Fifth declension nouns
This is the smallest declension. Fifth declension nouns
- Usually end ‘-es’ in the nominative singular
- End ‘-ei’ in the genitive singular
- Are feminine except dies and words based on dies
- Have endings characterised by the letter ‘e’
You are likely to come across two feminine fifth declension nouns:
Endings of fifth declension nouns
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
-es |
-es |
| Vocative |
-es |
-es |
| Accusative |
-em |
-es |
| Genitive |
-ei |
-erum |
| Dative |
-ei |
-ebus |
| Ablative |
-e |
-ebus |
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Look at our example of res (f.) thing
| Case |
Singular |
Plural |
| Nominative |
res |
res |
| Vocative |
res |
res |
| Accusative |
rem |
res |
| Genitive |
rei |
rerum |
| Dative |
rei |
rebus |
| Ablative |
re |
rebus |
| in cuius rei testimonium huic testamento meum sigillum apposui |
In witness of which [thing] I have affixed my seal to this will |
testimonium, -ii (n.) witness ,
testimony
sigillum , -i (n.) seal
appono, -ere,
-posui, -positum (3) to
affix |
| fidei defensor |
defender of the faith |
|
| defensor, defensoris (m.) |
defender |
|
 |
Tip |
 If you have any British coins, take a look at them – you will probably see these words, although they may be abbreviated to ‘FD’. |
| dies, diei (m.) |
day |
| meridies, meridiei (m.) |
midday, south |
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dies and words based on dies are the only fifth declension nouns that are masculine.
dies takes the same endings as res.
| Anna sine die est |
Anna is without a day [for a hearing in court] |
Anna, -e (f.) Anna |
| Maria habet diem coram justiciariis regis |
Mary has a day before the king’s justices |
|
| agricola domino laborat per tres dies |
the farmer works for the lord for three days |
|
| ante meridiem |
before noon (where the English ‘a.m.’ comes from) |
|
| post meridiem |
after noon |
(where the English ‘p.m.’comes from) |
Introduction 
Tutorial
Lesson 1
Word list 
Grammar table
