Slovene declension

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This page describes the declension of nouns, adjectives and pronouns in Slovene. For information on Slovene grammar in general, see Slovene grammar.

Contents

This article follows the tonal orthography. For the conversion into pitch orthography, see Slovene national phonetic transcription .

Grammatical categories

Nouns are declined for six cases and three numbers. Adjectives and most pronouns additionally decline for three genders.

Cases

There are six cases (the Slovene names are given in brackets):

  1. Nominative ( imenovalnik or nominativ )
  2. Genitive ( rodilnik or genitiv )
  3. Dative ( dajalnik or dativ )
  4. Accusative ( tožilnik or akuzativ )
  5. Locative ( mestnik or lokativ )
  6. Instrumental ( orodnik or instrumental )

Traditionally, the cases are given in the order above. They are also usually numbered accordingly: the nominative case is the first case, the genitive the second, and so on.

The nouns are usually listed and sorted by their nominative singular form, but declension is defined by the genitive singular form. For this reason, genitive singular form is commonly written with the nominative. Where it is not otherwise noted, the second form is in genitive singular form.

Vocative

Vocative ( zvalnik or vokativ ) was used with the original endings in Slovene up to the 18th century by, for example Janez Svetokriški, but has now received the endings of the nominative case. Some words, however, kept the vocative form, such as oče (instead of the nominative *otь̀cь) 'father'. Colloquially, vocative endings are still present, but the current use is taken from Serbo-Croatian.

While having the same endings, it is still tonemically different from the nominative case, always having circumflex accent, but because of its similarity with nominative, it is often omitted from declension tables or is considered a special case of nominative, called 'addressive nominative' ( ogovorni imenovalnik ) in Slovene literature.

Numbers

Slovene has three numbers:

  1. Singular ( ednina ), which refers to one object.
  2. Dual ( dvojina ), which refers to a pair of objects.
  3. Plural ( množina ), which refers to more than two objects.

There is, however, an exception to that rule. Plural is used instead of dual for nouns that represent things that usually come in pairs (such as body parts, socks, twins, and parents), except if one wants to stress that the noun relates to both parts and after words that signify a pair (such as oba 'both', etc. ):

Genders

A noun in Slovene can have one of the following three genders:

  1. Masculine ( moški , abbreviated m. sp.); divided further into animate (accusative singular equals genitive) and inanimate (accusative singular equals nominative) in the first and fourth masculine declension, and in first adjective declension.
  2. Feminine ( ženski , abbreviated ž. sp.)
  3. Neuter ( srednji , abbreviated sr. sp.); which is in some dialects masculinized or feminized.

Native speakers usually identify a gender by placing a demonstrative pronoun tisti 'that' in front of it. Since some nouns can only have a singular form and some only a plural form (extremely rarely also only dual, such as ribi 'pisces'), both singular and plural endings must be remembered. Note that the feminine singular and neuter plural endings are the same so the number must be determined first.

Non-native speakers in most cases determine try to determine gender from the ending of a noun in nominative singular.

Declensions

Declensions are divided differently in international and Slovene literature. In Slovene literature, the declensions are defined by the ending in genitive singular, but in international literature, the nouns are often divided by the stem (the same way as in Proto-Slavic), which are more numerous. Thus, they can be considered as a subdivision of the declension. The stem declensions that are a subdivision of the main declension are a result of a stem lengthening alteration ( premena ), or is a subpattern ( podvzorec ).

There are four different noun declension for every gender in Slovene and two for the adjectives. Besides the name, the identifying ending (ending in genitive singular) is written:

Masculine:

Feminine:

Neuter:

Adjective:

Accentual types

There are four different accentual types:

In first masculine, second feminine and first adjectival declension, accentual types affect the endings in some cases.

Some words can also change accent from fixed to mixed in one number or in only one case. These nouns follow accent changes of the fixed type, except where they change to mixed type (they follow mixed accentuation). Some nouns can also change the accentuation after certain prepositions. These forms are always circumflex (for example, primẹ̑r , accusative singular primẹ̑r, but after na , it changes into na prȋmer).

Degrees of comparison

There is a three-stage and two-stage comparison in Slovene.

The three-stage comparison has the following degrees:

  1. Positive ( osnovnik or pozitiv )
  2. Comparative ( primernik or komparativ )
  3. Superlative ( presežnik or superlativ )

The two-stage declension has the following degrees:

  1. Positive ( osnovnik or pozitiv )
  2. Elative ( pridvignjena stopnja or elativ )

Animacy

Masculine nouns and adjectives are divided between animate and inanimate nouns.

Animate nouns are nouns that represent a living or mythological being ( Francọ̑z 'French', rȁk 'crab', dȗh 'ghost') and words that originally had that meaning, but have a different one now ( vipȃvec (a type of wine), francọ̑z 'monkey wrench', Oriọ̑n 'Orion'). In this category are also card names and suits, and some names of cars and mushrooms, such as as 'ace', pȋk 'club', gọ̑lf (Golf, a Volkswagen car), and gobȃn 'bolete'. The word duh is animate when it means 'ghost' or 'mentality'. Some diminutives are animate, even if they represent an inanimate object (for example, stolček 'little chair' ). Names of space objects that are named after gods are either animate or inanimate (e. g. Merkur 'Mercury')

This distinction is also applied to all words that modify the noun, such as adjectives, determiners and the like. Thus, adjectives in the masculine accusative singular will have either the form of the nominative (no ending or -i), or the form of the genitive (-ega).

Nouns, nominal pronouns, nominalized adjectives

The declensions for nouns, nominal pronouns, and nominalized adjectives can be split by gender, as gender and declension pattern coincide. The dual and plural are not distinguished in the genitive and locative cases of nouns; the plural form is used for the dual as well. For neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative forms are always the same, in all numbers.

Nominal and nominalized pronouns also follow this inflection patterns, however most of them are irregular. For irregularities among pronouns, see the pronouns section.

First Masculine declension

First masculine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -a (korȃkkorȃka), -u (mọ̑st mostȗ), and the noun dan (dȃn dnẹ̑). The vast majority of masculine nouns are declined following this inflection pattern. It is so common that masculine nouns following the second (and some following the third and the fourth) can be declined following the pattern of the first.

Masculine nouns are further divided between animate and inanimate nouns. This difference is only significant for the accusative singular.

Masculine o-/e-stem declension

The standard declension of first masculine declension is the o-stem declension. O-stem nouns are divided between "hard" and "soft" stems, see the main Slovene grammar article for the meaning of these terms.

First masculine declension endings
Hard declensionSoft declension
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative--a-i--a-i
Genitive-a-ov-ov-a-ev-ev
Dative-u / -i (styl.)-oma-om-u / -i (styl.)-ema-em
Accusativenom or gen-a-enom or gen-a-e
Locative-u / -i (styl.)-ih-ih-u / -i (styl.)-ih-ih
Instrumental-om-oma-i-em-ema-i
Vocative--a-i--a-i
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Masculine t-stem declension

Proper names ending in -e normally follow this declension like the noun otročȅ 'kid', adding the infix -t- before the endings. For example, Zvọ̑ne Zvọ̑neta (a male name). This declension also follow some other nouns ending in -e if it represents hypocoristicity ( fantȅ fantẹ́ta 'boy, immature man'). The noun oče 'father' also follows this declension.

Some historic Greek names, such as Ksenofọ̑n 'Xenophon' and Ȃjas 'Ajax the Great', also follow this inflection pattern, however, it is also common to already have a t-stem in nominative singular (Ksenofọ̑n/Ksenofọ̑ntKsenofọ̑nta, Ȃjas/AjantAjanta).

In speech or in writing of lower register, nouns that have the ending -o in nominative singular, such as Márko (a male name) and sȋnko 'little son' also follow this inflection pattern (MárkoMárkota, sȋnkosȋnkota). In dialectal speeches this also happens to proper nouns ending in -a, such as Míha and Lúka , and the a is in some dialects changed to e (MíhaMíhata/Míheta, LúkaLúkata/Lúketa), although in some dialects these words can be lengthened with another consonant, for example, with n in Carinthian dialects (MárkoMárkona, LúkaLukana).

Masculine n-stem declension

A few nouns ending in -elj have a stem ending in -eljn- rather than dropping the fill vowel. For example, nágelj nágeljna 'carnation' and Fráncelj Fránceljna (a male name). These nouns can be also declined normally (nágeljnáglja, FránceljFránclja), however, that is less common.

Some Latin names ending in -o can also follow this inflection pattern, such as Kȃto Katọ̑na 'Cato', but the n can be already added in nominative singular (KȃtonKatọ̑na).

Masculine j-stem declension

Nouns with a stem whose pronunciation ends in /-ɾ/ or a vowel (not to be confused with a noun having a vowel ending in nominative singular) have an added -j- when an ending is attached, such as tȃksi tȃksija 'taxi' and redár redárja 'security guard at a public event'.

There are exceptions, though. Monosyllabic words follow the o-stem declension ( mȋr mirȗ 'peace'), except cārcārja 'tsar', and similarly also stȃr (old way of measuring cereal), júr 'bolete, 1000 units of currency', and fȃr 'priest'. Nouns derived from verbs, such as gȏvor 'speech', vȋr 'source', and prodȍr 'penetration' also follow o-stem declension. The same is true for nouns that have a fill vowel followed by /ɾ/, such as vẹ̑ter vẹ̑tra 'wind' and blȃgor blȃgra 'well-being'. Compound nouns that contain a non-j-stem noun (such as dvogȏvor dvogȏvora 'dialogue' and pȍdodbȍr pȍdodbóra 'subcommittee') are also excluded, except for names that end in -mir, such as Vlȃdimir (a male name) and Čȓtomir , which can be declined either way (VlȃdimirVlȃdimira/Vlȃdimirja, ČȓtomirČȓtomira/Čȓtomirja). Some nouns that end in -r and silent -e can also be declined either way ( Tesnière Slovene pronunciation: [tɛnˈjɛ́ːɾ] 'Tesnière' TesnièraSlovene pronunciation: [tɛnˈjɛ́ːra] /Tesnièrja [tɛnˈjɛ́ːrja] , ShakespeareSlovene pronunciation: [ˈʃéːkspiɾ] ShakespearaSlovene pronunciation: [ˈʃéːkspira] /Shakespearja [ˈʃéːkspirja] ) 'Shakespeare. Some nouns, such as Madžȃr 'Hungar', sẹ́ver 'north', and Alžir 'Algiers', also follow the o-stem declension. Note that in loanwords, the vowel can be written differently than expected, such as Disney [ˈdíːzni] Disneyja [ˈdíːznija] 'Disney' (but Broadway Slovene pronunciation: [ˈbróːdvɛj] Broadwaya [ˈbróːdveja] 'Broadway'). Note that Latin and Greek words can have an ending that ends with a consonant in nominative singular, but they are still j-stem nouns (OvidiusOvidija 'Ovid').

Nouns ending in non-silent -r or a vowel plus a silent consonant also follow this declension, but the /j/ is only pronounced and not written: (Dumas [diˈmáː] Dumasa [diˈmáːja] ) 'Dumas'.

Alternations and other exceptions of the first masculine declension

First masculine declension has many alternations:

  • A relatively small number of masculine nouns have a nominative (and accusative, if inanimate) singular an ending -a ( slúga (mostly the nouns that can also follow second masculine declination) 'servant'), -e ( finȃle 'final'), -o ( Márko (a male name), or -u ( Enẹ̑scu 'Enescu'). Sometimes, but not always, the suffixes in Latin loanwords -as, -es, -is, -os, -us, and -um are considered an ending. Examples of this include Leonȋdas Leonȋda 'Leonidas', Ȃvgijas Ȃvgija 'Augeas', Aristọ̄teles Aristọ̄tela 'Aristotle', Juvenȃlis Juvenȃla 'Juvenal', Arhȋlos Arhȋloha 'Archilochus', Tȃcitus Tȃcita 'Tacitus, and Tarẹ̑ntum Tarẹ̑nta 'Taranto'. These suffixes can be omitted (Leonȋd, Aristọ̄tel, Juvenȃl etc.), but if we do so, the stems that end with a vowel must be lengthened with a j, even in nominative case ( Ȃvgij 'Augeas', Menelȃj 'Menelaus', Lívij 'Livius', etc.). The lengthening of the stem is also present in other cases if one does not decide to omit the suffix. Other times, the suffix is considered as a part of the stem, such as Rọ̑dos Rọ̑dosa 'Rhodes', and some can be declined both ways, such as ọ̑bolos ọ̑bola/ọ̑bolosa 'Obol' and alpinẹ̑tum alpinẹ̑ta/alpinẹ̑tuma 'Alpine botanical garden'. Modern Greek names are considered not to have an ending in nominative ( Makȃrios Makariosa 'Macarios').
  • The surname Nepos can have alternatively a stem Nepot- in other cases ( Nẹ̑pos Nẹ̑pota).
  • some monosyllabic nouns have an -u ending in genitive singular (mọ̑stmostȗ 'bridge', rọ̑d rodȗ 'lineage').
  • Many nouns have the stem shortened in cases where the ending is not a null ending (as it is nominative singular), mainly because they have a fill vowel, which is there to ease the pronunciation. The change can be evident in writing, pronunciation, or both:
  • In the 19th century the ending -i was often used in the dative/locative singular instead of -u. For example, nominative óče 'father', dative/locative očẹ́ti. Nowadays this ending is considered archaic or dialectal.
  • Nouns ending in -io (such as radio [ˈɾáːdijɔ] / [ˈɾàːdijɔ] 'radio') usually follow the soft inflection pattern radio instrumental singular radiem.
  • Names ending in a vowel and consonant that is not pronounced are j-stem nouns, and can be written following hard or soft declension, but always pronounced as in soft declension. The added -j- is not written, only pronounced ( Marat [maˈɾáː] instrumental singular Maratem/Maratom [maˈɾáːjɛm] 'Marat'). Same happens to those ending in r and a silent consonant (Macquart [makˈáːɾ] instrumental singular Macquartem/Macquartom [makˈáːɾjɛm] 'Macquart').
  • Some nouns have the stem lengthened with -ov- in dual and plural, except in genitive case (for example wikt-grȃd nominative dual gradȏva 'castle', grȍb nominative dual grobȏva "grave"). These are usually monosyllabic nouns.
  • Some nouns have the ending -je in the nominative plural instead of -i. This is a remnant of the Common Slavic masculine i-stem inflection, which was mostly lost in Slovene except for this ending. For example: študȅnt 'student', nominative plural študéntje, gospọ̑d 'sir, lord', nominative plural gospọ̑dje, kmȅt 'farmer', nominative plural kmẹ́tje, etc. Usually, the regular form is also allowed, but rarely preferred.
  • Some nouns (mostly those that have an ending -u in genitive singular) have a null ending in genitive dual/plural ( lȃs , genitive plural lás 'hair', zọ̑b genitive plural zọ́b 'tooth'). Some can be declined either way ( vọ̑z , genitive plural vozóv/vọ̑z).
  • About special stressed endings in plural, see mixed accent nouns.
  • Few nouns show the effects of the Slavic second palatalisation in some of the plural forms:
    • otrȍk : nominative plural otróci, locative dual/plural otrọ̄cih 'child'.
    • vȏlk : nominative plural volcjẹ̑ 'wolf'. But this form is rare, the usual nominative plural is volkȏvi.
  • Many forms of the noun dȃn 'day' have two stems, a shorter one with only the consonants dn-, and a longer one dnẹ̑v-. The longer stem declines as a regular o-stem, while the shorter one has a unique set of endings not shared with any other noun. The formal, most appropriate declension, is a mix of both (the forms in brackets are colloquial):
SingularDualPlural
Nominative dȃn dnẹ̑va, dnȋdnẹ̑vi
Genitivednẹ̑va, dnẹ̑(dnẹ̑vov), dní(dnẹ̑vov), dní
Dativednẹ̑vu, dnẹ̑vu (styl.)(dnẹ̑voma), dnẹ̑ma(dnẹ̑vom), dnẹ̑m
Accusativedȃndnẹ̑va, dnȋdnẹ̑ve, dnȋ
Locativednẹ̑vu, dnẹ̑vu (styl.)(dnẹ̑vih), dnẹ́h(dnẹ̑vih), dnẹ́h
Instrumentaldnẹ̑vom, dnẹ̑m(dnẹ̑voma), dnẹ̑madnẹ̑vi, (dnẹ̑mi)
Vocativedȃndnẹ̑va, dnȋdnẹ̑vi
styl. – the form is stylistically marked
  • The masculine noun člóvek 'human, person' is suppletive. In the plural, the stem ljud- is used, which follows the mobile-accent o-stem declension:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative člóvek človẹ́kaljudjẹ̑
Genitivečlovẹ́kaljudíljudí
Dativečlovẹ́ku /

človẹ́ki (styl.)

človẹ́komaljudẹ̑m
Accusativečlovẹ́kačlovẹ́kaljudȋ
Locativečlovẹ́ku /

človẹ́ki (styl.)

ljudẹ́hljudẹ́h
Instrumentalčlovẹ́komčlovẹ́komaljudmí
Vocativečlȏvekčlovẹ̑kaljudjẹ̑

Fixed accent nouns

Circumflex nouns have circumflex accent in all cases, however, the acute accent changes considerably.

  • Nouns that have circumflex accent in nominative and genitive singular have long circumflex accent in all cases, except the nouns where the stressed vowel changes (e. g. okȍv, dȏm); these follow mixed accent changes. Nouns that can also have mixed accent also follow the same rules, except if they have a null ending in genitive dual/plural; then they have all plural forms except vocative acute, but change to circumflex if used as an adverb and preceded by a preposition: lȃs 'hair', nominative plural lási, genitive plural lás, locative plural lásih.
Long → longShort → longCan also have mixed accent,

genitive plural -ø

SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative korȃk korȃkakorȃki blagoslȍv blagoslȏvablagoslȏvi lȃs lȃsalási
Genitivekorȃkakorȃkovkorȃkovblagoslȏvablagoslȏvovblagoslȏvovlȃsaláslás
Dativekorȃku /

korȃki (styl.)

korȃkomakorȃkomblagoslȏvu /

blagoslȏvi (styl.)

blagoslȏvomablagoslȏvomlȃsu /

lȃsi (styl.)

lȃsomalásom
Accusativekorȃkkorȃkakorȃkeblagoslȍvblagoslȏvablagoslȏvelȃslȃsaláse
Locativekorȃku /

korȃki (styl.)

korȃkihkorȃkihblagoslȏvu /

blagoslȏvi (styl.)

blagoslȏvihblagoslȏvihlȃsu /

lȃsi (styl.)

lásihlásih
Instrumentalkorȃkomkorȃkomakorȃkiblagoslȏvomblagoslȏvomablagoslȏvilȃsomlȃsomalási
Vocativekorȃkkorȃkakorȃkiblagoslȍvblagoslȏvablagoslȏvilȃslȃsalȃsi
  • Nouns that have long acute accent in nominative and genitive singular have circumflex accent in vocative and allow both in genitive, locative and instrumental plural, and locative dual. In collocations which are used as an adverb, and where the word lost the original meaning, the noun is only allowed to have circumflex accent in accusative and locative plural (e. g. v hrȋbe / v hrȋbih 'on a mountain (lit. in mountains)'):
SingularDualPlural
Nominative kováč kováčakováči
Genitivekováčakovāčevkovāčev
Dativekováču /

kováči (styl.)

kováčemakováčem
Accusativekováčakováčakováče
Locativekováču /

kováči (styl.)

kovāčihkovāčih
Instrumentalkováčemkováčemakovāči
Vocativekovȃčkovȃčakovȃči
styl. – the form is stylistically marked
  • Nouns that have short acute accent in nominative and genitive singular follow the same rules as long acute accented words, but all accents are short:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative stə̀bər stə̀brastə̀bri
Genitivestə̀brastə̄brovstə̄brov
Dativestə̀bru /

stə̀bri (styl.)

stə̀bromastə̀brom
Accusativestə̀berstə̀brastə̀bre
Locativestə̀bru /

stə̀bri (styl.)

stə̄brihstə̄brih
Instrumentalstə̀bromstə̀bromastə̄bri
Vocativestə̏berstə̏brastə̏bri
styl. – the form is stylistically marked
  • Nouns that have circumflex accent in nominative singular and acute in genitive singular allow both forms in locative and dative singular when preceded by a preposition. The only exception are words in which open-mid vowel changes into a close-mid vowel. In these cases, it further depends which ending does it have in genitive plural. In collocations which are used as an adverb, and where the word lost the original meaning, the noun is only allowed to have circumflex accent in accusative and locative plural. (Note that due to simplicity, only the forms that are affected by this rule are shown; for example, kȍnj can also be declined without the change into close-mid vowel.)
Short → longShort → shortOpen-mid → close-mid
Genitive plural ending -øGenitive plural ending -ov
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative fantȅ fantẹ́tafantẹ́ti pȓst pŕstapŕstikȍnjkónjakónjistȍlstólastóli
Genitivefantẹ́tafantẹ̄tovfantẹ̄tovpŕstapr̄stovpr̄stovkónjakọ́njkọ́njstólaarch. stọ́lovarch. stọ́lov
Dativefantẹ́tu /

fantẹ̄tu (with prep.)

fantẹ́tomafantẹ́tompŕstu /

pr̄stu

pŕstomapŕstomkọ́nju /

kọ̑nju (with prep.)

kónjemakónjemarch. stọ́lu / stọ̑lu (with prep.)stólomastólom
Accusativefantẹ́tafantẹ́tafantẹ́tepȓstpŕstapŕstekónjakónjakónjestólastólastóle
Locativefantẹ̄tufantẹ̄tihfantẹ̄tihpr̄stupr̄stihpr̄stihkọ̑njukọ̄njihkọ̄njihstọ̑lustọ̑lihstọ̑lih
Instrumentalfantẹ́tomfantẹ́tomafantẹ̄tipŕstompŕstomapr̄stikónjemkónjemaarch. kọ́njistólustólomaarch. stọ́li
Vocativefantȅfantẹ̑tafantẹ̑tipȓstpȓstapȓstikȍnjkȏnjakȏnjistȍlstȏlastȏli

Mobile accent nouns

Mobile accent nouns transfer the stress to the following syllable in all cases but nominative, vocative, and accusative (if the same as nominative) singular.

  • Nouns that have circumflex accent in genitive singular, although rare, have circumflex accent in all forms:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative dȗal duȃladuȃli
Genitiveduȃladuȃlovduȃlov
Dativeduȃlu /

duȃli (styl.)

duȃlomaduȃlom
Accusativedȗalduȃladuȃle
Locativeduȃlu /

duȃli (styl.)

duȃlihduȃlih
Instrumentalduȃlomduȃlomaduȃli
Vocativedȗalduȃladuȃli
styl. – the form is stylistically marked
  • Nouns that have acute accent in genitive singular change the accent the same way as fixed accent nouns with circumflex in nominative singular and acute in genitive singular when the stress is on the latter syllable and have acute accent when the stress in on the original syllable:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative rázred razrẹ́darazrẹ́di
Genitiverazrẹ́darazrẹ̄dovrazrẹ̄dov
Dativerazrẹ́du /

razrẹ̄du (with prep.)

razrẹ́domarazrẹ́dom
Accusativerázredrazrẹ́darazrẹ́de
Locativerazrẹ̄durazrẹ̄dihrazrẹ̄dih
Instrumentalrazrẹ́domrazrẹ́domarazrẹ̄di
Vocativerȃzredrazrẹ̑darazrẹ̑di
note: dative and locative can also have a stylistically marked ending -i.

Ending accent nouns

Short ending vowels are always circumflex while long ending ones follow the same pattern as mixed accent nouns that have circumflex accent in nominative singular and when the accent is on the stem, the accent is long and acute. There is a slight difference between soft and hard stems in genitive dual/plural, because soft declension only allows short circumflex accent whereas hard declension allows long acute and short circumflex.

HardSoft
SingularDualPluralPlural
Nominative pə̏s psȁpsȉ dobrcȉ
Genitivepsȁpsȍv / psóvpsȍv / psóvdobrcȅv
Dativepsȕ /

psȉ (styl.)

psóma /

psomȁ (styl.)

psȍmdobrcȅm
Accusativepsȁpsȁpsȅdobrcȅ
Locativepsȕ /

psȉ (styl.)

psȉhpsȉhdobrcȉh
Instrumentalpsȍmpsóma /

psomȁ (styl.)

psȉdobrcȉ
Vocativepȅspsȁpsȉdobrcȉ
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Mixed accent nouns

For the mixed accent nouns with long accent, many different factors determine the accent. The accent is usually circumflex, except in these cases:

  • Genitive dual/plural, locative dual/plural and instrumental is acute if the accent is on the last syllable: člóvek 'human', genitive plural ljudí, dȃr 'gift', genitive plural daróv, lȃs 'hair', genitive plural lás (but grȃd 'castle', locative plural gradȏvih). This happens in genitive case in all words, no matter the ending, and in words that do not have -ov lengthening in locative and instrumental. Those without the infix do not have an ending in genitive plural, dative plural ending is -ẹ̑m instead of -om / -em, accusative plural is still -ẹ̑, locative dual/plural ending -ẹ́h instead of -ih, instrumental plural -mí instead of -i, and dative and instrumental dual ending is -ẹ̑ma instead of -oma / -ema. This rule does not necessarily apply to irregular nouns.
  • Stressed vowel in nominative plural ending -je is close-mid (-jẹ̑): lȃs 'hair', nominative plural lasjẹ̑, mȏž 'man', nominative plural možjẹ̑.
  • Dative and locative singular is acute if the stressed vowel is open-mid (e or o): gnȏj 'manure' gnóju.
  • When used as an adverb, uncountable nouns or nouns that have ending -ẹ́h in locative dual/plural (those that do not lengthen the stem) allow both accents in locative singular. Words that can also have a form with open-mid vowel in locative singular.
  • Nouns that allow both the stem or the ending to be accented usually have the stem accented when preceded by a preposition and have the ending accented when they are not.
  • Dative and instrumental dual can have the accent either on the ending or the stem. If the accent is on the stem, it is long.
  • Nouns that switch accent only in plural on in only one case follow fixed accent changes when the accent does not shift.
  • Nouns can also colloquially have fixed accent. See fixed accent for that.

Here are declensions for some mixed accent nouns, but keep in mind that they have several different changes and only relevant forms are written:

Stem lengthening with -ovNominative plural -jẹ̑,

genitive plural -ø

Open-mid vowel in locative singular,

uncountable

SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingular
Nominative grȃd gradȏvagradȏvi mọ̑ž možȃmožjẹ̑ gnọ̑j
Genitivegradȗ*gradóvgradóvmožȃmọ́žmọ́žgnojȃ
Dativegrȃdugradȏvomagradȏvommọ̑žumožẹ̑ma /

možȏma

možẹ̑mgnọ̑ju / gnóju**
Accusativegrȃdgradȏvagradȏvemožȃmožȃmožẹ̑gnọ̑j
Locativegrȃdugradȏvihgradȏvihmọ̑žumožẹ́hmožẹ́hgnọ̑ju / gnóju
Instrumentalgrȃdomgradȏvomagradȏvimọ̑žemmožẹ̑ma /

možȏma

možmígnọ̑jem
Vocativegrȃdgradȏvagradȏvimọ̑žmožȃmožjẹ̑gnọ̑j
IrregularIrregular
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative lȃs lȃsalasjẹ̑ brẹ̑g brẹ̑gabrẹ̑gi /

bregȏvi

Genitivelasȗláslásbrẹ̑gabrẹ̑govbrẹ̑gov
Dativelȃsulȃsomalasẹ̑mbrẹ̑gubrẹ̑gomabrẹ̑gom /

bregȏvom

Accusativelȃslȃsalasẹ̑brẹ̑gbrẹ̑gabrẹ̑ge /

brẹ̑gove

Locativelȃsulasẹ́hlasẹ́hbrẹ̑gu /

brẹ̄gu (used as an adverb)

brẹ̑gih /

bregȏvih /

bregẹ́h

brẹ̑gih /

bregȏvih /

bregẹ́h

Instrumentallȃsomlȃsomalasmíbrẹ̑gombrẹ̑gomabrẹ̑gi /

bregȏvi

Vocativelȃslȃsalasjẹ̑brẹ̑gbrẹ̑gabrẹ̑gi /

bregȏvi

*Genitive singular ending -u does not affect the accent or other endings.

**The form is given as an example in Slovenski pravopis, the book by which Slovene is regulated, however in the same book, it is not listed as an appropriate form of the word.

Mixed accent nouns with short accent follow the same pattern as ending accent nouns (including the difference bətween soft and hard stems), except in nominative and vocative (and accusative if the same as nominative) singular, and dative and instrumental dual, where the accent is on the stem and acute if long:

SingularDualPlural
Nominative bə̏t bətȁbətȉ
Genitivebətȁbətȍv /

bətóv

bətȍv /

bətóv

Dativebətȕ

/ bətȉ (styl.)

bȅtomabətȍm
Accusativebə̏tbətȁbətȅ
Locativebətȕ /

bətȉ (styl.)

bətȉhbətȉh
Instrumentalbətȍmbȅtomabətȉ
Vocativebȅtbətȁbətȉ
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Second masculine declension (masculine a-stem declension)

Second masculine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -e ( slúga slúge), except the noun dan (dȃndnẹ̑).

Second masculine declension has the same endings as first feminine declension, however, not all alterations apply here. Animate and inanimate nouns are not declined differently, but the words that modify the noun still have those distinctions.

All nouns following the second masculine declension can also follow first masculine declension, but keeping the ending in nominative singular. They can also be feminized in dual and plural, following first feminine declension (essentially, the endings do not change).

Second masculine declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative-a-i-e
Genitive-e--
Dative-i-ama-am
Accusative-o-i-e
Locative-i-ah-ah
Instrumental-o-ama-ami
Vocative-a-i-e

Alternations and other exceptions of the second masculine declension

  • In nominative singular, some words, such as kamikȃze 'kamikaze', have an -e ending.
  • In genitive dual and genitive plural, nouns ending in consonant + j, have an i inserted between, such as delovọ̑dja genitive plural delovọ̑dij.

Accent

Second masculine declension follow only fixed accent nouns. These can be circumflex or acute.

  • Circumflex nouns are always circumflex:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative vọ̑jvoda vọ̑jvodivọ̑jvode
Genitivevọ̑jvodevọ̑jvodvọ̑jvod
Dativevọ̑jvodivọ̑jvodamavọ̑jvodam
Accusativevọ̑jvodovọ̑jvodivọ̑jvode
Locativevọ̑jvodivọ̑jvodahvọ̑jvodah
Instrumentalvọ̑jvodovọ̑jvodamavọ̑jvodami
Vocativevọ̑jvodavọ̑jvodivọ̑jvode
  • Acute accent changes into circumflex in genitive dual/plural and vocative case and is either acute or circumflex in instrumental singular:
SingularDualPlural
Nominative slúga slúgislúge
Genitiveslúgeslȗgslȗg
Dativeslúgislúgamaslúgam
Accusativeslúgoslúgislúge
Locativeslúgislúgahslúgah
Instrumentalslūgoslúgamaslúgami
Vocativeslȗgaslȗgislȗge

Third masculine declension (masculine declension without endings)

Third masculine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular (or in any other case) ending is a null ending (-). This includes all letters, as well as some other words, such as nebọ́digatrẹ́ba 'menace', jȍj / jọ̑j 'oh', and čačačȃ 'Cha-cha-cha'. There are, however, only a handful of words that feel natural to be declined this way; for many of them, it is preferred to be declined following the first masculine declension. Alternations of the first declension must then be applied, and since all consonant letters are usually pronounced as consonant + ə̏, all letters, except for X [ˈíːks] and Y [ˈíːpsilɔn] must follow the j-stem version of the first declension ( K K-ja). Exceptions are F , L , M , N , R , S , and Š , which can also be pronounced [ˈɛ́f] , [ˈɛ́l] , [ˈɛ́m] , [ˈɛ́n] , [ˈɛ́ɾ] , [ˈɛ́s] , and [ˈɛ́ʃ] , respectively and can therefore follow the o-stem version (FF-ja/F-a), and the pronunciacion changes accordingly. Although there is a hyphen between the letter and j, keep in mind that j ist still part of the stem, not the ending.

