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Nouns ending in -a
This is the most common category of nouns in Pali. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most irregular.
These nouns can be masculine or neuter.
For the most part, these nouns decline according to Basic Pattern A. Exceptions are in bold below.
Direct cases
| Case | Masc. Singular | Masc. Plural | Neut. Singular | Neut. Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nom | -o | -ā | -aṃ | -āni |
| Voc | -a | -ā | -aṃ | -āni |
| Acc | -aṃ | -e | -aṃ | -āni |
Oblique cases
| Case | Singular (Masc / Neut) | Plural (Masc / Neut) |
|---|---|---|
| Dat | -assa / -āya | -ānaṃ |
| Gen | -assa | -ānaṃ |
| Ins | -ena | -ehi |
| Abl | -ā / -smā / -mhā | -ehi |
| Loc | -e / -smiṃ / -mhi | -esu |
Note that the Dative ending -āya is generally only used for the dative of purpose.
Nouns ending in -ā
These nouns are feminine. They decline regularly following Basic Pattern A.
Direct cases
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nom / Voc | -ā | -ā, -āyo |
| Acc | -aṃ | -ā, -āyo |
Oblique cases
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Dat / Gen | -āya | -ānaṃ |
| Ins / Abl | -āya | -ehi |
| Loc | -āya / -āyaṃ | -esu |