Gothic/2/Declension

Gothic Nouns
Gothic nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. All Gothic nouns change their ending depending on the case and gender. To further simplify Gothic nouns, we can put them into groups that share the same ending. These groups are called noun declensions. Gothic noun declensions are divided into seven distinct groups: a-declensions, o-declensions, i-declensions, u-declensions, r-declensions, and weak declensions. There is also a class of minor declensions.

The a-declension
The Gothic a-declension consists of masculine and neuter nouns. This class corresponds to the Latin and Greek second declension (Latin -us, -um; Greek ος, ον). Furthermore, this class is subdivided into pure a-stems, ja-stems, and wa-stems.

Ja-stems
Ja-stems decline the same as pure a-stems, but with a -j preceding. Within the ja-stems, a distinction is made between those with a long syllable and those with a short syllable.

Wa-stems
Wa-stems nouns decline just like pure a-stems, but with -w.

O-stems
This declension only contains feminine nouns and corresponds to the Latin and Greek first declension (Latin -a, -am; Greek -η, ην). Just like a-stems, it is subdivided into pure o-stems, jo-stems, and wo-stems.

Jo-stems
Jo-stems decline just like pure o-stems, but with -j. Short stem jo-stems decline the same as pure o-stems.

Long syllable jo-stem have a different nominative singular ending in -i:

Wo-stems
Wo-stems decline just like pure o-stems.

I-Declension
The i-declension contains both masculine and feminine nouns.

Abstract nouns ending in -eins are declined like feminine i-stem nouns.

U-Declension
The u-declension contains all genders. Both masculine and feminine nouns decline the same. Only a few neuter u-declension nouns are extant and no plural exist.

Weak Declension
Masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns belong to this declension.

An-Declension
Weak masculine and neuter nouns belong to this declension.

On-Declension
This declension is the feminine counterpart of the an declension.

R-Declension
A few family nouns inherited from Proto-Indo-European have a very archaic declension. Feminines and masculines have identical forms.

-Nd Declension
These nouns are old present participles, corresponding to nouns in -nt in Latin and Greek.

Consonant Declension
These nouns correspond to the consonant declensions in Latin and Greek (in both cases, part of the third declension). Only traces of masculines are extant, but feminines are fairly well attested.