firstdeclension

The first declension is a term used in Latin grammar to describe a class of nouns and adjectives whose nominative singular typically ends in -a and which form their full paradigm with characteristic endings. Most words in this declension are feminine, but a small number of masculine nouns also belong to the group. Notable masculine members include nauta (sailor), Poeta (poet), and agricola (farmer). Some common examples of feminine nouns are puella (girl), rosa (rose), and fēmina (woman).

The standard paradigm for the first declension is as follows. In singular: nominative -a, genitive -ae, dative -ae, accusative -am, ablative -ā. In plural: nominative -ae, genitive -ārum, dative -īs, accusative -ās, ablative -īs. The vocative generally coincides with the nominative in the singular (-a) and with the nominative plural (-ae) in the plural.

A noun’s gender in the first declension is typically feminine, and most adjectives of the same waning class agree with it in gender, number, and case. Some adjectives are declined in both the first and second declensions to match the noun they modify. The first declension also serves as a basis for certain proper names and some set phrases in Latin, and it remains a foundational element for learners studying Latin noun inflection.

In summary, the first declension encompasses many feminine nouns ending in -a, with a minority of masculine nouns, and it provides a distinct, regular set of endings used across cases and numbers.