Latin Declensions and Word Formation

First Declension (Type: *terra, -ae*)

The first declension primarily includes feminine nouns. Here is the declension pattern:

• Singular:
  • Nominative: -a
  • Vocative: -a
  • Accusative: -am
  • Genitive: -ae
  • Dative: -ae
  • Ablative: -ā
• Plural:
  • Nominative: -ae
  • Vocative: -ae
  • Accusative: -as
  • Genitive: -arum
  • Dative: -is
  • Ablative: -is

Second Declension

Masculine (Type: *dominus, -i*)

Most second declension nouns ending in -us are masculine.

• Singular:
  • Nominative: -us
  • Vocative: -e
  • Accusative: -um
  • Genitive: -i
  • Dative: -o
  • Ablative: -o
• Plural:
  • Nominative: -i
  • Vocative: -i
  • Accusative: -os
  • Genitive: -orum
  • Dative: -is
  • Ablative: -is

Masculine (Type: *puer, pueri*)

Some second declension nouns ending in -er are also masculine. Note that the stem remains consistent (e.g., *puer*).

• Singular:
  • Nominative: puer
  • Vocative: puer
  • Accusative: -um
  • Genitive: -i
  • Dative: -o
  • Ablative: -o
• Plural:
  • Nominative: -i
  • Vocative: -i
  • Accusative: -os
  • Genitive: -orum
  • Dative: -is
  • Ablative: -is

Neuter (Type: *bellum, -i*)

Second declension neuter nouns have distinct forms in the nominative, accusative, and vocative cases.

• Singular:
  • Nominative: -um
  • Vocative: -um
  • Accusative: -um
  • Genitive: -i
  • Dative: -o
  • Ablative: -o
• Plural:
  • Nominative: -a
  • Vocative: -a
  • Accusative: -a
  • Genitive: -orum
  • Dative: -is
  • Ablative: -is

Cases and Their Functions

• Nominative: Subject and attribute
• Vocative: Direct address
• Accusative: Direct object
• Dative: Indirect object
• Ablative: Circumstantial complement (place, time, manner, etc.)

Patrimonial Words and Cultisms

Patrimonial words (or slang words) evolved through oral transmission, undergoing phonetic changes specific to each language. Cultisms are words taken directly from Latin and used in modern languages with minimal adaptation.

Rules of Phonetic Evolution from Latin

1. The final -m disappears (e.g., *patriam* > *patria*).
2. The final -e often disappears (e.g., *florem* > *flor*).
3. Initial *s* + consonant becomes *es-* (e.g., *statuam* > *estatua*).
4. Final *os* becomes *o* (e.g. *templum* > *templo*).
5. Latin diphthongs *ae* and *oe* simplify to *e* (e.g., *taedam* > *teda*).
6. Stressed *e* often becomes *ie* (short *e*).
7. The group *-ul-* + vowel can become *j* (e.g., *folia* > *hoja*).
8. Unstressed (pretonic) vowels can disappear (e.g., *aperire* > *abrir*).
9. The group *-ns-* simplifies to *s*.
10. Internal post-tonic vowels disappear.
11. The groups *c'l*, *g'l*, or *t'l* can become *j*.

Vocabulary: Roman House

• Atrium: Atrium
• Lararium: Altar
• Tablinum: Office
• Peristylum: Peristyle
• Triclinum: Dining room
• Culina: Kitchen
• Cubiculum: Room
• Compluvium: Pond to collect water
• Taberna: Shop
• Domus: House
• Insula: Block of flats
• Oppidum: Fortress

Etymology, Composition, and Derivation

Etymology is the tracing of words to understand their meaning and origin. Composition and derivation are processes that modify words to create new terms.

• Composition: Union of two words to form a new one (e.g., *omni-potens*).
• Derivation: Formation of new words using suffixes and prefixes (e.g., *e-duco* (raise), *felici-tas* (happiness)).