3rd declension
•all 3 genders
•nominative form – various endings:
• corpus, caput, pollex, hallux, os, femur, frons, cervix, abdomen, pes, dens, pelvis, cavitas,
dolor
•genitive form: -is
•
•

Stem = gen. sg. without -is
•corpus, corporis, n. corpor-
•caput, capitis, n. capit-
•pollex, pollicis, m. pollic-
•os, oris, n. or-
•femur, femoris, n. femor-
•frons, frontis, f. front-
•cervix, cervicis, f. cervic-
•abdomen, abdominis, n. abdomin-
•pes, pedis, m. ped-
•dens, dentis, m. dent-
•pelvis, pelvis, f. pelv-
•cavitas, cavitatis, f. cavitat-
•dolor, doloris, m. dolor-
If you want to decline correctly,
it is necessary to know the genitive form.




How do I know which paradigm to follow?
•M+F: dolor
• pelvis
• dosis (febris)
•
•N: corpus
• rete
If you want to choose the right paradigm,
it is necessary to know the gender.

M+F
•only difference in gen. pl.: -um X -ium
•pelvis:
–1) the same nominative and genitive forms:
•cutis, is, f.; canalis, is, m.; auris, is, f.; cystis, is, f.; axis, is, m.
•2) genitive stem ends in two consonants
–dens, ntis, m.; pars, rtis, f.; pons, ntis, m.; mens, ntis, f.; lens, ntis, f.
Sg.
Pl.
nom.
pelvis
pelves
gen.
pelvis
pelvium
ak.
pelvem
pelves
abl.
pelve
pelvibus
Sg.
Pl.
nom.
dolor
dolores
gen.
doloris
dolorum
ak.
dolorem
dolores
abl.
dolore
doloribus

N
•differences: abl. sg.: -e X -i
• nom.+ak. pl. -a X -ia
• gen. pl.: -um X -ium
•rete: nom. sg. -e/-ar/-al:
• animal, alis, n.; calcar, aris, n.; cochlear, aris, n.
– (but not hepar, atis, n.)
Sg.
Pl.
nom.
rete
retia
gen.
retis
retium
ak.
rete
retia
abl.
reti
retibus
Sg.
Pl.
nom.
corpus
corpora
gen.
corporis
corporum
ak.
corpus
corpora
abl.
corpore
corporibus

Exceptions
1.os, ossis n. bone → gen. pl. -ium
2.
2.
2.
2.
2.vas, vasis, n. vessel
1.in sg. follows paradigm  CORPUS vas-vasis-vas-vase
2.in pl. follows paradigm SEPTUM vasa-vasorum-vasa-vasis

sg.
pl.
nom.
os
ossa
gen.
ossis
ossium
ak.
os
ossa
abl.
osse
ossibus

sg.
pl.
nom.
vas
vasa
gen.
vasis
vasorum
ak.
vas
vasa
abl.
vase
vasis

How do I find the right paradigm?
1)genitive sg. ending: -ae/-es, -i, -is, -us, -ei
2)gender:
• a) M+F:
–the forms of nom. and gen. sg. is the same – pelvis
–genitive stem ends in two consonants – pelvis
–otherwise dolor
• b) N:
–nom. sg. ends -e/-ar/-al (except hepar) – rete
–otherwise corpus

Choose the right paradigm:
•caput, capitis, n. capit-
•canalis, canalis, m. canal-
•pollex, pollicis, m. pollic-
•os, oris, n. or-
•excisio, excisionis, f. excision-
•femur, femoris, n. femor-
•frons, frontis, f. front-
•cervix, cervicis, f. cervic-
•auris, auris, f. aur-
•abdomen, abdominis, n. abdomin-
•pes, pedis, m. ped-
•dens, dentis, m. dent-
•cavitas, cavitatis, f. cavitat-
•regio, regionis, f. region-

Connection with the adjective
• F M N
•SG.
•1. cavitas magna dolor magnus foramen magnum
•2. cavitatis magnae doloris magni foraminis magni
•4. cavitatem magnam dolorem magnum foramen magnum
•6. cavitate magna dolore magno foramine magno
•
•PL.
•1. cavitates magnae dolores magni foramina magna
•2. cavitatum magnarum dolorum magnorum foraminum magnorum
•4. (in) cavitates magnas dolores magnos foramina magna
•6. (in) cavitatibus magnis doloribus magnis foraminibus magnis

•caput longum            (caput, capitis, n.)
•
cavitas magna            (cavitas, cavitatis, f.)
•
cochlear parvum        (cochlear, cochlearis, n)
•
canalis palatinus        (canalis, canalis, m.)
•

Change to nominative plural
•musculus sphincter
•foramen nutricium
•dolor chronicus
•vas longum
•musculus adductor
•femur fractum
•cartilago thyreoidea
•vulnus punctum