In this lesson, we will learn 4th and 5th declension nouns (3rd declension nouns will be learned in Lesson 5). We will also learn 4th and 5th declension adjectives. In addition, we will learn the present active indicative for BIII verbs.
4TH AND 5TH DECLENSION NOUNS
Both 4th and 5th declensions can contain masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns. The gender of the noun is indicated in dictionaries. With 4th declension nouns, the main vowel is I, while with 5th declension nouns, the main vowel is U. For this reason, you will see these often referred to as I-stem and U-stem nouns in grammars.
NOTE: Going forward, we will be using the abbreviations masc., fem., and neut. for masculine, feminine, and neuter respectfully. We will also use the abbreviations sing. for singular and pl. for plural. Finally, we will abbreviate the cases as follows: nom. (nominative), voc. (vocative), acc. (accusative), gen. (genitive), dat. (dative), inst. (instrumemtal), and loc. (locative).
The endings for 4th declension nouns are as follows:
4i. masc. and fem.
| -is | sing. nom. | -eies | pl. nom. | |
| -i | sing. voc. | -eies | pl. voc. | |
| -in | sing. acc, | -īs | pl. acc. | |
| -ēs | sing. gen. | -ion | pl. gen. | |
| -ē | sing. dat. | -ibo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ī | sing. inst. | -ibi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ī | sing. loc. | -ibi(s) | pl. loc. |
4ii. neut.
| -i | sing. nom. | -iā | pl. nom. | |
| -i | sing. voc. | -iā | pl. voc. | |
| -i | sing. acc, | -iā | pl. acc. | |
| -ēs | sing. gen. | -ion | pl. gen. | |
| -ē | sing. dat. | -ibo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ī | sing. inst. | -ibi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ī | sing. loc. | -ibi(s) | pl. loc. |
The endings for 5th declension nouns are as follows:
5i. masc. and fem.
| -us | sing. nom. | -oues | pl. nom. | |
| -u | sing. voc. | -oues | pl. voc. | |
| -un | sing. acc, | -ūs | pl. acc. | |
| -ous | sing. gen. | -uion | pl. gen. | |
| -ou | sing. dat. | -oubo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ū | sing. inst. | -oubi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ū | sing. loc. | -oubi(s) | pl. loc. |
5ii. neut.
| -ū | sing. nom. | -uā | pl. nom. | |
| -ū | sing. voc. | -uā | pl. voc. | |
| -ū | sing. acc, | -uā | pl. acc. | |
| -ous | sing. gen. | -uion | pl. gen. | |
| -ou | sing. dat. | -oubo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ū | sing. inst. | -oubi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ū | sing. loc. | -oubi(s) | pl. loc. |
As mentioned previously, you will notice that the neuter nom., voc., and acc. cases in both declensions have the same endings for sing. and pl. respectfully. In the other cases, the neut. has the regular endings.
Also, remember that the endings which have “(s)” at the end are determined by the first letter of the following word. If the word following starts with a vowel, then the “s” is added to the ending. If the word following starts with a consonant, then the “s” is not added. This helps to make pronunciation easier.
4TH AND 5TH DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
4th Declension Adjectives
For the most part, the endings for 4th declension adjectives are the same as their nominal counterparts. The exception is listed below:
-iās for the fem. gen. sing.
All other endings are the same.
5th Declension Adjectives
The endings for 5th declension adjectives show a greater degree of variation. For this reason, all endings will be listed below with the variations from 5th declension nouns are in bold.
