5 Declensions

Greek noun endings fall into patterns, called ‘declensions’. There are three declensions in total, with some variations inside each. The standard method for learning case endings is to learn the declension of one representative noun for each pattern. Two such nouns are τιμή and λόγος.

The case endings you have met so far are:

Table 1 Two case endings
	τιμή, honour (1st declension)
	singular	plural
nominative	τιμή	τιμαί
accusative	τιμήν	τιμάς
genitive	τιμῆς	τιμῶν

	λόγος, word (2nd declension)
	singular	plural
nominative	λόγος	λόγοι
accusative	λόγον	λόγους
genitive	λόγου	λόγων

The declension of a noun can be determined from its dictionary entry. Remember that the dictionary entry shows the nominative form of a noun (e.g. τιμή) and its genitive singular ending (-ῆς). A noun with the same nominative and genitive singular as τιμή will follow the same pattern of endings. In grammatical terms, it belongs to the same declension as τιμή, or ‘declines like’ it.

First declension:
τιμή, -ῆς, ἡ honour
βουλή, -ῆς, ἡ plan, council
κόρη, -ης, ἡ girl
νίκη, -ης, ἡ victory

Here are some nouns that belong to the same declension as λόγος:

Second declension:
λόγος, -ου, ὁ word
ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ messenger
δοῦλος, -ου, ὁ slave
ποταμός, -οῦ, ὁ river

Activity 6 Identify the declension

Timing: Allow about 5 minutes

Using the dictionary entries, decide whether each of these nouns belongs to the first declension, like τιμή, or the second, like λόγος.

στρατηγός, -οῦ, ὁ general

first declension (like τιμή)