Third masculine declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative---
Genitive---
Dative---
Accusative---
Locative---
Instrumental---
Vocative---

Alternations and other exceptions of the third masculine declension

  • Most of the time, nouns nebọ́digatrẹ́ba 'menace' and nebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba 'menaces' are considered one irregular noun instead of two nouns that only have a singular and a plural form, respectively. In that case, the infix -ga- is changed to -jih- in dual and plural. The infix is actually a personal pronoun ȍn 'he' in genitive case, but the dual form is still nebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba, and not with an infix -ju- as would be expected:
SingularDualPlural
Nominativenebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Genitivenebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Dativenebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Accusativenebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Locativenebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Instrumentalnebọ́digatrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Vocativenebọ̑digatrẹ̑banebọ̑dijihtrẹ̑banebọ̑dijihtrẹ̑ba

Accent

Words declined this way always have fixed accent, which is the same throughout, no matter if it is circumflex or acute, long or short. The only exception is vocative, where the accent is circumflex.

CircumflexAcuteShort
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative kojnẹ̑ kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑ cáker cákercáker kȁnt kȁntkȁnt
Genitivekojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cákercákercákerkȁntkȁntkȁnt
Dativekojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cákercákercákerkȁntkȁntkȁnt
Accusativekojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cákercákercákerkȁntkȁntkȁnt
Locativekojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cákercákercákerkȁntkȁntkȁnt
Instrumentalkojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cákercákercákerkȁntkȁntkȁnt
Vocativekojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑kojnẹ̑cȃkercȃkercȃkerkȁntkȁntkȁnt

Fourth masculine declension (masculine i-/e-stem declension)

Fourth masculine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -ega. The nouns following this declension were derived from an adjective, and are therefore nominalized adjectives. They are derived from the definite forms of the adjective, hence the ending -i in nominative singular. This declension also differentiates between animate and inanimate nouns in the same way as the first one. The declension is the same as declension for masculine adjectives.

Some masculine nominalized adjectives, mostly proper nouns, are declined using first male declension. In addition, most of them have a null ending - in nominative singular, only rarely do they have an ending -i. Examples include Mẹ̑den Mẹ̑dena 'Meden', Raztrẹ̑senRaztrẹ̑senega 'Raztresen', tráventrávna 'April, May' etc.

Names in other languages ending in [-ski] (or similarly look like definite adjectives) that are from non-Slavic languages are declined using the first declension ( Tedẹ̑schi Tedẹ̑schija 'Tedeschi, McClọ̑sky McClọ̑skyja 'McClosky', Kreisky Kreiskyja/Kreiskega 'Kreisky') and those from Slavic languages are declined using the fourth declension ( Vranȋtzky Vranȋtzkega 'Vranitzky', Hradẹ̑tzky Hradẹ̑tzkega 'Hradetzky' etc.

SingularDualPlural
Nominative-i-a-i
Genitive-ega-ih-ih
Dative-emu-ima-im
Accusative-ega-a-e
Locative-em-ih-ih
Instrumental-imima-imi
Vocative-i-a-i

Alternations and other exceptions of the fourth masculine declension

  • The -i sound in nominative singular and plural is in some loanwords written with y, but not in other cases ( Chomsky , nominative plural Chomsky, instrumental singular Chomskim).
  • Vast majority nouns are declined as animate ( Nedeljski , accusative singular Nedeljskega 'a Sunday issue of the newspaper Dnevnik').
  • Other irregularities that adjectives and adjectival pronouns possess also apply here.
  • For the different endings in nominative singular, see first adjective declension.

Accent

These nouns decline the same way as definite masculine forms of adjectives following the first adjectival declension do. Therefore, only fixed and ending accentual types exist. For accent changes when nominalizing, see § Accent of nominalized adjectives .

First feminine declension

First feminine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -e ( lípa lípe), except if genitive plural has an ending -ih ( dežȗrna genitive plural dežȗrnih), those follow the fourth feminine declension. Those ending in [-əu̯] and nouns máti 'mother' and hčȋ 'daughter' also follow this declension. In plural, genitive case has a null ending ( víle vȋl 'pitchfork').

The first feminine declension is the most common pattern for feminine nouns. There is no distinction between hard and soft stems (the declension used in modern Slovene was historically the soft one and the merge happened in Alpine Slavic).

Feminine a-stem declension

The standard declension of first feminine declension is the a-stem declension.

Feminine a-stem declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative-a-i-e
Genitive-e--
Dative-i-ama-am
Accusative-o-i-e
Locative-i-ah-ah
Instrumental-o-ama-ami
Vocative-a-i-e

Feminine r-stem declension

This declension subtype follow only the nouns máti 'mother' and hči 'daughter'. They have a different stem in nominative singular than in other cases and numbers. (matimatere, hčihčere). There are also minor changes to the endings in singular.

Feminine r-stem declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative-i-i-e
Genitive-e--
Dative-i-ama-am
Accusative--i-e
Locative-i-ah-ah
Instrumental-jo-ama-ami
Vocative-i-i-e

Feminine v-stem declension

A small number of feminine nouns belongs to the feminine v-stem declension, with the ending -əv (in which the -ə- is a fill vowel). These inflect as r-stems, but with the i-stem instrumental singular ending -ijo and have a null ending in nominative singular. Many nouns in this group can colloquially also inflect as regular a-stems, with the nominative singular ending in -va and accusative and instrumental singular in -vo.

Feminine v-stem declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative--i-e
Genitive-e--
Dative-i-ama-am
Accusative--i-e
Locative-i-ah-ah
Instrumental-ijo-ama-ami
Vocative--i-e

Feminine n-stem declension

Only few nouns have their stems lengthend with -n, except in nominative singular. The most common example is Jȗno (JȗnoJunọ̑ne), which can also be declined following the third feminine declension (JunoJuno 'Juno') or as an a-stem noun ( Junọ̑na Junọ̑ne). The endings are the same as for a-stem nouns. N-stem declension did not exist in Proto-Slavic (at least not for feminine nouns) and it evolved later.

Alternations and other exceptions of the first feminine declension

  • Some nouns have ending -e ( Melpomene Melpomene 'Melpomene'), silent -e ( Marguerite [maɾgaˈɾíːt] Marguerite [maɾgaˈɾíːte] 'Marguerite'), -o ( Klȋo Klȋe 'Clio'), or a null ending ( Artẹ̑mis Artẹ̑mide 'Artemis'), but most of them also have regularvernacular versions ( Melpomena , Margerita , Artemida ). The non-vernacular versions can also be declined following the third feminine declension.
  • Latin and Greek names can change the stem from -s to -d ( Artẹ̑mis Artẹ̑mide) 'Artemis', -n ( Salamȋs Salamȋne 'Salamis'), or -r ( Cȇres Cȇrere 'Ceres'). These also have vernacular versions for nominative singular ( Artẹ̑mida , Salamȋna , Cȇrera ).
  • Mixed accent nouns have in nominative dual (along with the usual ending -i) ending -e that is accented ( vóda vóde/vodẹ̄, nominative dual vódi/vodẹ̑).
  • Some mixed accent nouns can in gentitive dual/plural also have ending -a ( vóda genitive dual/plural vód/vodā 'stream, lake', cẹ́rkəv genitive dual/plural cẹ̑rkəv/cerkvā 'church') or -i ( besẹ̑da genitive dual/plural besedī 'word')
  • Nouns ending in a sonorant have an added fill vowel in genitive dual/plural. The fill vowel is usually /ə/, except before -j-, where the fill vowel is /i/. In some words, the fill vowel is not written, only pronounced (note that lj and nj represent only one sound when not followed by a vowel): dẹ́kla genitive dual/plural dẹ̑kəl 'maidservant', lādja genitive dual/plural lȃdij 'ship', zémlja genitive dual/plural zēməlj 'soil'.
  • Nouns of which the stem ends in a vowel also have an added -j in genitive dual/plural if without an ending: ọ̑boa genitive dual/plural ọ̑boj etc.
  • The noun gospá 'lady, madam' is irregular and has acute accent on all the endings except in vocative.
SingularDualPlural
Nominative gospá gospẹ́gospẹ́
Genitivegospẹ́gospágospá
Dativegospẹ́ /

gospẹ́j (styl.)

gospẹ́magospẹ́m
Accusativegospọ́gospẹ́gospẹ́
Locativegospẹ́ /

gospẹ́j (styl.)

gospẹ́hgospẹ́h
Instrumentalgospọ́gospẹ́magospẹ́mi
Vocativegospȃgospẹ̑gospẹ̑
styl. – stylistically marked

Fixed accent nouns

  • Circumflex nouns are always circumflex:
LongShort
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative slȗžba slȗžbislȗžbe də̏ska də̏skidə̏ske
Genitiveslȗžbeslȗžbslȗžbdə̏skedə̏skdə̏sk
Dativeslȗžbislȗžbamaslȗžbamdə̏skidə̏skamadə̏skam
Accusativeslȗžboslȗžbislȗžbedə̏skodə̏skidə̏ske
Locativeslȗžbislȗžbahslȗžbahdə̏skidə̏skahdə̏skah
Instrumentalslȗžboslȗžbamaslȗžbamidə̏skodə̏skamadə̏skami
Vocativeslȗžbaslȗžbislȗžbedə̏skadə̏skidə̏ske
  • Acute nouns have circumflex accent in vocative, genitive dual/plural and instrumental singular. When used as an adverb, accusative and instrumental singular can only be circumflex, and nouns that can also have mixed accent also have accusative plural circumflex:
LongShort
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative lípa lípilípe dèska [də̀ska] dèskidèske
Genitivelípelȋplȋpdèskedèskdèsk
Dativelípilípamalípamdèskidèskamadèskam
Accusativelípolípilípedèskodèskidèske
Locativelípilípahlípahdèskidèskahdèskah
Instrumentallȋpolípamalípamidèskodèskamadèskami
Vocativelȋpalȋpilȋpedèskadèskidèske
  • Acute nouns allow both tones in instrumental singular if the stressed vowel is open-mid:
SingularDualPlural
Nominativekóšnjakóšnjikóšnje
Genitivekóšnjekȏšenjkȏšenj
Dativekóšnjikóšnjamakóšnjam
Accusativekóšnjokóšnjikóšnje
Locativekóšnjikóšnjahkóšnjah
Instrumentalkōšnjokóšnjamakóšnjami
Vocativekȏšnjakȏšnjikȏšnje
  • r-stem and v-stem nouns change the accent a bit differently; circumflex nouns are still circumflex in all cases, but acute ones change to circumflex in vocative, instrumental singular and genitive dual/plural. If the nouns also allow mixed accent, then the mixed accent declension follows the same rules:
CircumflexAcute
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative podražȋtəv podražȋtvipodražȋtve cẹ́rkəv cẹ́rkvicẹ́rkve
Genitivepodražȋtvepodražȋtəvpodražȋtəvcẹ́rkvecẹ̑rkəvcẹ̑rkəv
Dativepodražȋtvipodražȋtvamapodražȋtvamcẹ́rkvicẹ́rkvamacẹ́rkvam
Accusativepodražȋtəvpodražȋtvipodražȋtvecẹ́rkəvcẹ́rkvicẹ́rkve
Locativepodražȋtvipodražȋtvahpodražȋtvahcẹ́rkvicẹ́rkvahcẹ́rkvah
Instrumentalpodražȋtvijopodražȋtvamapodražȋtvamicẹ̑rkvijocẹ́rkvamacẹ́rkvami
Vocativepodražȋtəvpodražȋtvipodražȋtvecẹ̑rkəvcẹ̑rkvicẹ̑rkve

Mobile accent nouns

Mobile accent nouns are very rare and are always circumflex:

SingularDualPlural
NominativeJȗnoJunọ̑niJunọ̑ne
GenitiveJunọ̑neJunọ̑nJunọ̑n
DativeJunọ̑niJunọ̑namaJunọ̑nam
AccusativeJunọ̑noJunọ̑niJunọ̑ne
LocativeJunọ̑niJunọ̑nahJunọ̑nah
InstrumentalJunọ̑noJunọ̑namaJunọ̑nam
VocativeJȗnoJunọ̑niJunọ̑ne

Ending accent nouns

These nouns are short and circumflex, except if the accent is long; then they follow the same pattern as mixed accent nouns, but genitive dual/plural is circumflex if there is a null ending. The pattern is the same for words of which stems do not have a vowel and words which have the optional stress before the meglȁ → mègla shift.

SingularDualPlural
Nominative stezȁ [stəzȁ] stezȉ /

stezẹ̑ (styl.)

stezȅ /

stezẹ̑

Genitivestezȅ /

stezẹ̄ (styl.)

stȅz / stezástȅz / stezá
Dativestezȉstezȃmastezȁm
Accusativestezȍ /

stezọ̑ (styl.)

stezȉ /

stezẹ̑ (styl.)

stezȅ /

stezẹ̑

Locativestezȉstezȁhstezȁh
Instrumentalstezȍ /

stezọ́ (styl.)

stezȃmastezȃmi
Vocativestezȁstezȉ /

stezẹ̑ (styl.)

stezȅ /

stezẹ̑

styl. – stylistically marked

Mixed accent nouns

These nouns can only be acute in nominative singular, but the stressed endings are acute, except genitive case, where both forms are allowed and in instrumental singular, where it is acute. In genitive dual/plural, they usually have an ending -a or -i, but if they do not, the vowel is acute, or acute or circumflex if it is a fill vowel /a/. All words can also have fixed accent, but nouns that in genitive dual/plural have a null ending have the same form as in the mixed accent.

Genitive plural -a / -iGenitive plural -øGenitive plural has a fill vowel
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative góra góri /

gorẹ̑ (styl.)

gorẹ̑ nóga nógi /

nogẹ̑ (styl.)

nogẹ̑ óvca óvci /

ovcẹ̑ (styl.)

ovcẹ̑
Genitivegorẹ̄gorāgorānogẹ̄nọ́gnọ́govcẹ̄ovācovāc
Dativegórigorȃmagorȁmnóginogȃmanogȁmóvciovcȃmaovcȁm
Accusativegorọ̑góri /

gorẹ̑ (styl.)

gorẹ̑nogọ̑nógi /

nogẹ̑ (styl.)

nogẹ̑ovcọ̑óvci /

ovcẹ̑ (styl.)

ovcẹ̑
Locativegórigorȁhgorȁhnóginogȁhnogȁhóvciovcȁhovcȁh
Instrumentalgorọ́gorȃmagorȃminogọ́nogȃmanogȃmiovcọ́ovcȃmaovcȃmi
Vocativegȏragȏri /

gorẹ̑ (styl.)

gorẹ̑nȏgonȏgi /

nogẹ̑ (styl.)

nogẹ̑ȏvcaȏvci /

ovcẹ̑ (styl.)

ovcẹ̑

Second feminine declension (feminine i-stem declension)

The second feminine declension is less common. It is used primarily by the widely-productive abstract-noun suffix -ost , but a fair number of other nouns (mostly of Common Slavic origin) also follow it. The endings, however, are different if the noun follows the mixed or ending-accentual type or if the accent is always on the stem.

Second feminine declension endings
Fixed and mobile accentEnding and mixed accent
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative--i-i--i-i
Genitive-i-i-i-i-i-i
Dative-i-ma / -imi-im-i-ema-em
Accusative--i-i--i-i
Locative-i-ih-ih-i-eh-eh
Instrumental-jo-ma / -imi-mi-jo-ema-mi
Vocative--i-i--i-i

Alternations and other exceptions of the second feminine declension

  • Nouns with stems that end in a non-sonorant consonant and a sonorant have a fill vowel inserted between them in nominative and accusative singular and add -i at the end of their stem in cases when the ending does not begin with a vowel (instrumental in all numbers and dative dual), such as mȋsəł mȋsli, instrumental singular mȋslijo, dative/instrumental dual mȋslima, instrumental plural mȋslimi 'thought' and svȋsli dative plural svȋslima 'hayloft'.
  • Nouns with stems ending in -j have an ending -o in instrumental singular ( pọ́stelj instrumental singular pọ̄steljo 'bed' (archaic)).
  • When used as an adverb, some also change the accent, e.g., na pọ̑mlad 'in the spring', s pọ̑ti/s potȋ '[to move something] out of the way'.
  • The feminine noun krȋ 'blood' follows the mixed-accent type, but replaces the final -v with -i in the nominative and accusative singular.
Singular
Nominative krȋ
Genitivekrvȋ
Dativekŕvi
Accusativekrȋ
Locativekŕvi
Instrumentalkrvjọ́
Vocativekrȋ

Fixed accent nouns

  • Nouns that are circumflex in nominative and genitive singular have circumflex accent in all cases, and the short accent becomes long:
Long → longShort → long
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative pošȃst pošȃstipošȃsti nȉt nȋtinȋti
Genitivepošȃstipošȃstipošȃstinȋtinȋtinȋti
Dativepošȃstipošȃstma /

pošȃstima

pošȃstimnȋtinȋtma /

nȋtima

nȋtim
Accusativepošȃstpošȃstipošȃstinȉtnȋtinȋti
Locativepošȃstipošȃstihpošȃstihnȋtinȋtihnȋtih
Instrumentalpošȃstjopošȃstma /

pošȃstima

pošȃstminȋtjonȋtma /

nȋtima

nȋtmi
Vocativepošȃstpošȃstipošȃstinȉtnȋtinȋti
  • Nouns that are acute in nominative and genitive singular follow two patterns, depending on whether the stress falls (in that case) on the second-to-last syllable or comes before, which in regular nouns translates into whether the stress is on the penultimate or the last syllable in nominative singular:
Stress on the penultimate syllableStress on the last syllable
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative stárost stárostistárosti lúč lúčilúči
Genitivestárostistárostistárostilúčilūčilūči
Dativestárostistárostma /

stárostima

stárostimlúčilūčma /

lúčima

lúčim
Accusativestároststárostistárostilúčlúčilúči
Locativestárostistárostihstárostihlúčilūčihlūčih
Instrumentalstārostjostárostma /

stárostima

stárostmilȗčjolūčma /

lúčima

lūčmi
Vocativestȃroststȃrostistȃrostilȗčlȗčilȗči
  • Nouns that are circumflex in nominative singular and acute in genitive singular change the accent in a very similar way to acute nouns. Vocative and Instrumental singular are circumflex, genitive dual/plural allows both accents, and locative dual/plural, instrumental dual and plural, and dative dual also allow both accents if the penultimate syllable is stressed.
SingularDualPlural
Nominative mȉš míšimíši
Genitivemíšimīšimīši
Dativemíšimīšma /

míšima

míšim
Accusativemȉšmíšimíši
Locativemíšimīšihmīših
Instrumentalmȋšjomīšma /

míšima

mīšmi
Vocativemȉšmȋšimȋši

Mobile accent nouns

These nouns can be either circumflex or acute in nominative singular, but all of them are circumflex in all other forms:

SingularDualPlural
Nominative senóžet senožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑ti
Genitivesenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑ti
Dativesenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑tma /

senožẹ̑tima

senožẹ̑tim
Accusativesenóžetsenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑ti
Locativesenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑tihsenožẹ̑tih
Instrumentalsenožẹ̑tjosenožẹ̑tma /

senožẹ̑tima

senožẹ̑tmi
Vocativesenȏžetsenožẹ̑tisenožẹ̑ti

Ending accent nouns

There are two subtypes. The first one is not purely ending accent as it has accent on the stem in dative and locative singular and appears if a long fill vowel is stressed in nominative singular. In that case, the e and o accented on the stem are open-mid. The other form is present if the short fill vowel is stressed in nominative singular.

Long fill vowelShort fill vowel (/ə/)
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative ravȃn ravnȋravnȋ debə̏r debrȋdebrȋ
Genitiveravnȋravnīravnīdebrȋdebrīdebrī
Dativerávniravnẹ̄maravnẹ̄mdebrȉdebrẹ̄madebrẹ̄m
Accusativeravȃnravnȋravnȋdebə̏rdebrȋdebrȋ
Locativerávniravnẹ́hravnẹ́hdebrȉdebrẹ́hdebrẹ́h
Instrumentalravnjọ́ravnẹ̄maravnmídebrijọ́debrẹ̄madebrmí
Vocativeravȃnravnȋravnȋdebə̏rdebrȋdebrȋ

Mixed accent nouns

These nouns can only be circumflex and follow the same pattern as ending-accent nouns with long as a fill vowel. If the accent is on e or o in dative singular, the vowels are open-mid.

SingularDualPlural
Nominative stvȃr stvarȋstvarȋ
Genitivestvarȋstvarīstvarī
Dativestváristvarẹ̄mastvarẹ̄m
Accusativestvȃrstvarȋstvarȋ
Locativestváristvarẹ́hstvarẹ́h
Instrumentalstvarjọ́starẹ̄mastvarmí
Vocativestvȃrstvarȋstvarȋ

Third feminine declension (feminine declension without endings)

Third feminine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular (or in any other case) ending is a null ending (-). This declension follow surnames of women (but those ending in -a can also follow first feminine declension), female names, which do not have an ending -a or -e in nominative singular (except most of the Latin and Greek names), such as Kȃrin , Ȋnes , and KȊti , acronyms that keep the feminine gender of the word(s) they represent and do not end in an unstressed a ( SAZȖ SAZU 'Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts' and ZDA ZDȂ ) 'USA', diminutives of female names and common nouns ending in -i ( Ȃni Ȃni (a female name), Mȃlči Mȃlči (a female name), mȃmi mȃmi 'mommy', bȃbi bȃbi 'granny'), and some other words, such as spẹ̄cies spẹ̄cies.

Third feminine declension ending
SingularDualPlural
Nominative---
Genitive---
Dative---
Accusative---
Locative---
Instrumental---
Vocative---

Alternations and other exceptions of the third feminine declension

  • Some names can also follow first feminine declension ( Rȗth Rȗthe/Rȗth 'Ruth')
  • Sometimes, nouns nebọ́dijetrẹ́ba 'menace', nebọ́dijutrẹ́ba 'two menaces', and nebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba 'menaces' are considered one irregular noun instead of three nouns that only have a singular, dual, and a plural form, respectively. In that case, the infix -je- is changed to -ju- in dual and to -jih- in plural. The infix is actually a personal pronoun óna 'she' in genitive case:
SingularDualPlural
Nominativenebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Genitivenebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Dativenebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Accusativenebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Locativenebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Instrumentalnebọ́dijetrẹ́banebọ́dijutrẹ́banebọ́dijihtrẹ́ba
Vocativenebọ̑dijetrẹ̑banebọ̑dijutrẹ̑banebọ̑dijihtrẹ̑ba

Accent

Words declined this way always have fixed accent, which is the same throughout, no matter if it is circumflex or acute, long or short. The only exception is vocative, where the accent is circumflex.

CircumflexAcuteShort
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative pọ̑lis pọ̑lispọ̑lis spẹ́cies spẹ́ciesspẹ́cies pietȁ pietȁpietȁ
Genitivepọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ
Dativepọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ
Accusativepọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ
Locativepọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ
Instrumentalpọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciesspẹ́ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ
Vocativepọ̑lispọ̑lispọ̑lisspẹ̑ciesspẹ̑ciesspẹ̑ciespietȁpietȁpietȁ

Fourth feminine declension (feminine i-/e-stem declension)

Fourth feminine declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -e and genitive dual/plural is -ih. The nouns following this declension were derived from an adjective, and are therefore nominalized adjectives. The declension is the same as declension for definite feminine adjectives.

Fourth feminine declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative-a-i-e
Genitive-e-ih-ih
Dative-i-ima-im
Accusative-o-i-e
Locative-i-ih-ih
Instrumental-o-ima-imi
Vocative-a-i-e

This declension does not seem to have any alterations.

Accent

These nouns decline the same way as definite masculine forms of adjectives following the first adjectival declension. Therefore, only fixed- and ending-accentual types exist. For accent changes when nominalizing, see § Accent of nominalized adjectives .

First neuter declension

The vast majority of neuter nouns follow the first neuter declension. This declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -a. These can have in nominative singular ending -o (following hard o-stem declension), -e (following soft o-stem declension), or a null ending (following one of the other declension subtypes), but in these cases, the stem ends in -e or -o.

Neuter o-/e-stem declension

The neuter o-stem declension closely resembles its masculine counterpart. The nominative and accusative always have the same form, however, with endings that differ from the masculine nouns. The genitive dual/plural has no ending like in the feminine a-stems. The neuter o-stems are divided between "hard" and "soft" stems, like the masculines.

Neuter o-stem endings
Hard declensionSoft declension
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative-o-i-a-e-i-a
Genitive-a---a--
Dative-u / -i (styl.)-oma-om-u / -i (styl.)-ema-em
Accusative-o-i-a-e-i-a
Locative-u / -i (styl.)-ih-ih-u / -i (styl.)-ih-ih
Instrumental-om-oma-i-em-ema-i
Vocative-o-i-a-e-i-a
styl. – the form is stylistically marked.

Neuter n-, s- and t-stem declensions

A small group of neuter nouns follow the neuter n-stem, neuter s-stem or neuter t-stem declensions. These use the same endings as the o-stems (except in nominative and accusative singular), but there is an additional consonant infix (-n-, -s-, -t-) that is present in all forms except the nominative/accusative singular. The n-stem and t-stem are soft in nominative/accusative singular, while in most s-stem nouns, the stem -e before the infix changes into -o. Since these nouns in nominative/accusative singular already end in -e/-o, there is a null ending.

n-stems-stem (o → e)s-stem (e → e)t-stem
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative imẹ̑ imẹ̑niimẹ̑na telọ̑ telẹ̑sitelẹ̑sa ojẹ̑ ojẹ̑siojẹ̑sa deklȅ deklẹ́tideklẹ̑ta
Genitiveimẹ̑naimẹ̑nimẹ̑ntelẹ̑satelẹ̑stelẹ̑sojẹ̑saojẹ̑sojẹ̑sdeklẹ́tadeklẹ̑tdeklẹ̑t
Dativeimẹ̑nu /

imẹ̑ni (styl.)

imẹ̑nomaimẹ̑nomtelẹ̑su /

telẹ̑si (styl.)

telẹ̑somatelẹ̑somojẹ̑su /

ojẹ̑si (styl.)

ojẹ̑somaojẹ̑somdeklẹ̄tu /

deklẹ̄ti (styl.)

deklẹ̄tomadeklẹ̑tom
Accusativeimẹ̑imẹ̑niimẹ̑natelọ̑telẹ̑sitelẹ̑saojẹ̑ojẹ̑siojẹ̑sadeklȅdeklẹ́tideklẹ̑ta
Locativeimẹ̑nu /

imẹ̑ni (styl.)

imẹ̑nihimẹ̑nihtelẹ̑su /

telẹ̑si (styl.)

telẹ̑sihtelẹ̑sihojẹ̑su /

ojẹ̑si (styl.)

ojẹ̑sihojẹ̑sihdeklẹ̄tu /

deklẹ̄ti (styl.)

deklẹ̑tihdeklẹ̑tih
Instrumentalimẹ̑nomimẹ̑nomaimẹ̑nitelẹ̑somtelẹ̑somatelẹ̑siojẹ̑somojẹ̑somaojẹ̑sideklẹ́tomdeklẹ̄tomadeklẹ̑ti
Vocativeimẹ̑imẹ̑niimẹ̑natelọ̑telẹ̑sitelẹ̑saojẹ̑ojẹ̑siojẹ̑sadeklȅdeklẹ́tideklẹ̑ta
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Alternations and other exceptions of the first neuter declension

  • In mixed accentual types, unstressed e and o can either become /e/ or /o/, /ɛ/ or /ɔ/, or both ( srebrọ̑ dative singular srẹ̄bru/srēbru 'silver', mesọ̑ dative singular mẹ̄su/mēsu 'meat').
  • In the 19th century the ending -i was often used in the dative/locative singular instead of -u. For example, nominative mọ̑rje 'sea', dative/locative mọ̑rji. Nowadays this ending is considered archaic or dialectal.
  • Some nouns with a stressed /ɛ/ or /ɔ/ can also have dual and plural forms with /e/ or /o/, such as ókno 'window', nominative plural ókna/ȏkna/ọ́kna and rébro 'rib', nominative plural rébra/rȇbra/rẹ́bra/rẹ̑bra.
  • Nouns ending in a non-sonorant consonant and a sonorant or a sonorant followed by -r, -lj, or -nj, have a fill vowel /ə/ or /i/, if the stem ends in -j, when there is a null ending (ókno genitive plural óken 'window', poslọ̑pje genitive plural poslọ̑pij 'building')
  • A few neuter s-stem nouns show the effects of the Slavic first palatalisation in the forms with the infix -es-:
    • The noun okọ̑ 'eye' has the stem očẹ̑s-. It also has a shorter plural stem oč- when referring to human eyes. This stem is feminine rather than neuter, and follows the mixed i-stem declension.
    • The noun uhọ̑ 'ear' has the stem ušẹ́s-, with a change in accent type. The genitive plural allows both accents.
    • The noun igọ̑ 'yoke' has the stem ižẹ̑s-.
  • Nouns without a vowel in the stem add a fill vowel /ə/ in genitive dual/plural. Noun dnȍ 'bottom' has an ending -ov or, as tlȁ , has a fill vowel -a- (tlȁtál/táł, dnȍdnȍv/dán), but the -ovversion is preferred. Noun dnȍ is also irregular in locative where it is either dnȉh or dnẹ́h (dnȉh is preferred) and noun tlȁ is also irregular in locative and instrumental (nominative plural tlȁ locative plural tlẹ́h instrumental plural tlẹ́mi/tlí).
  • Noun dŕva 'firewood' is also irregular, having two forms for locative and instrumental: nominative plural dŕva locative plural drvẹ́h/dr̄vih, instrumental plural drvmí/dŕvi. The irregular forms are preferred.
  • Some nouns, such as črevọ̑ 'intestine' (stem črevẹ̑s-) lose the infix in the plural: črẹ́va.

Fixed accent nouns

Note that all these nouns have the same accent on dative and locative forms with ending in -i.

  • Circumflex nouns are always circumflex, except in plural, where the ones that lose the infix are acute in nominative/accusative plural and follow acute accentuation in other cases:
o-stems/t/n-stemLoses the infixIrregular (plural archaic)
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative sọ̑nce sọ̑ncisọ̑nca kolọ̑ kolẹ̑sikolẹ̑sa črevọ̑ črevẹ̑sičrẹ́va okọ̑ očẹ̑siọ̑ka
Genitivesọ̑ncasọ̑ncsọ̑nckolẹ̑sakolẹ̑skolẹ̑sčrevẹ̑sačrẹ̑včrẹ̑vočẹ̑sọ̑kọ̑k
Dativesọ̑ncusọ̑ncemasọ̑ncemkolẹ̑sukolẹ̑somakolẹ̑somčrevẹ̑sučrevẹ̑somačrẹ̑vomočẹ̑suočẹ̑somaọ̑kom
Accusativesọ̑ncesọ̑ncisọ̑ncakolọ̑kolẹ̑sikolẹ̑sačrevọ̑črevẹ̑sičrẹ́vaokọ̑očẹ̑siọ̑ka
Locativesọ̑ncusọ̑ncihsọ̑ncihkolẹ̑sukolẹ̑sihkolẹ̑sihčrevẹ̑sučrẹ̑vihčrẹ̑vihočẹ̑suọ̑kihọ̑kih
Instrumentalsọ̑ncemsọ̑ncemasọ̑ncikolẹ̑somkolẹ̑somakolẹ̑sičrevẹ̑somčrevẹ̑somačrẹ̑viočẹ̑somočẹ̑somaọ̑ki
Vocativesọ̑ncesọ̑ncisọ̑ncakolọ̑kolẹ̑sikolẹ̑sačrevọ̑črevẹ̑sičrẹ̑vaokọ̑očẹ̑siọ̑ka
  • Nouns that are circumflex in nominative singular and acute in genitive plural allow both accents in locative and dative singular after preposition and in dual. They are circumflex in plural and acute in other forms in singular. The exception is the word uhọ̑, which is acute in other forms, except in vocative, where it is circumflex and genitive dual/plural, where it can also be circumflex:
Short → longLong → long
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative deklȅ deklẹ̄tideklẹ̑ta uhọ̑ ušẹ́siušẹ́sa
Genitivedeklẹ́tadeklẹ̑tdeklẹ̑tušẹ́saušẹ̄sušẹ̄s
Dativedeklẹ́tu / deklẹ̄tu (+ prep.)deklẹ̄tomadeklẹ̑tomušẹ́suušẹ́somaušẹ́som
Accusativedeklȅdeklẹ̄tideklẹ̑tauhọ̑ušẹ́siušẹ́sa
Locativedeklẹ̄tudeklẹ̑tihdeklẹ̑tihušẹ́suušẹ́sihušẹ́sih
Instrumentaldeklẹ́tomdeklẹ̄tomadeklẹ̑tiušẹ́somušẹ́somaušẹ́si
Vocativedeklȅdeklẹ̑tideklẹ̑tauhọ̑ušẹ̑siušẹ̑sa
  • Most acute nouns have circumflex accent in plural and allow both accents in dual, except in vocative, where it is always circumflex:
o-stems/t/n-stem
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative kopíto kopītikopȋta víme vīmenivȋmena
Genitivekopítakopȋtkopȋtvímenavȋmenvȋmen
Dativekopítukopītomakopȋtomvímenuvīmenomavȋmenom
Accusativekopítokopītikopȋtavímevīmenivȋmena
Locativekopítukopȋtihkopȋtihvímenuvȋmenihvȋmenih
Instrumentalkopítomkopītomakopȋtivímenomvīmenomavȋmeni
Vocativekopȋtokopȋtikopȋtavȋmevȋmenivȋmena

