Old Norse/Noun Declension

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	L -r	L -var
genitive	L -s, -var	L -va
dative	L -vi	L -um
accusative	L -∅	L -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 -r
genitive	-s, -ar	-a
dative	(F) -i, -∅	L -um
accusative	-∅	F -r

Strong feminine declension

ō-stem nouns

ō-stem feminine nouns

case	singular	plural
nominative	L -∅	-ar
genitive	-ar	-a
dative	L -∅, -u	L -um
accusative	L -∅	-ar

jō-stem nouns

jō-stem feminine 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 feminine nouns

case	singular	plural
nominative	L -∅	L -var
genitive	L -var	L -va
dative	L -∅, -u	L -um
accusative	L -∅	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 feminine nouns

case	singular	plural
nominative	L -∅	F -r
genitive	-ar, (F -r)	-a
dative	L -∅	L -um
accusative	L -∅	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 -∅	L -∅
genitive	L -s, -var	L -va
dative	L -vi	L -um
accusative	L -∅	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