5i. masc.
| -us | sing. nom. | -iies | pl. nom. | |
| -u | sing. voc. | -iies | pl. voc. | |
| -un | sing. acc, | -ūs | pl. acc. | |
| -ous | sing. gen. | -uion | pl. gen. | |
| -ou | sing. dat. | -uibo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ū | sing. inst. | -uibi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ū | sing. loc. | -uibi(s) | pl. loc. |
5ii. fem.
| -us | sing. nom. | -iās | pl. nom. | |
| -u | sing. voc. | -iās | pl. voc. | |
| -uin | sing. acc. | -iās | pl. acc. | |
| -uās | sing. gen. | -uion | pl. gen. | |
| -uī | sing. dat. | -uābo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -uī | sing. inst. | -uābi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -uī | sing. loc. | -uābi(s) | pl. loc. |
5iii. neut.
| -ū | sing. nom. | -iā | pl. nom. | |
| -ū | sing. voc. | -iā | pl. voc. | |
| -ū | sing. acc, | -iā | pl. acc. | |
| -ous | sing. gen. | -uion | pl. gen. | |
| -ou | sing. dat. | -uibo(s) | pl. dat. | |
| -ū | sing. inst. | -uibi(s) | pl. inst. | |
| -ū | sing. loc. | -uibi(s) | pl. loc. |
BIII VERBS
In the paradigm below, we will be using the verb dancet (to show, reveal, teach) for the BIII present active indicative.
| dancū | I show |
| dances | you show |
| dancet | he/she/it shows |
| dancomos | we show |
| dancete | you (all) show |
| dancont | they show |
Notice that BIII verbs have the same endings as BI present active indicative verbs. The difference is that BIII verbs have an N in their root, which will affect how BIII verbs form other tenses, moods, and voices differently than BI verbs, and which we will of course learn in later lessons.
APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
NOTE: The new vocabulary is not limited to declensions and conjugations learned only in this lesson but contains declensions and conjugations learned up to this point. Also, remember the previous vocabulary we have learned as some sentences will contain those words.
New Vocabulary:
NOUNS
addatus, -ous (offering, sacrificial gift)
aidā, iās (hearth)
aidu, -ous (sacrificial fire, altar)
aidus, -ous (flame, fire)
budinā, -iās (army, troop, host)
catus, -ous (battle, fight, war)
celon, -i (omen)
depron, -i (nourishment, food)
etaros, -i (bird)
etion, -i (flight)
galinios, -i (enemy, foe)
loucus, -ous (light)
magos, -i (market, market-place)
ouis, -ēs (sheep)
storios, -i (farmer)
succos, -i (pig)
tessis, -ēs (warmth)
uātis, -ēs (prophet, seer, diviner)
uellon, -i (will, mind)
VERBS
brancet (to bring) - BIII
datiet (to give) - BII
uelīt (to see, read, interpret) - AII
uicet (to fight) - BI
ADJECTIVES
gallos, -ā, -on (brave, courageous)
māros, -ā, -on (large, great)
mouos, -ā, -on (my, mine)
touos, -a, -on (your, yours)
PREPOSITIONS
con + inst. (using, by means of)
uritti + acc. (against, opposite)
Exercises
Using what you have learned in this lesson as well as the new vocabulary above, translate the following sentences into English.
1. ueniā datiet addatūs dēuobis con aidiā tegiās.
2. uāteies uelīnt celā etiū etaron.
3. storios brancet ouīs etic succūs ad magon.
4. neroi galloi uicont in catū uritti budinan māran galinii.Click for answer key.
1. The family gives offerings to the Gods by means of the hearth of the home.
2. The seers interpret the omens by the flight of birds.
3. The farmer brings sheep and pigs to the market.
4. The brave warriors fight in battle against a large army of warriors.Using what you have learned in this lesson as well as the new vocabulary above, translate the following sentences into Gaulish
1. The seers reveal the will of the gods to the tribe by means of omens.
2. I give an offering to the flame of the hearth and the goddess gives warmth, light, and nourishment to my family.
3. Carantus, your daughter is bringing your young son across the river and to your house.Click for answer key.
1. uāteies dancont uellon dēuon con celobis.
2. datūmī addatun aidou aidiās etic dēuā datiet tessin, loucun, etic depron.
Carantu, enigenā touā brancet mapon touon tras abonan etic ad tegian touan.
Gaulish Paganism 