Acute nouns that are stressed on an open-mid vowel in nominative singular, diminutives ending in -ce in nominative singular, plurale tantum, and noun jájce are, if composed of two syllables, acute in nominative/genitive plural or allow both if the stressed vowel is open-mid. If the noun is composed of more than three syllables, then they allow both accents no matter the stressed vowel. Those that are acute or open-mid vowel in nominative/accusative plural (except close-mid vowel in nouns that can also be declined with an open-mid vowel) are circumflex or acute in genitive and locative dual/plural, and instrumental plural, except if the stressed vowel is open-mid (in that case the accent is circumflex in genitive dual/plural) or if the stem ends in -č or -r followed or preceded by at least one other consonant; these are circumflex in genitive and locative dual/plural, and instrumental plural. Dative plural is in all nouns accented the same as nominative plural. The accent in dual is either that of the singular or that of the plural form:

Two syllablesMore than two syllablesOpen-mid vowel,

two syllables

SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative jájce jájcijájca nakoválce nakovālcinakovālca ókno ōkniōkna / ọ́kna
Genitivejájcajājcjājcnakoválcanakovȃlcnakovȃlcóknoȏken / ọ́kenȏken / ọ́ken
Dativejájcujájcemajájcemnakoválcunakovālcemanakovālcemóknuōknomaōknom / ọ́knom
Accusativejájcejájcijájcanakoválcenakovālcinakovālcaóknoōkniōkna / ọ́kna
Locativejájcujājcihjājcihnakoválcunakovȃlcihnakovȃlcihóknuōknih / ọ́knihōknih / ọ́knih
Instrumentaljájcemjājcemajājcinakoválcemnakovālcemanakovȃlcióknomōknomaōkni / ọ́kni
Vocativejȃjcejȃjcijȃjcanakovȃlcenakovȃlcinakovȃlcaȏknoȏkniȏkna / ọ̑kna
Open-mid vowel,

more than two syllables

Stem ending in -č or -r + cons.
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative rešéto rešētirešēta / rešẹ̄ta rébro rébrirēbra / rẹ́bra
Genitiverešétarešȇt / rešẹ̄trešȇt / rešẹ̄trébrarȇber / rẹ̑berrȇber / rẹ̑ber
Dativerešéturešētomarešētom / rešẹ̄tomrébrurébromarēbrom / rẹ́brom
Accusativerešétorešētirešēta / rešẹ̄tarébrorébrirēbra / rẹ́bra
Locativerešéturešētih / rešẹ̄tihrešētih / rešẹ̄tihrébrurȇbrih / rẹ̑brihrȇbrih / rẹ̑brih
Instrumentalrešétomrešētomarešēti / rešẹ̄tirébromrébromarȇbri / rẹ̑bri
Vocativerešȇtorešȇtirešȇta / rešẹ̑tarȇbrorȇbrirȇbra / rẹ̑bra
  • Plurale tantum can additionally follow one of these two accent changes:
V́V́ V̄
PluralPlural
Nominative vráta ústa
Genitivevrátūst
Dativevrátomústom
Accusativevrátaústa
Locativevrátihústih
Instrumentalvrátiústi
Vocativevrȃtaȗsta
  • Nouns stégno and lẹ́to change the accent irregularly. Stégno is circumflex in plural with close-mid vowel (alongside the regular open-mid vowel), even though it would be expected to be acute, and lẹ́to can only be acute in nominative and accusative plural:
stégnolẹ́to
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative stégno stēgnistēgna / stẹ̑gna lẹ́to lẹ́tilẹ̑ta
Genitivestégnastȇgen / stẹ̑genstȇgen / stẹ̑genlẹ́talẹ̑tlẹ̑t
Dativestégnustēgnomastēgnom / stẹ̑gnomlẹ́tulẹ̄tomalẹ̑tom
Accusativestégnostēgnistēgna / stẹ̑gnalẹ́tolẹ́tilẹ̑ta
Locativestégnustēgnih / stẹ̑gnihstēgnih / stẹ̑gnihlẹ́tulẹ̑tihlẹ̑tih
Instrumentalstégnomstēgnomastēgni / stẹ̑gnilẹ́tomlẹ̄tomalẹ̑ti
Vocativestȇgnostȇgnistȇgna / stẹ̑gnalẹ̑tolẹ̑tilẹ̑ta

Mobile accent nouns

These nouns are always acute in nominative singular, but can either be circumflex or acute in genitive singular. The circumflex stay circumflex in all other cases while acute ones further decline as fixed accent nouns which have short circumflex accent in nominative singular and are acute in genitive singular:

CircumflexAcute
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative bédro bedrẹ̑sibedrẹ̑sa téle telẹ̄titelẹ̑ta
Genitivebedrẹ̑sabedrẹ̑sbedrẹ̑stelẹ́tatelẹ̑ttelẹ̑t
Dativebedrẹ̑su / bedrẹ̑si (styl.)bedrẹ̑somabedrẹ̑somtelẹ́tu / telẹ̄tu (+ prep.) /

telẹ́ti (styl.) / telẹ̄ti (+ prep., styl.)

telẹ̄tomatelẹ̑tom
Accusativebédrobedrẹ̑sibedrẹ̑satéletelẹ̄titelẹ̑ta
Locativebedrẹ̑su / bedrẹ̑si (styl.)bedrẹ̑sihbedrẹ̑sihtelẹ̄tu / telẹ̄ti (styl.)telẹ̑tihtelẹ̑tih
Instrumentalbedrẹ̑sombedrẹ̑somabedrẹ̑sitelẹ́tomtelẹ̄tomatelẹ̑ti
Vocativebȇdrobedrẹ̑sibedrẹ̑satȇletelẹ̑titelẹ̑ta
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Ending accent nouns

These nouns always have short accent, except in dative and instrumental singular, where the accent is the same (but acute if long) as their fixed accent counterparts (if the stem has a fill vowel, then the noun can also be declined as a fixed accent noun), or is long circumflex (acute according to Slovenski pravopis) open-mid o or long circumflex (acute according to Slovenski pravopis) closed-mid e if the stem does not have a vowel. Long vowel is also the fill vowel a in genitive dual/plural and if nouns have special ending in plural and some dual cases. These are dative plural ending is -ẹ̑m instead of -om / -em, locative dual/plural ending -ẹ́h instead of -ih, instrumental plural -mí / -ẹ̄mi instead of -i, and dative and instrumental dual ending is -ẹ̑ma instead of -oma / -ema. Nouns, where the accent is not on the last syllable in genitive dual/plural, allow both accents in that case.

RegularSpecial endingsSpecial endings
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralPlural
Nominative zlȍ zlȉzlȁ tlȍ tlȉtlȁdrvȁ
Genitivezlȁzȅlzȅltlȁtáltáldŕv
Dativezlȕ / zlȉ (styl.)zlȏma /

zlóma

zlȍmtlȕ / tlȉ (styl.)tlȏma /

tlóma

tlȍmdrvȍm
Accusativezlȍzlȉzlȁtlȍtlȉtlȁdrvȁ
Locativezlȕ / zlȉ (styl.)zlȉhzlȉhtlȕ / tlȉ (styl.)tlẹ́htlẹ́hdrvẹ́h
Instrumentalzlȍmzlȏma /

zlóma

zlȉtlȍmtlȏma /

tlóma

tlẹ̄midrvmí
Vocativezlȍzlȉzlȁtlȍtlȉtlȁdrvȁ
styl. – the form is stylistically marked

Mixed accent nouns

Mixed accent nouns are always circumflex, except open-mid e and o allow both accents. Slovenski pravopis dictates that also closed-mid e and o allow both accents, but the Dictionary of Slovene written language does not. The same rules also apply to dative and genitive forms ending in -i, not written below due to simplicity.

RegularOpen-mid vowel
SingularDualPluralSingular
Nominative blagọ̑ blȃgiblȃga prosọ̑
Genitiveblagȃblȃgblȃgprosȃ
Dativeblȃgublȃgomablȃgomprōsu /

prọ̑su (prọ́su)

Accusativeblagọ̑blȃgiblȃgaprosọ̑
Locativeblȃgublȃgihblȃgihprōsu /

prọ̑su (prọ́su)

Instrumentalblȃgomblȃgomablȃgiprōsom /

prọ̑som (prọ́som)

Vocativeblagọ̑blȃgiblȃgaprosọ̑

Second neuter declension (neuter a-stem declension)

Second neuter declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -e. In modern Slovene, only pronouns jȁz 'I', tȋ 'you', and se(be) , which is a reflexive personal pronoun are considered to follow this declension. Therefore, for the accent, endings, and alternations, see those three pronouns in the pronouns section.

Third neuter declension (neuter declension without endings)

Third neuter declension follow nouns whose genitive singular (or in any other case) ending is a null ending (-). This declension follow all nominalized cardinal numerals (when expressed with a number or a word) and verbs that are used as a noun (dóbro jẹ́sti dóbrega jẹ́sti 'eat well', but only a handful of other words, such as domȃ in the phrase ljubo doma kdor ga ima 'home sweet home'. This declension does not seem to have any alterations.

Third neuter declension endings
SingularDualPlural
Nominative---
Genitive---
Dative---
Accusative---
Locative---
Instrumental---
Vocative---

Accent

These accents can only have fixed accent, which does not change, except the acute accent changes into circumflex in vocative.

CircumflexAcuteShort
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative trȋ trȋtrȋ éna énaéna nȉč nȉčnȉč
Genitivetrȋtrȋtrȋénaénaénanȉčnȉčnȉč
Dativetrȋtrȋtrȋénaénaénanȉčnȉčnȉč
Accusativetrȋtrȋtrȋénaénaénanȉčnȉčnȉč
Locativetrȋtrȋtrȋénaénaénanȉčnȉčnȉč
Instrumentaltrȋtrȋtrȋénaénaénanȉčnȉčnȉč
Vocativetrȋtrȋtrȋȇnaȇnaȇnanȉčnȉčnȉč

Fourth neuter declension (neuter i-/e-stem declension)

Fourth neuter declension follow nouns whose genitive singular ending is -ega. The nouns following this declension were derived from an adjective, and are therefore nominalized adjectives. The declension is the same as declension for neuter adjectives. Most of these nouns are geographical names and only have a singular form. This declension also differentiates between hard and soft stems, but only in nominative and accusative singular.

Fourth neuter declension
HardSoft
SingularDualPluralSingularDualPlural
Nominative-o-i-a-e-i-a
Genitive-ega-ih-ih-ega-ih-ih
Dative-emu-ima-im-emu-ima-im
Accusative-o-i-a-e-i-a
Locative-em-ih-ih-em-ih-ih
Instrumental-im-ima-imi-im-ima-imi
Vocative-o-i-a-e-i-a

This declension does not seem to have any alterations.

Accent

These nouns decline the same way as definite feminine forms of adjectives following the first adjectival declension do. Therefore, only fixed and ending accentual types exist. For accent changes when nominalizing, see § Accent of nomnalized adjectives .

Nouns that switch gender

Feminine genderNeuter gender
SingularSingular
Nominative Dolẹ́njska Dolẹ̑njsko
GenitiveDolẹ́njskeDolẹ̑njskega
DativeDolẹ́njskiDolẹ̑njskemu
AccusativeDolẹ́njsko /

Dolẹ̑njsko (used as an adverb)

Dolẹ̑njsko
LocativeDolẹ́njskiDolẹ̑njskem
InstrumentalDolẹ̑njskoDolẹ̑njskim
VocativeDolẹ̑njskaDolẹ̑njsko

Nouns composed of two or more words

When a noun composed of two or more words, sometimes all words are declined as they would be if alone, but there are additional rules.

Proper & common nouns

If all parts of a proper nouns grammatically match then all of them are declined, such as Ivan Cankar Ivana Cankarja 'Ivan Cankar' and Mokro Polje Mokrega Polja 'Mokro Polje'. The exception are surnames of females, which in most cases follow third declensions and have the same ending in all cases ( Majda Vrhovnik Majde Vrhovnik 'Majda Vrhovnik'), but surnames following female declensions (usually ending in -a) can be also declined following the original declension ( Ana Kopriva Ane Kopriva/Ane Koprive 'Ana Kopriva'). If both females and males with the same surname are mentioned, the surname is declined following original declension if the last name listed is male and follow the exception if the last name listed is female, but both first names are declined as they would normally: Pino in Pia Mlakar → Pina in Pie Mlakar (last listed first name is female) and Pia in Pino Mlakar → Pie in Pina Mlakarja (last listed first name is male). In combination of two names, such as Šmarje - Sap 'Šmarje–Sap' and Gozd - Martuljek 'Gozd Martuljek', both nouns are declined (Šmarje - Sapa, Gozda - Martuljka).

If a part of the composed noun does not grammatically match, it usually follows third declensions, such as Hotel Turist (hotel named "Turist") Hotela Turista, except in some rare cases, such as Založba Lipa (publishing house named "Lipa") Založbe Lipe. If the first part of a compound loanword is considered an adjective or is considered not to be able to stan by itself, then this part also follows third declensions, such as Downing Street Downing Streeta 'Down Street', Kon Tiki Kon Tikija 'Kon Tiki', Monte Carlo Monte Carla 'Monte Carlo', U Tant U Tanta 'U Thant', Mao Cetung Mao Cetunga 'Mao Zedong', but some can be declined following the usual declension or the third, such as Rio de Janeiro Ria de Janeira/Rio de Janeira 'Rio de Janeiro'. Some of these names can also be shortened to only the first word, which in that case follows the usual declension Rio Ria 'Rio de Janeiro' and Mao Maa 'Mao'. Compound loanword nouns with unusual endings for their gender or number follow third declensions: Pickwick Papers Pickwick Papers 'Pickwhick Papers', École des Hautes ÉtudesÉcole des Hautes Études 'École des Hautes Études'. Part of nouns, called predimki in Slovene (lit. forenames), part between the name and surname, which was originally usually an article, also follow third declensions: fra Bartolo fra Bartola, Dos Passos Dos Passosa. Some other common words that fall into this category are also van , von , de , Don , O' , Las , Los , La , and M' .

When a common noun has a proper noun as a modifier, the proper noun in some cases follows the usual declension and sometimes the third: mesto Ljubljana mesta Ljubljane (the city of Ljubljana), reka Soča reke Soče (the Soča river), as opposed to kraj Mostec kraja Mostec (the town of Mostec), gostilna Gorjanc gostilne Gorjanc (a restaurant named "Gorjanc"). Some can be declined both ways, such as podjetje Iskra podjetja Iskra/podjetja Iskre (Iskra company).

Vernacular & Vernacularized nouns

In those cases, all words are declined as usual, such as črno zlato črnega zlata 'coal' and človek žaba človeka žabe, nominative plural ljudje žabe 'frogman', except when they are part of the same word written apart where the first part follows third declensions, such as vikend hiša 'holiday cottage' vikend hiše and žiro račun 'deposit account' žiro računa. In these cases, writing words together is favored ( vikendhiša , žiroračun )

Non-vernacularized nouns

Nouns that are not fully integrated in Slovene (are not fully vernacularized) are split into two categories: quoted ( citatne ) and semi-quoted ( polcitatne ), depending on how much they are integrated.

