What gender are most nouns from the 1st declension?

Prepare for Certamen with this comprehensive exam guide. Study using flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Get ready for your Certamen challenge!

Most nouns belonging to the 1st declension in Latin are feminine. This is a distinguishing characteristic of the 1st declension, which primarily includes words that denote female beings or objects associated with femininity. For example, nouns such as "puella" (girl), "aqua" (water), and "terra" (land) are all feminine.

While there are some exceptions where masculine nouns can appear in the 1st declension, such as "nauta" (sailor) and "agricola" (farmer), these are relatively rare compared to the numerous feminine nouns in the declension. The predominance of feminine nouns is a key feature of the 1st declension, making it a foundational aspect for students learning Latin grammar and vocabulary. Understanding this gender classification is essential, as it influences the forms of adjectives and articles that are used with these nouns throughout the language.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy