LvLatvian grammar

II declension

-is (-s)

Most of the II declension nouns end in -is. These are masculine nouns.

Word endings

CaseSingularPlural
Nominatīvs-is-i*
Ģenitīvs-a*-u*
Datīvs-im-iem*
Akuzatīvs-i-us*
Instrumentālis-i-iem*
Locatīvs-os*
Vocatīvs-∅, -i-i*

II declension examples

brālis
brother
kaķis
cat
mēnesis
month
latvietis
latvian (man)

Consonant alternation

The endings marked with * indicate palatalization of the preceding consonant (except r). In spelling, this means that the last letter of the stem is replaced with another one.

Notice that there is no alternation in the word viesis.

Exceptions

The II declension also include a number of masculine words ending in -s. Their singular forms partially differ from those shown in the table above.

Word endings

CaseSingularPlural
Nominatīvs-s-i*
Ģenitīvs-s-u*
Datīvs-im-iem*
Akuzatīvs-i-us*
Instrumentālis-i-iem*
Locatīvs-os*
Vocatīvs-s-i*

The II declension also include a number of masculine words ending in -s. Their singular forms partially differ from those shown in the table above.

Exceptions list

akmens
stone
asmens
blade
rudens
autumn
ūdens
water
zibens
lightning
mēness
moon

⚠️ The word suns is a II-declension word with the exception of its Ģenitīvs form: suņa.

⚠️ The word sāls belongs to the II declension, while in the old grammars it can be attributed to the VI-th.