Old Norse/Noun Declension
< Old Norse
In this chapter, the following concepts are explained:
- strong masculine declension
- strong feminine declension
- strong neuter declension
- strong r-stem declension
- strong nd-stem declension
- weak masculine declension
- weak feminine declension
- weak neuter declension
Labial mutation (aka. u-umlaut) is marked by an L before the ending.
Front mutation (aka. i-umlaut) is marked by an F before the ending.
Strong masculine declension
a-stem nouns
a-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-r | -ar |
| genitive |
-s, -ar | -a |
| dative |
-i | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | -a |
For the genitive singular, some nouns had -s, others had -ar, still others had both.
ja-stem nouns
ja-stem masculine nouns
| | long stem | short stem |
| case | singular | plural | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-ir | -ar | -r | -jar |
| genitive |
-is | -a | -s | -ja |
| dative |
-i | L -um | -i | L -jum |
| accusative |
-i | -a | -∅ | -ja |
Masculine short stem are rare. The only ones are niðr, herr and beðr.
Long stems have i instead of j unless followed by back vowels (here a, u). j disappears anyways after a long stem, unless preceded by g or k.
wa-stem nouns
wa-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-r | -var |
| genitive |
-s, -var | -va |
| dative |
-vi | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | -va |
i-stem nouns
i-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-r | -ir |
| genitive |
-s, -ar | -a |
| dative |
-∅, -i | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | -i |
u-stem nouns
u-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
L -r | F -ir |
| genitive |
-ar | -a |
| dative |
F -i | L -um |
| accusative |
L -∅ | L -u |
Consonant stem nouns
Consonant stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-r | F -∅ |
| genitive |
-s, -ar | -a |
| dative |
-i, -∅ | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | F -∅ |
Strong feminine declension
ō-stem nouns
ō-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
L -∅ | -ar |
| genitive |
-ar | -a |
| dative |
L -∅ | L -um |
| accusative |
L -∅ | -ar |
jō-stem nouns
jō-stem masculine nouns
| | long stem | short stem |
| case | singular | plural | singular | plural |
| nominative |
L -r | -ar | L -∅ | -jar |
| genitive |
-ar | -a | -jar | -ja |
| dative |
L -i | L -um | L -∅, -ju | L -jum |
| accusative |
L -i | -ar | L -∅ | -jar |
wō-stem nouns
wō-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
L -∅ | -var |
| genitive |
-var | -va |
| dative |
L -∅, -u | L -um |
| accusative |
L -∅ | -var |
i-stem nouns
i-stem feminine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
L -∅, -r | -ir |
| genitive |
-ar | -a |
| dative |
L -∅, -u | L -um |
| accusative |
L -∅ | -ir |
Consonant stem nouns
Consonant stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-∅ | F -r |
| genitive |
-ar | -a |
| dative |
-∅ | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | F -r |
Strong neuter declension
a-stem nouns
a-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-∅ | L -∅ |
| genitive |
-s, -ar | -a |
| dative |
-i | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | L -∅ |
ja-stem nouns
ja-stem neuter nouns
| | long stem | short stem |
| case | singular | plural | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-i | L -i | -∅ | L -∅ |
| genitive |
-is | -a | -s | -ja |
| dative |
-i | L -um | -i | L -jum |
| accusative |
-i | L -i | -∅ | L -∅ |
Long stems have i instead of j unless followed by back vowels (here a, u). j disappears anyways after a long stem, unless preceded by g or k.
wa-stem nouns
wa-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-∅ | L -∅ |
| genitive |
-s, -var | -va |
| dative |
-vi | L -um |
| accusative |
-∅ | L -∅ |
Strong r-stem declension
r-stem nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-ir | F -r |
| genitive |
L -ur | F -ra |
| dative |
L -ur | F -rum |
| accusative |
L -ur | F -r |
r-stem nouns are those of family members and relationships. They are faðir, móðir, bróðir, systir and dóttir. faðir has an alternative genitive singular feðr.
Strong nd-stem declension
nd-stem nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-i | F -r |
| genitive |
-a | -a |
| dative |
-a | L -um |
| accusative |
-a | F -r |
nd-stem nouns were originally present participles used substantively, like English he witnessed the killing of his mother.
Weak masculine declension
an-stem masculine nouns
an-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-i | -ar |
| genitive |
-a | -a |
| dative |
-a | L -um |
| accusative |
-a | -a |
jan-stem masculine nouns
jan-stem masculine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-i | -jar |
| genitive |
-ja | -ja |
| dative |
-ja | L -jum |
| accusative |
-ja | -ja |
Weak feminine declension
ōn-stem feminine nouns
ōn-stem feminine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-a | L -ur |
| genitive |
L -u | -na |
| dative |
L -u | L -um |
| accusative |
L -u | L -ur |
jōn-stem feminine nouns
jōn-stem feminine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-ja | L -jur |
| genitive |
L -ju | -na |
| dative |
L -ju | L -jum |
| accusative |
L -ju | L -jur |
īn-stem feminine nouns
īn-stem feminine nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-i | -ar |
| genitive |
-i | -a |
| dative |
-i | L -um |
| accusative |
-i | -ar |
Weak neuter declension
an-stem neuter nouns
an-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-a | L -u |
| genitive |
-a | -na |
| dative |
-a | L -um |
| accusative |
-a | L -u |
jan-stem neuter nouns
jan-stem neuter nouns
| case | singular | plural |
| nominative |
-ja | L -ju |
| genitive |
-ja | -na |
| dative |
-ja | L -jum |
| accusative |
-ja | L -ju |