2nd Declension: Greek Nouns

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52. Greek nouns of the 2nd declension end in -os, -ōs, masculine or feminine, and in -on neuter.

They are mostly proper names and are declined as follows in the singular, the plural, when found, being regular.

Paradigm for 2nd Declension nouns of Greek derivation

a. Many names in -ēs belonging to the 3rd declension have also a genitive in .

Thūcȳdidēs, Thūcȳdidī (compare § 44.b).

b. Several names in -er have also a nominative in -us.

Teucer or Teucrus

The name Panthūs has the vocative Panthū (§ 81.3).

c. The genitive plural of certain titles of books takes the Greek termination -ōn.

Geōrgicōn  of the Georgics

d. The termination -oe (for Greek -οι) is sometimes found in the nominative plural.

Adelphoe  the Adelphi (a play of Terence)

e. Greek names in -eus (like Orpheus) have forms of the 2nd and 3rd declensions (see § 82).

Suggested Citation

Meagan Ayer, Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-947822-04-7. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/latin/2nd-declension-greek-nouns