5. Slavic historical morphology: nominal system

5.1. General

For detailed of the historical background of Slavic nominal inflection see Olander (2015), Ch. 3.

Balto-Slavic is generally very conservative from a morphological perspective, especially in the nominal inflection. The Balto-Slavic verbal system preserves many forms, but the system has been restructured.

In the oldest transmitted Slavic (as in Lithuanian) all the PIE cases except the ablative are preserved, i.e. nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental and locative, plus the vocative, which is perhaps better seen as a derived form (Andersen 2012).

Modern Bulgarian and Macedonian have lost the case system in nouns; pronouns have nominative, accusative and genitive–dative forms.

Proto-Balto-Slavic and Proto-Slavic preserve all three numbers of PIE: singular, dual, plural. Among the modern Slavic languages only Slovene, Lower Sorbian and Upper Sorbian preserve the dual category. The other languages preserve original dual forms, but not the dual category as such. Likewise, in modern standard Lithuanian, Latvian and Old Prussian the dual has disappeared, but the dual category is preserved in Old Lithuanian and in Lithuanian dialects.

The three genders of Proto-Core IE – masculine, feminine and neuter – are preserved in Proto-Balto-Slavic and Proto-Slavic. In Baltic the East Baltic languages (Lithuanian and Latvian) have lost the neuter, neuter nouns becoming masculine; the neuter is preserved in Old Prussian.

From a formal point of view, Proto-Balto-Slavic and Proto-Slavic had five basic noun paradigms: o-, u-, ah₂-, i- and consonant-stems (in PIE terms), with further sub-paradigms governed by gender. Moreover, the Common Slavic vowel palatalisations (3.4.2) lead to a split of the o-stems into o-stems and jo-stems (4.1.2; 4.1.4), and of the ah₂-stems into a-stems and ja-stems (4.1.5).

5.2. Consonant stems

PIE feminine r-stems (e.g. *‍dʰugh₂tér- ‘daughter’) and neuter n-stems (e.g. *‍u̯értmen- ‘turning’) have the following reflexes in Baltic and Slavic.

Table 25: The reflexes of the PIE consonant-stem endings in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
singular
nom.m–f *‍-ēr *‍-ēr duktė̃ *‍dukˈtī *‍dŭtjì dŭšti
nom–acc.n *‍-n̥ *‍-in OPr. semen *‍u̯ermin *‍vermę vrěmę
acc.m–f *‍-m̥ *‍‑im dùkterį *‍ˌdukteri *‍dŭ̏tjerĭ dŭšterĭ
gen–abl *‍-e/os (*‍‑s) *‍-es dukter̃s; OLith. dukterés *‍duktere *‍dŭtjere dŭštere, dŭšteri
dat *‍-ei̯ *‍-ei̯ dùkteriai *‍dukterei̯ *‍dŭtjeri dŭšteri
instr *‍-eh₁, *‍‑h₁ *‍-mi dukterimì *‍duktermi *‍dŭtjerĭjǫ dŭšterĭjǫ
loc *‍-∅, *‍-i *‍-i dukteryjè *‍dukteri *‍dŭtjere dŭštere, dŭšteri
dual
nom–acc.m–f *‍-h₁e *‍-e dùkteri; OLith. n-st. (du) żmûne *‍dukterī *‍dŭtjeri dŭšteri
nom–acc.n *‍-ih₁ *‍-ḭ̄ f akì *‍u̯ermenī *‍vermeni vrěmeni
gen *‍‑HoHs *‍-ā̆u̯ *‍dukterā̆u̯ *‍dŭtjeru dŭšteru, ‑iju
loc *‍-Hou̯
dat–abl–instr *‍-bʰi̯ah₂ *‍‑imā̰ dat akmenìm; instr akmenim̃ *‍dukterimā *‍dŭtjerĭma dŭšterĭma
plural
nom.m–f *‍-es *‍-es dùkterys, OLith. dúktęręs *‍duktere *‍dŭtjere dŭšteri, n-st. dĭne
nom–acc.n *‍(-V̄R)-∅, *‍(‑VC)-h₂ *‍-ḭ̄ *‍u̯ermenā *‍vermena vrěmena
acc.m–f *‍-m̥s *‍-ins dùkteris *‍ˌdukterī *‍dŭ̏tjerì dŭšteri
gen *‍‑(H)om *‍-am dukterų̃ *‍dukteru *‍dŭtjerŭ dŭšterŭ
dat–abl *‍‑bʰi̯os *‍-mas dukterìms *‍duktermə *‍dŭtjerĭmŭ dŭšteremŭ, n-st. kamenĭmŭ
instr *‍‑bʰi(H)s *‍-mḭ̄š dukterimìs; OLith. akmemis *‍duktermī *‍dŭtjerĭmi dŭšterĭmi
loc *‍-su *‍-su dukterysè *‍dukterxu *‍dŭtjerĭxŭ dŭšterexŭ, n-st. kamenĭxŭ

5.3. i-stems

The PIE i-stems have the following reflexes in Baltic and Slavic.

