A Practical Grammar of the Paali Language

Chapter V

Declension

116. (a) Declension is the adding to the stems of nouns and adjectives certain suffixes which show case, gender and number.

(b) The stem or base of a noun is that noun as it stands before any suffix has been added to it.

(c) Paali has three genders: the masculine, the feminine and the neuter.

(d) Paali does not strictly follow the natural division of male, female, etc, in assigning gender to nouns, many nouns which are masculine in English are feminine or neuter in Paali and vice-versa; a great number of nouns which we consider as neuter are, some masculine, some feminine in Paali. This is called grammatical gender.

(e) There are two numbers: the singular and the plural.

(f) There are eight cases.

1. Nominative, showing the subject of the sentence.
2. Genitive, showing possession (of, 's).
3. Dative, showing the object or person to or for whom something is given or done.
4. Accusative, this is the object of the sentence.
5. Instrumentive, shows the object or person with or by whom something is performed.
6. Ablative, generally showing separation, expressed by from.
7. Locative, showing place (in, on, at, upon, etc.).
8. Vocative, used in addressing persons.

117. The declension of nouns is divided into two great divisions:

(a) Vowel-declension, comprising all the stems that end in a vowel.

(b) Consonantal declension, in which are included all the stems ending in a consonant.

(c) Vowel-declension is generally, for the sake of clearness, divided again into three classes:
(i) the declension of stems ending in a or aa.
(ii) the declension of stems ending in i or ii.
(iii) the declension of stems ending in u or uu.

118. (a) Native grammarians give the following as the regular case endings or suffixes for all nouns.

Singular		Plural
Nom.	s	Nom.	yo
Gen.	ssa	Gen.	na.m
Dat.	ssa	Dat.	na.m
Acc.	a.m	Acc.	yo
Ins.	aa	Ins.	hi
Abl.	smaa	Abl.	hi
Loc.	smi.m	Loc.	su
Voc.	(like the stem of Nom.)	Voc.	(like the Nom.)

(b) Most of the above suffixes are theoretical only, in practice they differ considerably according to gender and case. The actual suffixes will be given with each declension.

Vowel Declension

Declension of stems ending in a (short)

119. (a) The great bulk of nouns and adjectives belong to this declension, and as the other declensions have borrowed several of its suffixes, its thorough mastery is most important and will greatly facilitate the study of the other declensions.

(b) Nouns ending in a, are all masculine or neuter.

120. The following are the suffixes of masculine nouns the stem of which ends in a:

Singular		Plural
Nom.	o	Nom.	aa, aase
Gen.	ssa	Gen.	na.m
Dat.	ssa, aaya	Dat.	na.m
Acc.	.m	Acc.	e
Ins.	ina	Ins.	ehi, ebhi
Abl.	aa, smaa, mhaa, to	Abl.	ehi, ebhi
Loc.	i, smi.m, mhi	Loc.	su
Voc.	(like the stem) and aa	Voc.	a

121. These suffixes have to be attached to the stems, taking care to observe the sandhi rules which may apply when suffixes begin with a vowel; in every case the student should accustom himself to look up the rules, which will be referred to by their numbers, and accustom himself to account for every form he meets with, whether nominal, verbal or derivative. He should remember that a systematic study from the start will ensure thoroughness and eventually save him a great deal of labour and time.

122. Declension of deva, god, angel

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	devo, a god	devaa, gods
Gen.	devassa, a god's	devaana.m, gods', of gods
Dat.	devassa, to or for a god	devaana.m, to or for gods
Acc.	deva.m, a god	deve, gods
Ins.	devena, by, with or on account of, a god	devehi, devebhi, by, with, or on account, of gods
Abl.	devaa, devasmaa, devamhaa, devato, from a god	devehi, devebhi, from gods
Loc.	deve, in, on, or upon a god devasmi.m, on, or upon a god devamhi, on, or upon, a god	devesu, in, on, or upon gods
Voc.	deva, devaa, O god!	devaa, O gods!

Exercise. Decline like deva (masc.):

• nara, man.
• maata`nga, elephant.
• byaggha, tiger.
• siiha, lion.
• miga, deer.
• orodha, a seraglio.
• gandhabba, musician.
• dhamma, doctrine, right.
• kacchapa, tortoise.
• putta, son.
• satta, being.
• kuupa, a mast.
• su.msumaara, crocodile.
• makara, a sea monster.

