{"id":106,"date":"2017-01-04T20:10:58","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T20:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.publiconsulting.com\/wordpress\/ancientgreek\/chapter\/33-second-declension-nouns\/"},"modified":"2018-01-19T11:35:29","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T11:35:29","slug":"33-second-declension-nouns","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/www.publiconsulting.com\/wordpress\/ancientgreek\/chapter\/33-second-declension-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Declension Nouns"},"content":{"raw":"\n[caption id=\"attachment_891\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1370\"]\"2004.02.0021<\/a> Marble basin fragment, written in the Attic alphabet, ca. 500 B.C. The rim is inscribed with part of an inscription reading: \"of the Bouleuterion.\" Athenian Agora Excavations.[\/caption]\n
\n

Second Declension Nouns<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Masculine and Feminine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nouns in this declension are mostly MASCULINE and use endings similar to the masculine definite article. The nominative singular, however, adds \u2013\u03c2<\/span>. The few FEMININE nouns in this declension use exactly the same endings as the masculine. Only the article marks their feminine gender.<\/p>\n

Most NOUN STEMS of the second declension end in \u2013\u03bf<\/span>. As with the first declension, the vowel stem combines with the SECOND DECLENSION case endings in a stable, consistent way, so you actually learn the stem vowel and the personal ending together as one combined case ending (S 229). Note that the endings for the nominative and accusative singular, as well as the nominative plural, are short. All other endings are long (S 231; GPH p. 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n-\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u2013\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f41<\/span> word<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f41 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03bf\u1f31 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u03bd\u1fc6\u03c3\u03bf\u03c2 -\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f21<\/span> island<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f21 \u03bd\u1fc6\u03c3\u03bf\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03b1\u1f31 \u03bd\u1fc6\u03c3\u03bf\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03bd\u1fc6\u03c3\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03cc\u03c2 -\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f41<\/span> brother<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f41 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03cc\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03bf\u1f31 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03bf\u03af<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03bf\u1fe6<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u1ff6\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u1ff7<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03cc\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b4\u03b5\u03bb\u03c6\u03bf\u03cd\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 -\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f41<\/span> danger<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominative<\/td>\n\u1f41 \u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n\u03bf\u1f31 \u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03af\u03bd\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b9\u03bd\u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Accent of Second Declension Nouns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like some FIRST DECLENSION nouns, e.g. \u03c4\u03b9\u03bc\u03ae -\u1fc6\u03c2<\/span>, second declension nouns can have a persistent accent on the ultima of all inflected forms. When this happens, a CIRCUMFLEX is used on the genitive and dative, singular and plural; an ACUTE accent falls on the nominative and accusative, singular and plural.<\/p>\n

Unlike the first declension, the accent of the GENITIVE PLURAL of second declension nouns is not inevitably drawn to the ultima.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Neuter <\/strong><\/p>\n

Second declension NEUTER nouns follow the NEUTER LAWS that we learned earlier during our study of third declension nouns. Namely:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR must be IDENTICAL.<\/li>\n
  2. The NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE PLURAL also must be IDENTICAL, and end in a short \u2013\u03b1<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  3. Whenever any NEUTER noun is the subject of a verb, the verb is regularly 3rd PERSON SINGULAR, even if the neuter subject is plural!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    ACCENT RULES for neuter nouns follow those of masculine second declension nouns (S 231; GPH p. 5):<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n-\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n-\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n -\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd -\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03cc<\/span> deed, work<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u1f14\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd -\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03cc<\/span> face, mask, person<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ce\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ce\u03c0\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ce\u03c0\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ce\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c3\u03c9\u03c0\u03b1
    \n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd -\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03cc<\/span> sign<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\nSingular<\/td>\nPlural<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nominative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Genitive<\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Dative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u1ff3<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Accusative<\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f78 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd<\/span><\/td>\n\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b1
    \n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    4. \u03bd\u03b1\u1fe6\u03c2<\/span>, \u03bd\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c2<\/span>, and \u03bd\u03b5\u03ce\u03c2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    In Classical Greek, it is easy to confuse these three nouns:<\/p>\n