Table 26: The reflexes of the PIE i-stem endings in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
singular
nom.m–f *‍-is *‍-iš mintìs *‍ˌgasti *‍gȍstĭ gostĭ
acc *‍-im *‍-im miñtį *‍ˌgasti *‍gȍstĭ gostĭ
gen–abl *‍-ei̯s *‍-ei̯š mintiẽs *‍ˌgastei *‍gȍsti gosti
dat *‍-ei̯ *‍-ei̯ f miñčiai; m žvė́riui; dial. ãvie *‍ˌgastei̯ *‍gȍsti gosti
instr *‍-ih₁, *‍-i̯eh₁ *‍-imi minitimì *‍gastiˈmi m *‍gostĭ̀mi; f *‍kostĭjǫ̀ m gostĭmĭ; f kostĭjǫ
loc *‍-ēi̯ *‍-ēi̯ mintyjè *‍gastˈēi̯ *‍gostì gosti
voc. *‍-ei̯ *‍-ei̯ mintiẽ *‍ˌgastei̯ *‍gȍsti gosti
dual
nom–acc.m–f *‍-ih₁ *‍-ḭ̄ mintì *‍ˌgastī *‍gȍsti gosti
gen *‍-iHoHs *‍-ii̯au̯ *‍gastii̯au̯ *‍gostii̯au̯ gostĭju
loc *‍-iHou̯
dat–abl–instr *‍-ibʰi̯ah₂ *‍-imā̰ dat mintìm; instr mintim̃ *‍gastimā *‍gostĭmā gostĭma
plural
nom.m–f *‍-ei̯es *‍-es miñtys *‍ˌgastei̯e m *‍gȍstĭje; f *‍kȍstĭ m gostĭje; f kostĭ
acc *‍-ims *‍-ins mintìs *‍ˌgastī *‍gȍstĭ gosti
gen *‍‑ei̯(H)om, *‍-i̯om / *‍iHom *‍‑ei̯am, *‍‑i̯am minčių̃ *‍gasteˈi̯u *‍gostĭ̀ji gostii
dat–abl *‍-ibʰi̯o s *‍‑imas mintìms *‍gastiˈmə *‍gostĭ̀mŭ gostĭmŭ
instr *‍‑ibʰi(H)s *‍‑imḭ̄š mintimìs *‍gastiˈmī *‍gostĭmì gostĭmi
loc *‍-isu *‍‑išu mintysè; dial. akisù *‍gastiˈxu *‍gostĭ̀xŭ gostĭxŭ

5.4. u-stems

Table 27: The reflexes of the PIE u-stem endings in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
singular
nom.m-f *‍-us *‍-uš sūnùs *‍ˌsūnu *‍sy̑nŭ synŭ
acc *‍-um *‍-um sū́nų *‍ ˌsūnu *‍sy̑nŭ synŭ
gen–abl *‍-eu̯s *‍-au̯š sūnaũs *‍ ˌsūnau̯ *‍sy̑nu synu
dat *‍-eu̯ei̯ *‍-au̯ei̯ sū́nui *‍sūnaˈu̯ei̯ *‍synovì synovi
instr *‍-uh₁, *‍-u̯eh₁ *‍-umi sūnumì *‍sūnuˈmi *‍synŭ̀mi
loc *‍-eu̯i, *‍-ēu̯ *‍-āu̯ sūnujè *‍sūˈnāu̯ *‍synù synu
voc. *‍-eu̯ *‍-au̯ sūnaũ *‍ˌsūnāu̯ *‍sy̑nu synu
dual
nom–acc.m–f *‍-uh₁ *‍-ṵ̄ sū́nu *‍ˌsūnū *‍sy̑ny synu
gen *‍-uHoHs *‍-uu̯au̯ *‍sūnau̯au̯ *‍synovu synovu
loc *‍-uHou̯
dat–abl–instr *‍‑ubʰi̯ah₂ *‍-umā̰ dat sūnùm; instr sūnum̃ *‍sūnumā *‍synŭma synŭma
plural
nom.m–f *‍-eu̯es *‍-eu̯es sū́nus; dial. sū̃naus *‍ˌsūnau̯e *‍sy̑nove synove
acc *‍-ums *‍-uns sū́nus *‍ˌsūnū *‍sy̑ny syny
gen *‍‑eu̯(H)om, *‍-u̯om / *‍uHom *‍-au̯am, *‍‑u̯am sūnų̃ *‍sūnaˈu̯u *‍sy̑nòvŭ synovŭ
dat–abl *‍-ubʰi̯os *‍-umas sūnùms *‍sūnuˈmə *‍synŭ̀mŭ synomŭ; OESl. synŭmŭ
instr *‍‑ubʰi(H)s *‍-umḭ̄š sūnumìs; *‍sūnuˈmī *‍synŭmì synŭmi
loc *‍-usu *‍-ušu sūnuosè *‍sūnuˈxu *‍synŭ̀xŭ synoxŭ; OESl. synŭxŭ