123. Neuter nouns in a (short)

Suffixes

	Singular	Plural
Nom.	.m	ni, a
Gen.	ssa	na.m
Dat.	ssa, aaya	na.m
Acc.	.m	ni, e
Ins.	ina	ehi, ebhi
Abl.	aa, smaa, mhaa, to	ehi, ebhi
Loc.	i, smi.m, mhi	su
Voc.	(like the stem)	ni, a

124. Declension of ruupa (neuter), form

Exercise. Decline like ruupa:

• citta, mind.
• sota, ear.
• muula, root, price.
• ve.luriya, coral.
• upa.t.thaana, service.
• ahata, cloth (new).
• jala, water.
• osaana, end.
• lo.na, salt.
• savana, hearing.
• vajira, diamond.
• saa.taka, garment.
• vaata, wind.
• pesana, despatch, sending.
• yotta, rope.
• pa.t.tana, a sea port.
• yuddha, fight.
• pa.n.na, leaf.

Declension of nouns in aa (long)

125. All nouns ending in aa are feminine.

126. Suffixes

127. Declension of ka~n~naa (fem.), a virgin

Exercise. Decline like ka~n~naa:

• saddhaa, faith.
• medhaa, intelligence.
• vijjaa, science.
• pa~n~naa, wisdom.
• ta.nhaa, lust, thirst.
• mettaa, love.
• icchaa, desire.
• bhikkhaa, begged-food.
• gaathaa, stanza.
• maalaa, garland.
• khi.d.daa, play, sport.
• puujaa, honour.
• senaa, army.
• chaayaa, shadow.
• naavaa, boat.
• pipaasaa, thirst.
• giivaa, throat.
• velaa, time.

128. Masculine nouns in aa (long)

It has been said above (125) that all nouns ending in aa are feminine; but there are a very few examples of masculine nouns ending in aa. We give below their declension.

Declension of saa, dog

The following are declined like saa:

• paccakkhadhammaa, one to whom the Doctrine is evident.
• ga.n.diivandhavaa, Arjuna.
• maa, the moon.
• rahaa*, sin.

Declension of nouns in i (short)

129. Nouns the stem of which ends in i are masculine, feminine, and neuter. They do not form a very numerous class.

130. Masc. nouns in i

Suffixes

131. Declension of kapi (masc.), monkey

Exercise. Words declined like kapi (masc.):

• aggi, fire.
• kali, sin.
• sandhi, union.
• nidhi, a depository.
• saarathi, a charioteer.
• yati, a monk.
• a~njali, salutation.
• ari, an enemy.
• bondi, body.
• giri, a mountain.
• uumi, a wave.
• bali, oblation.
• senaapati, a general.
• gahapati, householder.

132. Feminine nouns in i (short)

Suffixes

133. (a) Declension of ratti (fem.), night

(b) Declension of jaati (fem.), birth

Exercise. Nouns declined like ratti (fem.):

• bhuumi, earth.
• ke.li, amusement.
• satti, ability.
• nandi, joy.
• patti, attainment.
• mati, understanding.
• tu.t.thi, satisfaction.
• mutti, deliverance.
• aasatti, attachment.
• vuddhi, increase.
• dhuuli, dust.
• ruci, splendour.
• tanti, a string.
• chavi, the skin.
• gati, going, rebirth.
• cuti, disappearance.
• sati, recollection.
• di.t.thi, sight, belief.

134. Neuter nouns in i (short)

Suffixes

Declension of vaari (neut.), water

Exercise. Decline like vaari (neut):

• a.t.thi, bone.
• satthi, the thigh.
• akkhi, eye.
• dadhi, milk curds.
• sappi, ghee.
• acchi, eye.
• chadi, roof.
• ruupi, silver.

Declensions of nouns in ii (Iong)

135. There are no neuter nouns ending in ii (long).

136. Masculine nouns in ii (long)

Suffixes

Declension of da.n.dii (masc.), mendicant

Exercise. Decline like da.n.dii (masc):

• saamii, lord.
• senaanii, a general.
• kapa.nii, pauper.
• sakkhii, a witness.
• mantii, minister.
• yoddhii, warrior.

137. Most masc. nouns in ii are not pure substantives, they are adjectives used substantively; their true stem is in in, the Nom. sing. being ii. The true stem of da.n.dii therefore is da.n.din. Properly, all these words belong to the consonantal declension.

138. Feminine nouns ii (long)

Suffixes

139. Declension of nadii (fem.), river

Exercise. Decline like nadii (fem.):

• pa.tii, canvas.
• Baaraa.nasii, Benares.
• lakkhii, prosperity.
• raajinii, queen.
• siihii, lioness.
• dabbii, spoon.
• paatii, bowl.
• bhisii, mat.
• kumaarii, girl.
• sakhii, a female friend.
• braahma.nii, a brahmin woman.
• taru.nii, young woman.
• bhikkhunii, nun.
• kaakii, a female crow.
• vaanarii, ape.
• mahii, the earth.
• yakkhii, ogress.
• migii, a doe.
• devii, nymph.
• vaapii, a reservoir, tank.

