Language/Latin/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Latin learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Latin plurals. Plurals are essential to understanding the language, and they can also be fascinating to learn about because of the different ways that languages use them.
Before we begin, let's review some Latin grammar basics. Remember that Latin is an inflected language, which means that the meaning of a word can change based on its ending. In grammar, we have declensions, which are groups of nouns with similar inflected forms.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Definite Articles in Latin, Indefinite Articles in Latin, Future Tense & Past Tense.
Plural declensions[edit | edit source]
In Latin, there are five main declensions, and each one has a different pattern for forming the plural. Let's review them:
First declension[edit | edit source]
Nouns belonging to the first declension have a stem ending in -a. To form the plural, simply replace the -a with -ae.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| rosa | /ˈrɔ.sa/ | rose |
| silva | /ˈsil.wa/ | forest |
- Person 1: Mihi rosa placet. (/MI-hi RO-sa PLA-ket/ - I like roses.)
- Person 2: Me quoque. (/ME KWO-kwe/ - Me too.)
Second declension[edit | edit source]
Nouns belonging to the second declension have a stem ending in -us or -um. To form the plural, replace -us with -i, -um with -a.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| servus | /ˈser.wus/ | servant |
| lumen | /ˈlu.men/ | light |
- Person 1: Servi mei laborant. (/SER-wi ME-i LA-bo-rant/ - My servants are working.)
- Person 2: Lumen clarum est. (/LU-men KLA-rum EST/ - The light is bright.)
Third declension[edit | edit source]
This declension is the most versatile and includes many nouns that don't follow any pattern. To form the plural, replace the -is of the genitive singular with -es.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| rex | /rɛks/ | king |
| manus | /ma.nus/ | hand |
- Person 1: Rex fortis est. (/REKS FOR-tis EST/ - The king is strong.)
- Person 2: Multae manus in hac domo sunt. (/MUL-tai MA-nus in hak DO-mo sunt/ - Many hands are in this house.)
Fourth declension[edit | edit source]
Nouns belonging to the fourth declension have a stem ending in -u. To form the plural, replace -u with -us.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tempus | /ˈtem.pus/ | time |
| cornu | /ˈkor.nu/ | horn |
- Person 1: Tempora mutantur. (/TEM-po-ra MU-tan-tur/ - Times are changing.)
- Person 2: Cornua gigantum sunt magnae. (/KOR-nua gi-GAN-tum sunt MAG-nai/ - The horns of giants are big.)
Fifth declension[edit | edit source]
Nouns belonging to the fifth declension have a stem ending in -es. To form the plural, replace -es with -es.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| dies | /ˈdi.es/ | day |
| res | /rɛs/ | thing |
- Person 1: Hoc die est festum. (/HOK DI-e est FES-tum/ - Today is a holiday.)
- Person 2: Res magnae cognoscuntur. (/RES MAG-nai ko-nos-KUN-tur/ - Big things are known.)
It's essential to learn the plurals by declension, so if you know a noun’s declension, you can work out how to form its plural.
Tips and Tricks[edit | edit source]
Here are some tips to remember when forming plurals in Latin:
1. Don't forget to change the base forms of adjectives to match the number and gender of the nouns they modify. 2. When in doubt, check any noun in the Latin Grammar section on Polyglot Club. 3. To practice plurals, make up mnemonic devices or practice memorization techniques through flashcards, vocabulary lists, and language games.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Plural declensions in Latin are fascinating to study and understand —whether for grammatical purposes or as a way to appreciate the language and its cultural importance. With this guide, we hope you're well on your way to mastering the Latin noun plural. Remember, it takes practice and patience to learn, so keep at it!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Latin alphabet, Days of the Week, Adjectives & How to Use Have.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adjectives
- Indefinite Articles in Latin
- Negation
- Latin Declensions
- Gender
- Prepositions
- Questions
- Latin Nouns
- Definite Articles in Latin