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Beginners' Latin
Detail from 'Family tree of William, son of Duncan, and Alicia his wife'. 1316. Cat ref: KB 27/224 m 112. Crown copyright
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How to decline personal names

 

First declensionGo

Second declensionGo

Third declension

 

These personal names have been used in this tutorial.

 

First declension

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First declension names used in this tutorial

First declension  
Alicia, -e (f.) Alice Ghida, -e (f.) Gytha
Amabila, -e (f.) Amabila Isabella, -e (f.) Isabella
Anna, -e (f.) Anna Johanna, -e (f.) Johanna
Christina, -e (f.) Christina Maria, -e (f.) Mary
Elizabetha, -e (f.) Elizabeth  

Example showing how a female first declension name is declined

Nominative Maria
Vocative Maria
Accusative Mariam
Genitive Marie
Dative Marie
Ablative Maria

Note that a few men’s names are first declension nouns. These have irregular nominative forms. In this tutorial you will find
Adam, -e (m.) Adam and Thomas, -e (m.) Thomas.

Example showing how a male first declension name is declined.

Nominative Thomas
Vocative Thomas
Accusative Thomam
Genitive Thome
Dative Thome
Ablative Thoma

 

Second declension

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Second declension names used in this tutorial.

Benedictus , -i (m.) Benedict

Petrus, -i (m.) Peter
Carolus , -i (m.) Charles Radulphus , -i (m.) Ralph
Christoferus , -i (m.) Christopher Ricardus , -i (m.) Richard
Edwardus , -i (m.) Edward Robertus , -i (m.) Robert
Gilbertus , -i (m.) Gilbert Rogerus , -i (m.) Roger
Gulielmus , -i (m.) William Stephanus , -i (m.) Stephen
Henricus , -i (m.) Henry Walterus , -i (m.) Walter
Heraldus , -i (m.) Harold Wilhelmus , -i (m.) William
Jacobus , -i (m.) James Willelmus , -i (m.) William

Example showing how a second declension name is declined

Nominative Henricus
Vocative Henrice
Accusative Henricum
Genitive Henrici
Dative Henrico
Ablative Henrico

Some second declension male names ending ‘ius’ have the double ‘ii’ form in the genitive.

Georgius, -ii (m.) George Gregorius, -ii (m.) Gregory

Example showing how a second declension name is declined

Nominative Georgius
Vocative Georgii
Accusative Georgium
Genitive Georgii
Dative Georgio
Ablative Georgio

Some second declension male names decline like magister.

Alexander, Alexandri (m.) Alexander

Example showing how a second declension male name like magister is declined.

Nominative Alexander
Vocative Alexander
Accusative Alexandrum
Genitive Alexandri
Dative Alexandro
Ablative Alexandro

 

Third declension

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Third declension names used in this tutorial.
Agnes, Agnetis (f.) Agnes
Johannes, Johannis (m.) John
Hugo, Hugonis (m.) Hugh
Mathildis, Mathildis (f.) Matilda
Michael, Michaelis (m.) Michael
Simo, Simonis (m.) Simon

Examples showing how third declension names are declined.

Nominative Agnes Mathildis
Vocative Agnes Mathildis
Accusative Agnetem Mathildem
Genitive Agnetis Mathildis
Dative Agneti Mathildi
Ablative Agnete Mathilde

 

Nominative Johannes Hugo Michael Simo
Vocative Johannes Hugo Michael Simo
Accusative Johannem Hugonem Michaelem Simonem
Genitive Johannis Hugonis Michaelis Simonis
Dative Johanni Hugoni Michaeli Simoni
Ablative Johanne Hugone Michaele Simone