5.5. ah₂-stems

The PIE ah₂-stems are preserved in Proto-Balto-Slavic and Proto-Slavic. Like the o-stems (5.6), with the vowel palatalisations (3.4.2) the ah₂-stems split into two paradigms in Common Slavic, the a-stems proper and the ja-stems (4.1.5).

PIE devī́ stems have preserved an independent form in the nominative singular, but otherwise became incorporated into the *‍i̯ah₂-stems.

The PIE ah₂-stems have the following reflexes in Baltic and Slavic.

Table 28: The reflexes of the PIE ah₂-stem endings in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
singular
nom *‍-ah₂ *‍-ā̰ galvà *‍naˈgā *‍nogà; *‍dušà glava; duša
nom (*‍-ih₂) *‍-ih₂ *‍-ḭ̄ patì *‍baˈgūni̯ī *‍bogy̋ńi bogyńi
acc *‍‑ah₂m̥, *‍‑ah₂m *‍-ām gálvą *‍ˌnagān *‍nȍgǫ; *‍dȗšǫ glavǫ; dušǫ
gen–abl *‍-ah₂s *‍-ā̰s galvõs *‍naˈgə̄ *‍nogỳ||ě̀; *‍dušě̀ glavy; dušę
dat *‍-ah₂ai̯ *‍-āi̯ gálvai *‍ˌnagāi̯ *‍nȍg||ʒě; *‍dȗši glavě; duši
instr *‍-ah₂(a)h₁ *‍-ā̰N gálva *‍nagān *‍nogǫ, *‍nogojǫ̀; *‍dušǫ, *‍dušejǫ̀ glavǫ, glavojǫ; dušǫ, dušejǫ
loc *‍-ah₂i, *‍‑ah₂i̯ *‍-ā̰i̯ galvojè *‍naˈgāi̯ *‍nog||ʒè̌; *‍dušì glavě; duši
voc. *‍-a *‍-a gálva *‍ˌnaga *‍nȍgo; *‍dȗše glavo; duše
dual
nom–acc *‍-ah₂ih₁ *‍-a̰i̯ gálvi *‍ˌnagāi̯ *‍nȍg||ʒě; *‍dȗši glavě; duši
gen *‍-ah₂HoHs *‍-āu̯ *‍nagāu̯ *‍nogu; *‍dušu glavu; dušu
loc *‍-ah₂Hou̯
dat–abl–instr *‍‑ah₂bʰi̯ah₂ *‍-ā̰mā̰ datgalvóm;
instrgalvõm
*‍naˈgāmā *‍noga̋ma; *‍duša̋ma galvama; dušama
plural
nom *‍-ah₂as *‍-ās gálvos *‍ˌnagə̄ *‍nȍgy||ě; *‍dȗšě galvy; dušę
acc *‍-ah₂m̥s *‍-āns gálvas *‍ˌnagə̄n *‍nȍgy||ě; *‍dȗšę||ě glavy; dušę
gen *‍‑ah₂(H)om *‍-ōm galvų̃ *‍naˈgu *‍nògŭ; *‍dúšĭ glavŭ; dušĭ
dat–abl *‍ -ah₂bʰi̯os *‍-ā̰mas galvóms *‍naˈgāmə *‍noga̋mŭ; *‍duša̋mŭ glavamŭ; dušamŭ
instr *‍‑ah₂bʰi(H)s *‍-ā̰mḭ̄š galvomìs *‍naˈgāmī *‍noga̋mi; *‍duša̋mi glavami; dušami
loc *‍-ah₂su *‍-ā̰su galvosè *‍naˈgāxu *‍noga̋xŭ; *‍duša̋xŭ glavaxŭ; dušaxŭ

5.6. o-stems

The Indo-European o-stems have the following reflexes in Baltic and Slavic.