All parts of masculine semi-quoted nouns are usually declined following the usual inflection pattern, which is either first, second, or fourth masculine declension, but some that have an unusual ending follow the third masculine declension: nervus sympathicus nervusa sympathicusa, but curriculum vitae curriculuma vitae. Feminine semi-quoted nouns ending in -a in nominative singular are declined following the first feminine declension and others follow the third: alma mater alme mater and Smilax aspera Smilax aspere.

Quoted nouns are declined as originally in the language they were borrowed from: alma mater almae matris, curriculum vitae curriculi vitae, first lady first lady, nominative plural first ladies. This declension is always stylistically marked.

Masculinization and feminization of neuter nouns

Neuter nouns are either masculinized or feminized across a large part of the Slovene-speaking territory. Masculinization occurs in Upper Carniolan, Lower Sava Valley, Central Savinja, Horjul, Škofja Loka, Poljane, Selca, Črni Vrh, Ebriach, North Pohorje-Remšnik, and Mežica dialects, Kranjska Gora subdialect, and in parts of Rosen Valley, Juan Valley, Lower Carniolan, Central Styrian, and South Pohorje dialects. It is most commonly present in singular, and less in dual and plural. Masculinization varies from nouns binding with masculine forms of adjectives to completely change the declension, such as in Lower Sava Valley dialect. In that case nouns following the first neuter declension change to following first masculine, those following second neuter to following second masculine declension those following the third neuter to third masculine and those following fourth neuter to fourth masculine. Masculinized nouns following first declension have in genitive dual/plural a null ending, which is also present in some other masculine nouns. Mixed and mobile accentual type generally turns into fixed. Those following fourth declension have a null ending in nominative singular. The t-, s-, and n-stem nouns usually have the long stem in all cases.

Feminization of neuter nouns occurs in eastern Carinthian, northern Styrian, and many Panonian dialects. Feminization is the most common in plural, but is also very common in singular in dual. Similarly to masculinization, nouns following the first neuter declension change to following the first feminine, those following the second neuter to second feminine, those following the third neuter to third feminine and those following fourth neuter to fourth feminine. Mobile and mixed accentual type generally turn into fixed. The t-, s-, and n-stem nouns usually have the short stems in all cases, which is furthermore shortened, without the last o/e. The accent also changes accordingly to one syllable before, if the final o/e was accented.

Adjectives, adjectival pronouns, numerals

Adjective declension is simpler than noun declension, as there are only two different inflection patterns. The first declension is the same as fourth noun declension for each case, while the second adjective declension is the same as third noun declensions (have a null ending in all cases). Adjectives can have all four accentual types. Adjectives can be compared in two ways, having three degrees of comparison in the first comparison (positive, comparative, superlative) and the second having two (positive and elative) and can be declined either by affixes or by adding other an adverb before it.

Declension of adjectival pronouns and irregular numerals is detailed in the pronouns and irregular numerals section.

Definite and indefinite adjectives

Adjectives in Slovene distinguish between indefinite and definite meanings. They correspond in meaning to the distinction between the English indefinite article a, referring to an unknown thing, and the definite article the, referring to a known thing. The definite form is also used in fixed noun phrases, where the combination of adjective and noun are to be understood as a single concept. Apart from that, they are also used under the following conditions:

The corresponding interrogative word for indefinite adjectives is kākšen and for definite adjectives katẹ̄ri for definite adjectives. Thus, definite forms behave like relational adjectives, which already mostly have an -i ending.

Definite adjectives have an ending -i in nominative and vocative singular. All other forms are usually the same for regular adjectives, acting as both indefinite and definite adjective, but adjectives that do not have fixed accent and some irregular adjectives change the stem or the accent, so all forms are differentiated.

For some adjectives, however, there are more differences between the indefinite and definite declensions:

In addition, not all adjectives have definite and indefinite form. Adjectives ending in -ov/-ev ( bratov , borovničev) or -in ( sestrin ), adjectival pronouns, and adjectives and numerals ending in -i ( slovenski , kmečki , neki , kateri ) are (except some pronouns) definite by meaning, but only those ending in -i decline as definite adjectives, others decline as indefinite forms.

First adjective declension (adjective declension with endings)

Most of the adjectives follow the first declension, which changes the endings when declined. These adjectives, when nominalized, follow fourth declensions. The endings can be split into three groups of cases:

The accusative singular is different if the adjective stays directly before the noun or not. In the latter case, masculine form allows only genitive ending, feminine only accusative and neuter allows both endings.

The masculine accusative singular before the adjective is like either the nominative or the genitive, as in masculine nouns. Which form is used depends on which form the accompanying noun uses, which in turn depends on whether the noun is animate or inanimate.

First adjective declension endings
Hard
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef.--a-o-a-i-i-e-a
def.-i
Genitive-ega-e-ega-ih-ih
Dative-emu-i-emu-ima-im
Accusative+ nounnom or gen-o-o-a-i-e-e-a
− noun-ega-o / -ega
Locative-em-i-em-ih-ih
Instrumental-im-o-im-ima-imi
Vocativeindef.--a-o-a-i-i-e-a
def.-i
Soft
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef.--a-e-a-i-i-e-a
def.-i
Genitive-ega-e-ega-ih-ih
Dative-emu-i-emu-ima-im
Accusative+ nounnom or gen-o-e-a-i-e-e-a
− noun-ega-e / -ega
Locative-em-i-em-ih-ih
Instrumental-im-o-im-ima-imi
Vocativeindef.--a-e-a-i-i-e-a
def.-i

Alternations and other exceptions of the first adjective declension

  • Adjectives with mixed accent also have a form with an ending -e in nominative and accusative dual in feminine and neuter gender in addition to the usual -i: bẹ́l 'white', nominative dual: belẹ̑/belȋ/bẹ́li.
  • A fill vowel in nominate singular when there is a null ending in some adjectives.

Fixed accent adjectives

Adjectives do not nearly change the accent as much when declined as nouns, however there are six different ways that can happen:

  • If the adjective is long circumflex (or short if ə is accented) in nominative singular masculine and feminine form, then it is circumflex in all other forms.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. vesẹ̑ł vesẹ̑lavesẹ̑lovesẹ̑lavesẹ̑livesẹ̑livesẹ̑levesẹ̑la
def.vesẹ̑li
Genitivevesẹ̑legavesẹ̑levesẹ̑legavesẹ̑lihvesẹ̑lih
Dativevesẹ̑lemuvesẹ̑livesẹ̑lemuvesẹ̑limavesẹ̑lim
Accusative+ nounnom or genvesẹ̑lovesẹ̑lovesẹ̑lavesẹ̑livesẹ̑levesẹ̑levesẹ̑la
− nounvesẹ̑legavesẹ̑lo /

vesẹ̑lega

Locativevesẹ̑lemvesẹ̑livesẹ̑lemvesẹ̑lihvesẹ̑lih
Instrumentalvesẹ̑limvesẹ̑lovesẹ̑limvesẹ̑limavesẹ̑limi
Vocativeindef.vesẹ̑łvesẹ̑lavesẹ̑lovesẹ̑lavesẹ̑livesẹ̑livesẹ̑levesẹ̑la
def.vesẹ̑li
  • If the adjective is long acute (or short if ə is accented) in nominative singular masculine and feminine form, then it is acute in all other forms, except in vocative, where it is circumflex.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. lísast lísastalísastolísastalísastilísastilísastelísasta
def.lísasti
Genitivelísastegalísastelísastegalísastihlísastih
Dativelísastemulísastilísastemulísastimalísastim
Accusative+ nounnom or genlísastolísastolísastalísastilísastelísastelísasta
− nounlísastegalísasto /

lísastega

Locativelísastemlísastilísastemlísastihlísastih
Instrumentallísastimlísastolísastimlísastimalísastimi
Vocativeindef.lȋsastlȋsastalȋsastolȋsastalȋsastilȋsastilȋsastelȋsasta
def.lȋsasti
  • If the adjective is long circumflex (or short if ə is accented) in nominative singular masculine form, but acute in feminine form, then it is acute in all other forms, except in vocative case, where it is circumflex.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. ljubeznȋv ljubeznívaljubeznívoljubeznívaljubezníviljubezníviljubezníveljubezníva
def.ljubeznívi
Genitiveljubeznívegaljubezníveljubeznívegaljubeznívihljubeznívih
Dativeljubeznívemuljubezníviljubeznívemuljubeznívimaljubeznívim
Accusative+ nounnom or genljubeznívoljubeznívoljubeznívaljubezníviljubezníveljubezníveljubezníva
− nounljubeznívegaljubeznívo /

ljubeznívega

Locativeljubeznívemljubezníviljubeznívemljubeznívihljubeznívih
Instrumentalljubeznívimljubeznívoljubeznívimljubeznívimaljubeznívimi
Vocativeindef.ljubeznȋvljubeznȋvaljubeznȋvoljubeznȋvaljubeznȋviljubeznȋviljubeznȋveljubeznȋva
def.ljubeznȋvi
  • If the adjective is long acute (or short if ə is accented) in nominative singular masculine form, but circumflex in feminine form, then it is acute in all masculine and neuter forms, but allows both accents in other feminine singular forms. The same applies if nominative singular feminine form allows both accents.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. prídən prȋdnaprídnoprídnaprídniprídniprídneprídna
def.prídni
Genitiveprídnegaprīdneprídnegaprídnihprídnih
Dativeprídnemuprīdniprídnemuprídnimaprídnim
Accusative+ nounnom or genprīdnoprídnoprídnaprídniprídneprídneprídna
− nounprídnegaprídno /

prídnega

Locativeprídnemprīdniprídnemprídnihprídnih
Instrumentalprídnimprīdnoprídnimprídnimaprídnimi
Vocativeindef.prȋdənprȋdnaprȋdnoprȋdnaprȋdniprȋdniprȋdneprȋdna
def.prȋdni
  • If the adjective is short circumflex and ə is not stressed in nominative singular masculine form, and long circumflex in feminine form, then it is acute in all other masculine and neuter forms, but allows both accents in other feminine singular forms. The same applies if nominative singular feminine form allows both accents. The exception is surȍv , which is only circumflex in all forms.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. sȉt sȋtasítosítasítisítisítesíta
def.síti
Genitivesítegasītesítegasítihsítih
Dativesítemusītisítemusítimasítim
Accusative+ nounnom or gensītosítosítasítisítesítesíta
− nounsítegasíto /

sítega

Locativesítemsītisítemsítihsítih
Instrumentalsítimsītosítimsítimasítimi
Vocativeindef.sȉtsȋtasȋtosȋtasȋtisȋtisȋtesȋta
def.sȋti
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. surȍv surȏvasurȏvosurȏvasurȏvisurȏvisurȏvesurȏva
def.surȏvi
Genitivesurȏvegasurȏvesurȏvegasurȏvihsurȏvih
Dativesurȏvemusurȏvisurȏvemusurȏvimasurȏvim
Accusative+ nounnom or gensurȏvosurȏvosurȏvasurȏvisurȏvesurȏvesurȏva
− nounsurȏvegasurȏvo /

surȏvega

Locativesurȏvemsurȏvisurȏvemsurȏvihsurȏvih
Instrumentalsurȏvimsurȏvosurȏvimsurȏvimasurȏvimi
Vocativeindef. surȍv surȏvasurȏvosurȏvasurȏvisurȏvisurȏvesurȏva
def.surȏvi
  • If the adjective is short circumflex and ə is not stressed in nominative singular masculine form, but long acute in feminine form, then it is acute in all other forms.
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. zelȅn zelénazelénozelénazelénizelénizelénezeléna
def.zeléni
Genitivezelénegazelénezelénegazelénihzelénih
Dativezelénemuzelénizelénemuzelénimazelénim
Accusative+ nounnom or genzelénozelénozelénazelénizelénezelénezeléna
− nounzelénegazeléno /

zelénega

Locativezelénemzelénizelénemzelénihzelénih
Instrumentalzelénimzelénozelénimzelénimazelénimi
Vocativeindef.zelȅnzelȇnazelȇnozelȇnazelȇnizelȇnizelȇnezelȇna
def.zelȇni

Mobile accent adjectives

Adjectives with mobile accent are acute in nominative singular masculine form and can be either circumflex or acute in feminine form. Circumflex ones change the accent in other forms the same way as fixed-accented adjectives that are acute in masculine and circumflex in feminine, and acute ones are always acute. The only exception is definite form of vélik , vẹ̑liki and acts as a fixed accent adjective.

SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. bógat bogȃtabogátobogátabogátibogátibogátebogáta
def.bogáti
Genitivebogátegabogātebogátegabogátihbogátih
Dativebogátemubogātibogátemubogátimabogátim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbogātobogátobogátabogátibogátebogátebogáta
− nounbogátegabogáto /

bogátega

Locativebogátembogātibogátembogátihbogátih
Instrumentalbogátimbogātobogátimbogátimabogátimi
Vocativeindef.bȏgatbogȃtabogȃtobogȃtabogȃtibogȃtibogȃtebogȃta
def.bogȃti
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeindef. débeł debẹ́ladebẹ́lodebẹ́ladebẹ́lidebẹ́lidebẹ́ledebẹ́la
def.debẹ́li
Genitivedebẹ́legadebẹ́ledebẹ́legadebẹ́lihdebẹ́lih
Dativedebẹ́lemudebẹ́lidebẹ́lemudebẹ́limadebẹ́lim
Accusative+ nounnom or gendebẹ́lodebẹ́lodebẹ́ladebẹ́lidebẹ́ledebẹ́ledebẹ́la
− noundebẹ́legadebẹ́lo /

debẹ́lega

Locativedebẹ́lemdebẹ́lidebẹ́lemdebẹ́lihdebẹ́lih
Instrumentaldebẹ́limdebẹ́lodebẹ́limdebẹ́limadebẹ́limi
Vocativeindef.dȇbełdebẹ̑ladebẹ̑lodebẹ̑ladebẹ̑lidebẹ̑lidebẹ̑ledebẹ̑la
def.debẹ̑li
Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative vélik velīkavelíkovelíkavelíkivelíkivelíkevelíka
Genitivevelíkegavelīkevelíkegavelíkihvelíkih
Dativevelíkemuvelīkivelíkemuvelíkimavelíkim
Accusative+ nounnom or genvelīkovelíkovelíkavelíkivelíkevelíkevelíka
− nounvelíkegavelíko /

velíkega

Locativevelíkemvelīkivelíkemvelíkihvelíkih
Instrumentalvelíkimvelīkovelíkimvelíkimavelíkimi
Vocativevȇlikvelȋkavelȋkovelȋkavelȋkivelȋkivelȋkevelȋka
Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativevẹ̑likivẹ̑likavẹ̑likovẹ̑likavẹ̑likivẹ̑likivẹ̑likevẹ̑lika
Genitivevẹ̑likegavẹ̑likevẹ̑likegavẹ̑likihvẹ̑likih
Dativevẹ̑likemuvẹ̑likivẹ̑likemuvẹ̑likimavẹ̑likim
Accusative+ nounnom or genvẹ̑likovẹ̑likovẹ̑likavẹ̑likivẹ̑likevẹ̑likevẹ̑lika
− nounvẹ̑likegavẹ̑liko /

vẹ̑likega

Locativevẹ̑likemvẹ̑likivẹ̑likemvẹ̑likihvẹ̑likih
Instrumentalvẹ̑likimvẹ̑likovẹ̑likimvẹ̑likimavẹ̑likimi
Vocativevẹ̑likvẹ̑likavẹ̑likovẹ̑likavẹ̑likivẹ̑likivẹ̑likevẹ̑lika

Ending accent adjectives

Ending accents are usually stylistically marked and are circumflex when the ending is stressed, but the stem is acute (except fill vowels). The definite form is accented on the stem and o, e are close-mid, except if it does not have a vowel. Definite forms have fixed accent. If the stem does not have a vowel, then the first syllable is accentuated and acute if long. Some speakers can also accentuate indefinite forms the same as definite.

Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative brhə̏k brhkȁbrhkȍbrhkȁbrhkȉbrhkȉbrhkȅbrhkȁ
Genitivebrhkegȁbrhkȅbrhkegȁbrhkȉhbrhkȉh
Dativebrhkemȕbrhkȉbrhkemȕbrhkimȁbrhkȉm
Accusative+ nounnom or genbrhkȍbrhkȍbrhkȁbrhkȉbrhkȅbrhkȅbrhkȁ
− nounbrhkegȁbrhkȍ /

brhkegȁ

Locativebrhkȅmbrhkȉbrhkȅmbrhkȉhbrhkȉh
Instrumentalbrhkȉmbrhkȍbrhkȉmbrhkimȁbrhkimȉ
Vocativebrhə̏kbrhkȁbrhkȍbrhkȁbrhkȉbrhkȉbrhkȅbrhkȁ
Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativebŕhkibŕhkabŕhkobŕhkabŕhkibŕhkibŕhkebŕhka
Genitivebŕhkegabŕhkebŕhkegabŕhkihbŕhkih
Dativebŕhkemubŕhkibŕhkemubŕhkimabŕhkim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbŕhkobŕhkobŕhkabŕhkibŕhkebŕhkebŕhka
− nounbŕhkegabŕhko /

bŕhkega

Locativebŕhkembŕhkibŕhkembŕhkihbŕhkih
Instrumentalbŕhkimbŕhkobŕhkimbŕhkimabŕhkimi
Vocativebȓhkibȓhkabȓhkobȓhkabȓhkibȓhkibȓhkebȓhka
Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative zə̏ł zlȁzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȉzlȅzlȁ
Genitivezlegȁzlȅzlegȁzlȉhzlȉh
Dativezlemȕzlȉzlemȕzlimȁzlȉm
Accusative+ nounnom or genzlȍzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȅzlȅzlȁ
− nounzlegȁzlȍ /

zlegȁ

Locativezlȅmzlȉzlȅmzlȉhzlȉh
Instrumentalzlȉmzlȍzlȉmzlimȁzlimȉ
Vocativezə̏łzlȁzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȉzlȅzlȁ
Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativezlȉzlȁzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȉzlȅzlȁ
Genitivezlégazlȅzlégazlȉhzlȉh
Dativezlémuzlȉzlémuzlímazlȉm
Accusative+ nounnom or genzlȍzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȅzlȅzlȁ
− nounzlégazlȍ /

zléga

Locativezlȅmzlȉzlȅmzlȉhzlȉh
Instrumentalzlȉmzlȍzlȉmzlímazlími
Vocativezlȉzlȁzlȍzlȁzlȉzlȉzlȅzlȁ

Mixed accent adjectives

There are two different ways mixed accent adjectives are declined, with short or long stress on endings, most of them following the first way.

The first way can have, along with the fixed accentuation, the ending accented only in nominative and vocative singular neuter form, accusative singular feminine and neuter form, and nominative and vocative dual and plural in all forms. However, some of these accents are stylistically marked:

  • If both fixed and ending accents are used about the same in nominative/vocative singular neuter form, then fixed accent is favored in other forms.
  • If fixed accent is favored, but ending is not stylistically marked in nominative/vocative singular neuter form, then ending accent is stylistically marked in other forms.
  • If ending accent is stylistically marked in nominative/vocative singular neuter form, then it can only have accent on the stem in other forms, forms with accent on the ending are obsolete.

Moreover, in nominative and accusative dual in feminine and neuter form these adjectives can also have a stylistically marked ending -ẹ̑ in addition to the usual -i. They follow one of the fixed accent tone changes if the accent is on the stem. If the feminine nominative singular form is acute, then other accents are acute. If it is circumflex, then it is circumflex in all forms. The endings are always circumflex. Defnite forms have fixed accent that is the same as "other" forms. The exceptions are mlȃd when meaning 'offspring' or 'young people/animals', sȃm , dȏlg , and stȁr when it is nominalized or in collocations. These forms are always circumflex.

Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative bŕhək bŕhkabŕhko /

brhkọ̑

bŕhka /

brhkȃ

bŕhki / brhkȋ /

brhkẹ̑ (styl.)

bŕhki /

brhkȋ

bŕhke /

brhkẹ̑

bŕhka /

brhkȃ

Genitivebŕhkegabŕhkebŕhkegabŕhkihbŕhkih
Dativebŕhkemubŕhkibŕhkemubŕhkimabŕhkim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbŕhko /

brhkọ̑

bŕhko /

brhkọ̑

bŕhka /

brhkȃ

bŕhki / brhkȋ /

brhkẹ̑ (styl.)

bŕhke /

brhkẹ̑

bŕhke /

brhkẹ̑

bŕhka /

brhkȃ

− nounbŕhkegabŕhko /

brhkọ̑ /

bŕhkega

Locativebŕhkembŕhkibŕhkembŕhkihbŕhkih
Instrumentalbŕhkimbŕhkobŕhkimbŕhkimabŕhkimi
Vocativebȓhəkbȓhkabȓhko /

brhkọ̑

bȓhka /

brhkȃ

bȓhki / brhkȋ /

brhkẹ̑ (styl.)

bȓhki /

brhkȋ

bȓhke /

brhkȇ

bȓhka /

brhkȃ

Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativebŕhkibŕhkabŕhkobŕhkabŕhkibŕhkibŕhkebŕhka
Genitivebŕhkegabŕhkebŕhkegabŕhkihbŕhkih
Dativebŕhkemubŕhkibŕhkemubŕhkimabŕhkim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbŕhkobŕhkobŕhkabŕhkibŕhkebŕhkebŕhka
− nounbŕhkegabŕhko /

bŕhkega

Locativebŕhkembŕhkibŕhkembŕhkihbŕhkih
Instrumentalbŕhkimbŕhkobŕhkimbŕhkimabŕhkimi
Vocativebȓhkibȓhkabȓhkobȓhkabȓhkibȓhkibȓhkebȓhka
styl. – stylistically marked

The second way with short accents is that the accent is on the stem only in nominative singular, and on the ending in all other forms. All adjectives following this pattern can also have fixed accent, and can only have fixed accent in definite forms. The ending is always short circumflex and definite form is acute.

Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative tə̏šč teščȁteščȅteščȁteščȉteščȉteščȅteščȁ
Genitiveteščegȁteščȅteščegȁteščȉhteščȉh
Dativeteščemȕteščȉteščemȕteščimȁteščȉm
Accusative+ nounnom or genteščȍteščȅteščȁteščȉteščȅteščȅteščȁ
− nounteščegȁteščȅ /

teščegȁ

Locativeteščȅmteščȉteščȅmteščȉhteščȉh
Instrumentalteščȉmteščȍteščȉmteščȁteščimȉ
Vocativetə̏ščteščȁteščȅteščȁteščȉteščȉteščȅteščȁ
Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativetèščitèščatèščetèščatèščitèščitèščetèšča
Genitivetèščegatèščetèščegatèščihtèščih
Dativetèščemutèščitèščemutèščimatèščim
Accusative+ nounnom or gentèščotèščetèščatèščitèščetèščetèšča
− nountèščegatèšče /

tèščega

Locativetèščemtèščitèščemtèščihtèščih
Instrumentaltèščimtèščotèščimtèščimatèščimi
Vocativetȅščitȅščatȅščetȅščatȅščitȅščitȅščetȅšča

Mobile & mixed accent adjectives

These adjectives decline as mobile accent adjectives, but also have the ending-accentuated forms of the adjectivves following the first way of mixed accentual type.

Indefinite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative bolȃn bólnabólno /

bolnọ̑

bólna /

bolnȃ (styl.)

bólni / bolnȋ (styl.) /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bólni /

bolnȋ (styl.)

bólne /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bólna /

bolnȃ (styl.)

Genitivebólnegabólnebólnegabólnihbólnih
Dativebólnemubólnibólnemubólnimabólnim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbólno /

bolnọ̑ (styl.)

bólno /

bolnọ̑

bólna /

bolnȃ

bólni / bolnȋ (styl.) /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bólne /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bólne /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bólna /

bolnȃ (styl.)

− nounbólnegabólno /

bolnọ̑ /

bólnega

Locativebólnembólnibólnembólnihbólnih
Instrumentalbólnimbólnobólnimbólnimabólnimi
Vocativebolȃnbȏlnabȏlno /

bolnọ̑

bȏlna /

bolnȃ (styl.)

bȏlni / bolnȋ (styl.) /

bolnẹ̑ (styl.)

bȏlni /

bolnȋ (styl.)

bȏlne /

bolnȇ (styl.)

bȏlna /

bolnȃ (styl.)

Definite
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativebólnibólnabólnobólnabólnibólnibólnebólna
Genitivebólnegabólnebólnegabólnihbólnih
Dativebólnemubólnibólnemubólnimabólnim
Accusative+ nounnom or genbólnobólnobólnabólnibólnebólnebólna
− nounbólnegabólno /

bólnega

Locativebólnembólnibólnembólnihbólnih
Instrumentalbólnimbólnobólnimbólnimabólnimi
Vocativebólnibólnabólnobólnabólnibólnibólnebólna
styl. – stylistically marked

Second adjective declension (adjective declension without endings)

Some adjectives, especially the ones derived recently from loanwords ( bẹ̑ž 'beige', instȃnt 'instant', rọ̑za 'pink' – derived from Italian rosa or German rosa ) decline without changing the endings. When nominalized, they usually decline following third declensions. These adjectives also don't differentiate between definite and indefinite forms and the ending does not change when not followed by noun.

Second adjective declension endings
SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative---
Genitive---
Dative---
Accusative---
Locative---
Instrumental---
Vocative---

Accent

The accent is always fixed and does not change, except in vocative, where acute changes into circumflex.

SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativepocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Genitivepocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Dativepocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Accusativepocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Locativepocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Instrumentalpocẹ́nipocẹ́nipocẹ́ni
Vocativepocẹ̑nipocẹ̑nipocẹ̑ni

Words that can follow both declensions

Cardinal numerals from five onward can be declined both ways. Smaller numbers (up to 100) are usually declined using first declension ( pẹ̑t pétih/pẹ̑t 'five'), and bigger (1000 and onwards) using second declension ( milijọ̑n milijọ̑n/milijọ̑nih 'million'). Declining big numbers using first declension is really uncommon. Noun nȉč 'zero' can also be declined both ways. If the numeral is composed of more words, only the last one follows first declension (stọ̑ pẹ̑t, stọ̑ pétih 'one hundred five'). When all numerals are written with a number, they always follow second declension.

Indefinite numerals ending in -o and collective numerals ending in -o or -e can also decline both ways: kọ̄liko , kọ̄likih/kọ̄liko; petẹ̑ro , petẹ̑rih/petẹ̑ro.

Formation of adverbs

Adverbs formed from adjectives have an ending in -o for hard stems and -e for soft stems. If not otherwise noted, adverbs keep the same tone as the adjective in nominative singular neuter form (the second form in the given examples below). Adverbs formed from fixed and mobile accent adjectives keep accent on the stem, those derived from ending accent nouns or from those following the second form of mixed accents (with short accents on ending) have the accent on the ending, which is long circumflex for hard stems and short circumflex for soft stems. Adverbs formed from mobile and mixed or only mixed nouns following the first pattern (with long accents on endings) can have the accent either on the stem or the ending. If the ending accent was stylistically marked in neuter nominative singular form, it is not marked, just less common.

Adjectives ending in -ski, -ški, or -čki also have a stylistically marked form ending in -i.

Comparison

For all adjectives, comparative, superlative and elative are formed periphrastically, using the adverbs bȍlj 'more', nȁjbolj /nȃjbolj 'most', and prevȅč 'too (much)' or many other adverbs similar in meaning, respectively. For some adjectives, especially more basic or old ones, the comparative and superlative can also be formed with affixes. These can still be compared periphrastically, but the form with affixes is usually favored.

There are three affixes used to form the comparative: -ši, -ji and -ejši. Which one is used depends in a large part on the shape of the adjective's stem, although these are not hard rules and there are some exceptions. The superlative is formed from the comparative by prefixing nȁj- / nȃj- to it. Elative is formed from positive prefixng prȅ- to it. Elative can be formed periphrastically by all adjectives. If adjective can be compared periphrastically, this form is favored.

Adjectives ending in -ȁt ( bradȁt ), -ast ( kọ́drast ), -ȁv / -ȃv / -av ( klepetȁv ), -ən ( láčen ), participles and colors are usually compared periphrastically, but there are exceptions as some can also be compared with affixes, which are not favored. ( bẹ́l → bȍlj bẹ́l/belȇjši).

Compared adjectives declines as either always acute or always circumflex fixed accent adjectives. Some adjectives lack positive and elative form; these are then sorted in dictionaries by the comparative.

The suffix -ši is used with one-syllable adjectives ending in b, d or p, preceded by a vowel or /ər/. After a vowel, d becomes j, and after r it disappears altogether. The suffix is also used with adjectives ending in -ok or -ek, which is dropped in the comparative, and along with the previous changes, t also changes to j and other consonants are iotated.

The suffix -ji is used with one-syllable adjectives ending in g, h or k. In the comparative, these change to their palatalised variants ž, š and č respectively. The suffix is also used with adjectives ending in -ok or -ek preceded by one of these consonants. Again, the suffix is dropped and the final consonant is iotated. The stem is always circumflex, the only exception is the last example.

The suffix -ejši is used in all other cases, including one-syllable adjectives ending in more than one consonant or adjectives with more than one syllable. Some adjectives keep the accent on the stem, and is then the same as the stem accent in nominative singular neuter form, or the suffix may be circumflex accented -ȇjši with an open-mid vowel. The latter case is more typical for ending and mixed accent adjectives while the first form is more typical for fixed and mobile accent adjectives.

Comparison of adverbs

Adverbs compare the same way as adjectives do, but the š in the ending can be omitted, except in -ši (not preceded by j), and final i in the ending turns into e. Those declined with suffix -je, which have č, š, or ž before the ending can also have ending -e. Only the ending -ȇj(š)e allows accent on the ending, in other forms only fixed accent remains. The accent also changes the same way as with adjectives, the three exceptions are the last two examples, where comparative allows both accents.

  • lẹ́po / lepọ̑→ lẹ̑pše
  • krátko / kratkọ̑ → krȃjše / krȃje
  • drágo / dragọ̑ → drȃžje
  • nízko → nȋžje / nȋže
  • ljubeznívo → ljubeznívejše / ljubezníveje
  • temnọ̑ → temnȇjše / temnȇje
  • kọ́drast → bȍlj kọ́drast
  • láhko / lahkọ̑ → lāžje / lāže / lāglje (stylistically marked)
  • kásno / kasnọ̑ → kasnȇje / kāšnje (stylistically marked)

Accent of nominalized adjectives

Nominalized adjectives and adverbs that form a collocation with a preposition (such as od mlȃdega) 'since chiildhood'(lit. since young) are always circumflex if disyllabic and have accent on the first syllable in definite masculine nominative singular form. When nominalized nouns are a proper noun, then they are also circumflex. Otherwise, they keep accent the same.

Pronouns

Pronouns declined and therefore detailed here can be either nominal or adjectival and follow one of the respective declensions, although many of them are heavily irregular; these are detailed here.

Nominal Pronouns

Nominal pronouns, apart from personal pronouns are of two types; first are used to refer to people and are masculine gender, and other are used for everything else and are neuter gender. Exception are nominal pronouns which are the same gender as the noun they represent.

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns have in some cases up to four forms. The accusative, genitive and dative forms have stressed and unstressed forms; the stressed forms are used when particular emphasis is needed. The accusative also has a form used when preceded by a monosyllabic preposition, skọ̑zi 'through' (which is changed to skọ̑z-), or v 'in' (which is changed into vȃ-) that is combined with the preposition, such as na 'on' + me 'me', which are combined into nȃme 'on me' and v 'in, into' + [ti] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |3= (help) 'you', which are combined into vȃte 'into you'. Stressed combining form also exist, however they are considered archaic and do not actually combine with the preposition (for example, na mẹ́ 'on me'). Instead of combining forms, usual stressed forms can also be used.

Different forms are in the table below written as unstressed / streesed / combining / stressed combining. Note that not all pronouns have all expected forms in each case and number.

The first and second person singular pronouns are very irregular, and follow their own declension (second neuter declension). The nominative forms of the dual and plural have different forms for the genders, depending on who is speaking or who is being spoken to. In the case of the dual, the nominative developed from literally "we two" and "you two", although the other cases were inherited from Common Slavic. The combining forms exist only in singular.

The reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject or to some other word, and have only a single set of forms for all three numbers, which inflect like the first- and second-person singular pronouns. There is no nominative form.

