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
Audio for u-ending masculine nouns

 

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
Audio for ū-ending masculine nouns

 

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
Audio for u-ending neuter nouns
Last modified: Friday, 14 June 2024, 8:17 AM