Delension of nouns in u (short)

140. The nouns ending in u (short), are either masculine, feminine or neuter.

141. Masculine nouns in u (short)

Suffixes

Declension of bhikkhu (masc.), monk

Exercise. Nouns declined like bhikkhu (masc.):

• pasu, goat.
• velu, bamboo.
• bandhu, relative.
• bhaa.nu, the sun.
• maccu, death.
• ucchu, sugar-cane.
• baahu, arm.
• setu, bridge.
• ketu, flag.
• katu, sacrifice.
• pharasu, axe.
• ruru, a deer.
• taru, tree.
• hetu, cause.

142. Feminine nouns in u (short)

Suffixes

143. Declension of dhenu (fem.), cow

Exercise. Decline like dhenu:

• dhaatu, an element.
• yaagu, rice gruel.
• rajju, string.
• kare.nu, elephant.
• ku, the earth.
• hanu, jaw.
• daddu, ringworm.
• va.n.nu, sand.
• kaasu, a hole, pit.
• ka.n.du, itch.
• kacchu, scab.
• piya`ngu, a medicinal plant.
• natthu, nose.
• vijju, lightning.

144. Neuter nouns in u (short)

Suffixes

(The rest like the masc.)

145. Declension of cakkhu (neut.), eye

Exercise. Words declined like cakkhu (neut.):

• dhanu, a bow.
• ambu, water.
• daaru, wood.
• aru, a wound.
• madhu, honey.
• janu, the knee.
• massu, the beard.
• vatthu, a story.
• matthu, whey.
• aayu, age.
• assu, a tear.
• vasu, wealth.

Declension of nouns uu (long)

146. (a) This declension includes masculine and feminine nouns only.

(b) The suffixes are much the same as those of the u (short) declension, and present no difficulty.

147. Declension of Sayambhuu (masc.), an epithet of the Buddha

148. Declension of vadhuu (fem.), a widow

Stems ending in a diphthong

149. All diphthongic stems have disappeared in Paali; only one such stem remains, it is the word go, a cow.

Special Nouns

150. (I) Declension of go (diphthongic stem), a cow

151. (II) Declension of sakhaa, a friend (Sansk. sakhi. The stem is irregular. Masc.)

Consonantal Declension

152. (a) The consonantal declension includes all nouns and adjectives whose stem ends in a consonant.

(b) Nouns the stem of which ends in a consonant, are rather few and special, the majority of the words included in this declension being adjectives ending in vat or mat, and all words ending in a nasal (n) being considered as belonging to the vowel declension, by native grammarians.

(c) Most of the words of the consonantal declension seem to follow two declensions; some suffixes belong to the vowel, and others to the consonantal declension.

153. (I) Stems ending in a nasal (n)

154. Declension of attaa (stem attan), self (stem in an, masc.)

Like attaa (stem: attan) are declined:

• aatumaa, self.
• muddhaa, head.
• asmaa, stone.
• addhaa, road, distance, time.

155. Declension of Brahmaa (stem brahman, masc.), Brahma

156. Declension of raajaa (stem raajan, masc.), a king

157. Declension of pumaa (stem puman), a man

158. (II) Stems ending in s

159. Declension of mano (stem manas), the mind

160. Native grammarians give the following nouns as belonging to the manas declension, their stems ending in as:

• vaco, discourse.
• tejo, power.
• vayo, age.
• tapo, heat.
• ceto, thought.
• tamo, darkness.
• yaso, glory, fame.
• ayo, iron.
• payo, a beverage.
• siro, the head.
• chando, metrics, prosody.
• saro, a lake.
• uro, breast.
• raho, solitude, privacy.
• aho, day.
• rajo, dust, passion.
• ojo, splendour; strength.
• thaamo, strength, vigour.
• vaaso, cloth, clothing.

161. Declension of aayu (stem aayus), life

162. (III) Stems ending in ar (=Sansk. .r)

163. Declension of Satthaa, the Teacher (Buddha) (stem satthar, Sansk castr)

Exercise. Decline like satthaa:

• netaa, a guide.
• nattaa, a grandson.
• maataa, mother.
• pitaa, father.
• jetaa, a conqueror.
• daataa, a giver.
• kattaa, an agent.
• bhaataa, brother.

The words pitaa and maataa present some peculiarities.

164. Declension of maataa, mother (stem maatar, Sansk. maat.r)

Declension of pitaa, father (stem pitar, Sansk. pit.r)

165. (IV) The words ending in: at (or ant), vat (or vant), mat (or mant), are mostly adjectives and their declension will be given in the chapter on Adjectives. We shall, however, give here the declension of a few nouns, in at or vant.

166. Declension of bhava.m, Sir (stem in at, or ant)

167. Declension of araha.m, saint (stem in at, or ant)

Similarly is declined santa, meaning a good man.