1st person2nd personReflexive
Singular
mfnmfnmfn
Nominative jȁz tȋ —
Genitiveméne / metébe / tesébe / se
Dativeméni / mitébi / tisébi / si
Accusativeméne / me / -me / mẹ̑tébe / te / -te / tẹ̑sébe / se / -se / sẹ̑
Locativeménitébisébi
Instrumentalmenọ́j, mȃnotebọ́j, tȃbosebọ́j, sȃbo
Vocativejȁztȋ—
Possessive mọ́j mọ́ja mọ́je tvọ́j tvọ́ja tvọ́je svọ́j svọ́ja svọ́je
Dual
Nominative mȋdva mȇdve / mȋdve vȋdva vȇdve / vȋdve—
Genitivenȃju / najuvȃju / vajusébe / se
Dativenȃma / namavȃma / vamasébi / si
Accusativenȃju / najuvȃju / vajusébe / se / -se
Locativenȃjuvȃjusébi
Instrumentalnȃmavȃmasebọ́j, sȃbo
Vocativemȋdvamȇdve / mȋdvevȋdvavȇdve / vȋdve—
Possessive nȃjin nȃjina nȃjino vȃjin vȃjina vȃjino svọ́j svọ́ja svọ́je
Plural
Nominative mȋ mẹ̑ vȋ vẹ̑—
Genitivenȁs / nasvȁs / vassébe / se
Dativenȁm / namvȁm / vamsébi / si
Accusativenȁs / nasvȁs / vassébe / se / -se
Locativenȁsvȁssébi
Instrumentalnȃmivȃmisebọ́j, sȃbo
Vocativemȋmẹ̑vȋvẹ̑—
Possessive nȁš nȁša nȁše vȁš vȁša vȁše svọ́j svọ́ja svọ́je

The third-person pronouns inflect similar to the fourth declensions, but irregularly. Like in the first- and second-person pronouns, the accusative is the same as the genitive, and the ending -ih in the dual forms is replaced with -iju. The nominative is formed from a different stem than the other cases. The combining forms in masculine and neuter singular have two different versions, the latter being used when combining with a preposition that does not end with a vowel, which are skozi "through" (skozenj), pred "in from of, before" (predenj), and čez "over, in a certain amount of time" (čezenj).

SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative ȍn ónaóno (arch. onọ̑)ónadva / onȃdvaónidve / onẹ̑dveóni / onȋóne / onẹ̑óna / onȃ
Genitivenjéga / ganjẹ́ / jenjéga / ganjȋju, njȉh (arch. njȗ) / ju, jihnjȉh / jih
Dativenjému / munjēj, njȅj, njȉ / jinjému / munjȋma / jimanjȉm / jim
Accusativenjéga / ga / -nj, -enj [ən’]njọ̄ / jo /njonjéga / ga / -nj, -enj [ən’]njȋju, njȉh, (arch. njú) / ju / -njunjȉh, njé / jih / -nje / njẹ́, njȉh
Locativenjém (coll. njému)njēj, njȅj, njȉnjém (coll. njému)njȋjunjȉh
Instrumentalnjímnjọ́njímnjȋmanjȋmi
Vocativeȍnȏna / onȃȏno (arch. onọ̑)ȏnadva / onȃdvaȏnidve / onẹ̑dveȏni / onȋȏne / onẹ̑ȏna / onȃ
Possessive njegóv , njegȍv njẹ́n njegóv , njegȍv njún njīhov
Use of pronouns as a subject, stressed & undstressed forms

The subject in Slovene is often omitted when it consists only of personal pronouns, so use of them as a subject is not so common. As a subject, personal pronouns are used only in the following cases, which are the same as when a stressed form is used instead of the unstressed one:

  • To emphasize the subject: Ti mene ne boš učil! 'You won't teach me!'
  • If the subject has a grammatical modifier: Tudi jaz ne vem, kaj bi. 'I also don't know what to do."; Jaz, kralj XY, naročam … 'I, the King of XY, am commanding …'
  • When implying a difference: Tam je bil on, ne ti. 'He was there, not you.'
  • In some coordinate relations: Janez in jaz greva na grad. 'Janez and I are going to see the castle.', but Bil je tam. 'He was there.' and Ne vem, kaj bi. 'I don't know what to do' allow the omission.
  • After prepositions (except when combining form is used), stressed versions are used: k tebi '(run, walk, come etc.) to you', za mano 'behind me', zoper nje 'against her', brez vas 'without you (plural)'.

Interrogative nominal pronouns

The interrogative pronouns kdọ̄ 'who' and kāj 'what' have only singular forms, and have irregular stem changes. kaj also replaces the normal -g- in the genitive with -s-.

Nominative kdọ̄ kāj
Genitivekọ̄gačẹ̄sa
Dativekọ̄mučẹ̄mu
Accusativekọ̄gakāj
Locativekọ̄mčẹ̄m
Instrumentalkọ̄mčīm
Vocativekdọ̑kȃj

Relative nominal pronouns

The relative pronouns kdọ̑r /kdȍr 'who, that' and kȁr 'which, that' inflect like kdo and kaj, but add -r to the end of each form, adding a fill vowel if necessary. The ending -j is also dropped.

Nominative kdọ̑r / kdȍrkȁrkdọ̑rkọ̑li / kdȍrkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li
Genitivekọ̑garčẹ̑sarkọ̑garkọ̑ličẹ̑sarkọ̑li
Dativekọ̑murčẹ̑murkọ̑murkọ̑ličẹ̑murkọ̑li
Accusativekọ̑garkȁrkọ̑garkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li
Locativekọ̑merčẹ̑merkọ̑merkọ̑ličẹ̑merkọ̑li
Instrumentalkọ̑merčȋmerkọ̑merkọ̑ličȋmerkọ̑li
Vocativekdọ̑r / kdȍrkȁrkdọ̑rkọ̑li / kdȍrkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li

Relative indefinite pronouns

Relative indefinite pronouns kdọ̑rkọ̑li /kdȍrkọ̑li 'whoever' and kȁrkọ̑li 'whatever' are declined as kdor and kar, but with a suffix at the end, which can also be a separate word (kdor koli, kar koli).

Nominativekdọ̑rkọ̑li / kdȍrkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li
Genitivekọ̑garkọ̑ličẹ̑sarkọ̑li
Dativekọ̑murkọ̑ličẹ̑murkọ̑li
Accusativekọ̑garkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li
Locativekọ̑merkọ̑ličẹ̑merkọ̑li
Instrumentalkọ̑merkọ̑ličȋmerkọ̑li
Vocativekdọ̑rkọ̑li / kdȍrkọ̑likȁrkọ̑li

Indefinite nominal pronouns

The pronouns nekdọ̄ /nẹ̑kdo 'somebody' and nẹ̄kaj 'something' follow the declensions of kdo and kaj. Pronoun nekdo can also have a prefix pre-, which is declined the same: prenekdọ̄/prenẹ̑kdo 'quite a few people' prenekọ̄ga.

Nominative nekdọ̄ / nẹ̑kdo nẹ̄kaj
Genitivenekọ̄ganečẹ̄sa
Dativenekọ̄munečẹ̄mu
Accusativenekọ̄ganẹ̄kaj
Locativenekọ̄mnečẹ̄m
Instrumentalnekọ̄mnečīm
Vocativenekdọ̑nẹ̑kaj

Negative nominal pronouns

The pronouns nihčȅ /nȋhče 'nobody' and nȉč 'nothing' follow the declensions of kdor and kar, but the nominative and accusative are different. The pronoun nȋkdo is an archaic version of nihčȅ. The other forms are the same as nihče.

Nominative nihčȅ / nȋhče nȉč nȋkdo
Genitivenikọ̑garničẹ̑sarnikọ̑gar
Dativenikọ̑murničẹ̑murnikọ̑mur
Accusativenikọ̑garnȉčnikọ̑gar
Locativenikọ̑merničẹ̑mernikọ̑mer
Instrumentalnikọ̑merničȋmernikọ̑mer

Universal nominal pronouns

Integral pronoun vsȃkdo 'everyone' follows the declension of kdo, but vse 'everything' is irregular.

Nominativevsȃkdovsȅ
Genitivevsȃkogarvsȅga / vsegȁ
Dativevsȃkomurvsȅmu / vsemȕ
Accusativevsȃkogarvsȅ
Locativevsȃkomervsȅm
Instrumentalvsȃkomervsȅm
Vocativevsȃkdovsȅ

Manifold nominal pronouns

Manifold pronouns are formed by adding a prefix to the interrogative pronouns and are thus declined the same way. The prefix can be mȁrsi- 'quite a few', mnọ̑go- 'many' málo- 'few' or rẹ́dko- 'scarcely'; the last one can combine only with kaj. Prefixes malo and redko can also be written as a separate word (malo kaj, redko kdo).

Unspecified nominal pronouns

These are kdọ́ 'someone arbitrary' and kȁj 'something arbitrary', which are written and declined the same as interrogative pronouns, but interrogative kaj has a different accent. An example sentence is Vzemi si kaj za jesti. 'Grab something to eat.'. The difference between these pronouns and indefinite pronouns is that one is not obliged to do anything. In the example sentence, the subject is not obliged to grab anything, but in the sentence Vzemi si nekaj za jesti, which would be translated the same, the subject is obliged to grab something.

Nominative kdọ̄ kȁj
Genitivekọ̄gačẹ̄sa
Dativekọ̄mučẹ̄mu
Accusativekọ̄gakȁj
Locativekọ̄mčẹ̄m
Instrumentalkọ̄mčīm
Vocativekdọ̑kȁj

Adjectival pronouns

Most of the adjectival pronouns are regular and follow first adjective declension. Pronouns that follow second declension are čȋgar , čigȃvər , kọ̑likor , ki , nȉč , and precȇj . Pronoun nobȅn has, the same as ȅn , a different definite nominal singular form when nominalized – nobȅden .

Relative unspecified adjectival pronouns and demonstrative pronouns ending in -le

These pronouns are built from another pronoun by adding an undeclinable suffix -koli, -sibodi, -le, or -lele ( kȃkršenkọ̑li , kȃkršensibọ́di , tákle , tȃlele ). In these cases, the pronoun it consists of is declined as usual and the suffix is added at the end. Thus endings turn into infixes. (genitive singular masculine kȃkršnegakọ̑li, kȃkršnegasibọ́di, tákegale, tẹ̑galele). Pronouns ending in -sibodi can also be written in three words and those ending in -koli in two: kakršen si bodi, kakršen koli.

ta, ves, and oba

The demonstrative tȃ "this" inflects like an adjective, but -i- in the endings is replaced with -e-. Many of the forms have shortened alternatives, including cases of non-final short accents.

SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative tȃ tȃtọ̑tȃtȋtȋtȇtȃ
Genitivetẹ̑ga / tegȁtẹ̑tẹ̑ga / tegȁtẹ̑h / tȅhtẹ̑h / tȅh
Dativetẹ̑mu / temȕtȇj / tȅj / tȉtẹ̑mu / temȕtẹ̑ma / tȅmatẹ̑m / tȅm
Accusativenom or gentọ̑tọ̑tȃtȋtẹ̑tẹ̑tȃ
Locativetẹ̑m / tȅmtȇj / tȅj / tȉtẹ̑m / tȅmtẹ̑h / tȅhtẹ̑h / tȅh
Instrumentaltẹ̑m / tȅmtọ̑tẹ̑m / tȅmtẹ̑ma / tȅmatẹ̑mi
Vocativetȃtȃtọ̑tȃtȋtȋtȇtȃ

The word vȅs "all" and inflects much like tȃ, but it inflects as if it were a soft stem, having -e in the neuter nominative/accusative singular. All the accents are short, even those in a non-final syllable, where [ə] is pronounced.

SingularDualPlural
MasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuterMasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative vȅs vsȁvsȅvsȁvsȉvsȉvsȅvsȁ
Genitivevsȅga / vsegȁvsȅvsȅga / vsegȁvsȅhvsȅh
Dativevsȅmu / vsemȕvsȅj / vsȉvsȅmu / vsemȕvsȅmavsȅm
Accusativenom or genvsȍvsȅvsȁvsȉvsȅvsȅvsȁ
Locativevsȅmvsȅj / vsȉvsȅmvsȅhvsȅh
Instrumentalvsȅmvsȍvsȅmvsȅmavsȅmi
Vocativevȅsvsȁvsȅvsȁvsȉvsȉvsȅvsȁ

Numerals

Numeral ȅn 'one' and its derivatives have a definite form édən in nominative singular when nominalized, but others are the same. Numerals dvȃ 'two' and obȃ have -i- in endings replaced with -e- and numerals tríje 'three' and štírje 'four' have a different ending in nominative and accusative. Numeral tríje also changes the -i- in the ending to -e- in other cases. Other cardinal numerals have a null ending in all genders in nominative, vocative, and accusative (example pẹ̑t 'five'). Numeral stọ̑ (stem stót-) 'hundred' has a different form in nominative, vocative, and accusative, and open-mid vowel in numerals pẹ̑t (stem pét-) 'five', šẹ̑st (stem šést) 'six', sẹ̑dəm (stem sédm-) 'seven', ọ̑sem (stem ósm-) 'eight', devẹ̑t (stem devét-) 'nine', and desẹ̑t (stem desét-) 'ten' is changed to close-mid vowel in nominative. They also change the accent irregularly in nominative and accusative:

Dual
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominative obȃ / obȃdvaobẹ̑ / obẹ̑dve
Genitiveobẹ̄h / obẹ̄h dvẹ̄h (styl.)
Dativeobẹ̄ma / obẹ̄ma dvẹ̄ma (styl.)
Accusativeobȃ / obȃdvaobẹ̑ / obẹ̑dve
Locativeobẹ̄h / obẹ̄h dvẹ̄h (styl.)
Instrumentalobẹ̄ma / obẹ̄ma dvẹ̄ma (styl.)
Vocativeobȃ / obȃdvaobẹ̑ / obẹ̑dve
Dual
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativedvȃdvẹ̑
Genitivedvẹ̄h
Dativedvẹ̄ma
Accusativedvȃdvẹ̑
Locativedvẹ̄h
Instrumentaldvẹ̄ma
Vocativedvȃdvẹ̑
Plural
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativetríje / trijẹ̑trȋ
Genitivetrẹ̑h
Dativetrẹ̑m
Accusativetrȋtrȋ
Locativetrẹ̑h
Instrumentaltrẹ̑mi
Vocativetrȋje / trijẹ̑trȋ
Plural
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativeštírještíri
Genitiveštȋrih
Dativeštȋrim
Accusativeštirištíri
Locativeštȋrih
Instrumentalštȋrimi
Vocativeštȋrještȋri
Plural
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativepẹ̑tpẹ̑t
Genitivepétih
Dativepétim
Accusativepẹ̑tpẹ̑t
Locativepétih
Instrumentalpétimi
Vocativepẹ̑tpẹ̑t
Plural
MasculineFeminineNeuter
Nominativestọ̑stọ̑
Genitivestótih
Dativestótim
Accusativestọ̑stọ̑
Locativestótih
Instrumentalstótimi
Vocativestọ̑stọ̑

Note that this changes occur only when numerals follow first adjective declension. When following second declension, numerals have a nominative form throughout. For more information regarding which declension they follow, see section words that can follow both declensions.

Dialectal and obsolete declension changes

There are many dialectal changes, with the most common being:

Many different endings can also appear in general colloquial speech:

There are also some obsolete styles of declension lost in modern Slovene:

Declension with tone changes

In the southeastern part of Brda dialect, the modern vowel reduction was so developed that a new way of declining nouns was developed. Brda dialect lost the original tonal oppositions, but they developed them back in a new way, so more cases can be distinguished:

Masculine o-stem declension
SingularDualPlural
Nominatve-̑-̑a-́
Genitive-̑a-̑u
Dative-́-̑em ~ -̑əm
Accusativenom or gen-̑a-́
Locative-́-̑ix
Instrumental-̑əm-̑əm ~ -áːm
Vocative-̑-̑a-́
Neuter o-stem declension
SingularDualPlural
Nominatve-̑o-́
Genitive-̑a-̑
Dative-́-̑em ~ -̑əm
Accusative-̑o-́
Locative-́-̑ix
Instrumental-̑əm-̑əm ~ -áːm
Vocative-̑o-́
Feminine a-stem declension
SingularDualPlural
Nominatve-̑a-́
Genitive-́-̑
Dative-́-̑em
Accusative-́-́
Locative-́-̑ix
Instrumental-́-áːm
Vocative-̑a-́

A similar thing also happens with i-stem nouns when the ending is -i.

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References

General

Dialectal declension

Obsolete features

Examples

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