the lion in Pāli?
The Accusative Case also expresses going to or going along.
The lay devotee goes to the village.
upāsako gāmaṃ gacchati.
The elder walks along the road.
thero maggaṃ carati.
This is called “the accusative of motion” and is very common.
3. The Instrumental Case (tatiyā & karaṇa)
Refers to an action done by or with someone or something.
Usually translated using by, with or through.
The elder goes to the village with the disciple.
thero sāvakena gāmaṃ gacchati.
The elder goes to the village by air.
thero ākāsena gāmaṃ gacchati.
The disciple is being eaten by the lion.
sāvako sīhena khajjati
4. Dative Case (catutthī)¶
Refers to an object given or directed to someone.
Usually translated using to or for.
The elder gives an alms bowl to the disciple.
thero upāsakassa pattaṃ deti.
thero sāvakāya cīvaraṃ deti.
(translate)
namo tassa bhagavato.
(translate)
5. Ablative Case (pañcamī)¶
The opposite of the Dative case.
Usually translated using from, away from
The lay devotee walks from the residence.
upāsako āvāsamhā gacchati.
upāsako āvāsā gacchati.
upāsako āvāsasmā gacchati.
6. Genitive Case (chaṭṭhī)¶
Denotes possession. Usually translated using of or ‘s.
A noun in the Genitive Case always comes before the object it qualifies.
The elder’s disciple goes to the village.
therassa sāvako gāmaṃ gacchati.
7. Locative Case (sattamī)¶
Refers to location. Usually translated using in, on, at, or among.
The lion walks in the village.
sīho gāme carati.
sīho gāmasmiṃ carati.
8. Vocative Case (ālapana)¶
Used when addressing people directly.
O, lay devotee, come here!
ehi upāsaka!
ehi paññādhammika!
In Summary
| 1. Nominative | naro | the man (subject) |
| 2. Accusative | naraṃ | the man (object) |
| 3. Instrumental | narena | by, with, through the man |
| 4. Dative | narāya narassa |
to the man, for the man |
| 5. Ablative | narā naramhā narasmā |
from the man |
| 6. Genitive | narassa | of the man, the man’s |
| 7. Locative | nare naramhi narasmiṃ |
in, on, at the man |
| 8. Vocative | nara narā |
hey, man! o, man! |
What’s the difference between Thai and Sri Lankan bhikkhu names?
Sumedho
Sumedha
Which one is correct?
Declension of -a masc¶
| Singular | Plural | |
| 1. Nominative | naro | narā |
| 2. Accusative | naraṃ | nare |
| 3. Instrumental | narena | narehi |
| 4. Dative | narāya narassa |
narānaṃ |
| 5. Ablative | narā naramhā narasmā |
narehi |
| 6. Genitive | narassa | narānaṃ |
| 7. Locative | nare naramhi narasmiṃ |
naresu |
| 8. Vocative | nara narā |
narā |
Please learn this table by heart. Why?
| Frequency of appearance in Tipiṭaka3 | |
|---|---|
| masculine nouns ending in -a | 11834 |
| masculine nouns ending in -i -ī -u -ū | 1549 |
| masculine nouns total | 13383 |
| masculine nouns ending in -a | 88% |
| neuter nouns ending in -aṃ | 14747 |
| neuter nouns ending in -i -u | 452 |
| neuter nouns total | 15199 |
| 97% |
That’s just dictionary forms … not to mention adjectives and participles with the same declensions.
All the frequency data in this document was collected from DPD in the year 2023. Please note that dictionary often has multiple meanings for a single word, and each meaning is considered a separate entry.