u & ū-ending Masculine and Neuter Nouns
Declension of u-ending Masculine Nouns
u-ending Masculine Noun: bhikkhu
bhikkhu = monk
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Paṭhamā (Nominative) |
bhikkhu | bhikkhū, bhikkhavo |
| Dutiyā (Accusative) |
bhikkhuṃ | bhikkhū, bhikkhavo |
| Tatiyā (Instrumental) |
bhikkhunā | bhikkhūhi, bhikkhūbhi |
| Catutthī (Dative) |
bhikkhuno, bhikkhussa | bhikkhūnaṃ |
| Pañcamī (Ablative) |
bhikkhunā, bhikkhusmā, bhikkhumhā | bhikkhūhi, bhikkhūbhi |
| Chaṭṭhī (Genitive) |
bhikkhuno, bhikkhussa | bhikkhūnaṃ |
| Sattamī (Locative) |
bhikkhusmiṃ, bhikkhumhi | bhikkhusu, bhikkhūsu |
| Ālapana (Vocative) |
bhikkhu | bhikkhū, bhikkhavo, bhikkhave* |
* This form is specific to the noun bhikkhu.
Some other u-ending masculine nouns which decline like bhikkhu are :
- setu = bridge
- ketu = flag, banner;
- bhānu = sun,
- maccu = death,
- veḷu = bamboo
- sindhu = sea,
- jantu = creature, being;
- hetu = reason,
- pharasu = axe,
- bāhu = arm,
- sattu = enemy,
- bandhu = relative, a relation;
- garu = big, teacher
Declension of ū-ending Masculine Nouns
ū-ending Masculine Noun: vidū
vidū = wise person
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Paṭhamā (Nominative) |
vidū | vidū, viduno |
| Dutiyā (Accusative) |
viduṃ | vidū, viduno |
| Tatiyā (Instrumental) |
vidunā | vidūhi, vidūbhi |
| Catutthī (Dative) |
viduno, vidussa | vidūnaṃ |
| Pañcamī (Ablative) |
vidunā, vidusmā, vidumhā | vidūhi, vidūbhi |
| Chaṭṭhī (Genitive) |
viduno, vidussa | vidūnaṃ |
| Sattamī (Locative) |
vidusmiṃ, vidumhi | vidūsu |
| Ālapana (Vocative) |
vidu, vidū | vidū, viduno |
Some other ū-ending masculine nouns which decline like vidū are :
- maggaññū = one who knows the path,
- atthaññū = one who knows meaning or what is good / beneficial,
- sabbaññū = omniscient, all-knowing;
- mattaññū = one who knows the measure / limit, moderate;
- kālaññū = one who knows proper time,
- dhammaññū = one who knows the doctrine / teachings,
- kataññū = grateful,
- pāragū = gone beyond, crossed;
- vedagū = one who has attained the highest knowledge, an arahant
Declension of u-ending Neuter Nouns
u-ending Neuter Noun: cakkhu
cakkhu = eye
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Paṭhamā (Nominative) |
cakkhu | cakkhū, cakkhūni |
| Dutiyā (Accusative) |
cakkhuṃ | cakkhū, cakkhūni |
| Ālapana (Vocative) |
cakkhu | cakkhū, cakkhūni |
Please note :
• The declension of u-ending neuter nouns is similar to that of u-ending the masculine noun ‘bhikkhu’ with respect to Instrumental to Locative cases.
• There are not many ū-ending neuter nouns in Pali. These nouns follow a similar declension pattern to that of u-ending neuter nouns.
Some other u-ending neuter nouns which decline like cakkhu are :
- vasu = wealth,
- dhanu = a bow (from bow & arrow),
- ambu = water,
- jānu / jāṇu = knee,
- dāru = wood, fire-wood;
- madhu = honey,
- vatthu = site, ground, field; object, substance; story
- assu = a tear