first declension

noun

In Latin, a pattern of inflection of a group of nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which have an -a- in their stems.

“Most first declension nouns are feminine, but a few like agricola and nauta are masculine.”

Similar
a-declension

Meanings

nounfirst declension (plural first declensions)

plural first declensions

  1. In Latin, a pattern of inflection of a group of nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which have an -a- in their stems.

    Most first declension nouns are feminine, but a few like agricola and nauta are masculine.

  2. In Russian and Ukrainian, a pattern of inflection of a group of (mostly) feminine nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which end in -а/-я in the nominative singular.
  3. In Lithuanian, a pattern of inflection of a group of masculine nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which end in -as/-is/-ys/-ias in the nominative singular; also a pattern of inflection of a group of adjectives that end in -(i)as in the masculine nominative singular.
  4. In Latvian, a pattern of inflection of a group of masculine nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which end in -s/-š in the nominative singular, with thematic vowel -a-.
  5. In Irish, a pattern of inflection of a group of masculine nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which end in a broad consonant in the nominative singular, and a slender consonant in the genitive singular; also a group of adjectives inflected similarly.
  6. In Swedish, a pattern of inflection of a group of common-gender nouns that are declined (inflected) in the same way, and which end in -a or a consonant in the nominative singular, and -or in the nominative plural.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
a-declension
Cite this entry
APA

first declension. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20declension

MLA

“first declension.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20declension. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “first declension,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20declension.

Source: first declension on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.