Table 29: The reflexes of the PIE o-stem endings in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
singular
nom.m *‍-os *‍-as lángas *‍ˌtakə *‍tȍkŭ||e; *‍gȍjĭ plodŭ; konjĭ
nom–acc.n pron. *‍‑od (subst. *‍‑om) pron. *‍-a šálta *‍ˌsuta *‍sŭ̏to; *‍pȍlje město; polje
acc.m *‍-om *‍ˌ-am lángą *‍ˌtaku *‍tȍkŭ; *‍gȍjĭ gradŭ; konjĭ
ablgen *‍-ah₂ad *‍ lángo *‍ˌtakā *‍tȍka; *‍gȍja grada; konja
dat *‍-oei̯ *‍-ōi̯ lángui *‍ˌtakāu̯ *‍tȍku; *‍gȍju gradu; konju
instr *‍-o/eh₁ / *‍-oeh₁ ? *‍-ō̰ lángu *‍taˈkā *‍tȍko||ŭmĭ; *‍gȍje||ĭmĭ gradomĭ; konjemĭ
loc *‍-oi̯ *‍-ai̯ langè *‍ˌtakai̯ *‍tȍk||cě; *‍gȍji gradě; konji
voc. *‍-e *‍-e lánge *‍ˌtake *‍tȍče; *‍gȍju grade; konju
dual
nom–acc.m *‍-oh₁ ? *‍-ō̰ lángu *‍ˌtakā *‍tȍka; *‍gȍja grada; konja
nom–acc.n *‍-oi̯h₁ *‍-ai̯ *‍ˌsutai̯ *‍sŭ̏tě; *‍pȍlji sŭtě; polji
gen *‍-oHoHs *‍‑āu̯ *‍takāu̯ *‍toku; *‍goju gradu; konju
loc *‍-oHou̯
dat–abl–instr *‍-obʰi̯ah₂ *‍-amā̰ datlangám;
instrlangam̃
*‍takamā *‍tokoma; *‍gojema gradoma; konjema
plural
nom.m pron. *‍-oi̯ (subst. *‍-oes) *‍-ai̯ langaĩ *‍ˌtakəi̯ *‍tȍk||ci; *‍gȍji gradi; konji
nom–acc.n *‍-ah₂ *‍-ā̰ keturiólika (num.) *‍sutˈā *‍sŭtà; *‍poljà města; polja
acc.m *‍-ōms *‍-ōns lángus *‍ˌtakə̄n *‍tȍky||ě; *‍gȍję||ě grady; konję
gen *‍‑o(H)om *‍-ōm langų̃ *‍taˈku *‍tòkŭ; *‍gòjĭ gradŭ; konjĭ
dat–abl *‍-obʰi̯os *‍-amas langáms *‍takaˈmə *‍tokòmŭ; *‍gojèmŭ gradomŭ; konjemŭ
instr *‍-ōi̯s *‍-ōi̯š langaĩs *‍taˈkū *‍tokỳ; *‍gojì grady; konji
loc *‍-oi̯su *‍-ai̯šu languosè *‍takai̯ˈxu *‍tok||cé̌xŭ; *‍gojíxŭ graděxŭ; konjixŭ

5.7. Personal pronouns

Table 30: The reflexes of the PIE first-person singular pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍h₁ég̑ *‍ˈeś, *‍ˈḛ̄źam àš, dial. *‍ˈēzu *‍ja̋zŭ; *‍ azŭ
acc *‍; encl. *‍me *‍mēm manè *‍mēn *‍ , mene
gen–abl *‍méne *‍mene manę̃s *‍ˌmene *‍mȅne mene
dat ton. *‍még̑ʰi *‍me/uni mán *‍muˈnāi̯ *‍mŭně̀ mĭně
gen–dat encl. *‍me/oi̯ dat *‍mei̯ OLith. ‑mi *‍mei̯ *‍mi mi
instr manimì, manim̃ *‍muˈnai̯ān / *‍munai̯ˈān *‍mŭnòjǫ /*‍mŭnojǫ̀ mŭnojǫ
loc manyje, manỹ(j) *‍muˈnāi̯ *‍mŭně̀ mĭně
Table 31: The reflexes of the PIE second-person singular pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍túH *‍ˈtṵ̄, *‍ˈtu *‍ˌtū *‍ty̑ ty
acc *‍tu̯é; encl. *‍te *‍tēm tavè *‍tēn *‍ , tebe
gen–abl *‍téu̯e *‍tau̯e tavę̃s *‍ˌtebe *‍tȅbe tebe
dat ton. *‍tébʰi *‍tebi táu *‍te/aˈbāi̯ *‍te/obě̀ tebě
gen–dat encl. *‍te/oi̯ dat *‍tei̯ OLith. -ti *‍tei̯ *‍ti ti
instr tavimì, tavim̃ *‍taˈbai̯ān / *‍tabai̯ˈān *‍tobòjǫ / *‍tobojǫ̀ tobojǫ
loc tavyjè, tavỹ(j) *‍te/aˈbāi̯ *‍te/obě̀̀ tebě
Table 32: The reflexes of the PIE first-person dual pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍u̯éh₁ *‍u̯ḛ̄, *‍u̯e m mùdu, fmùdvi *‍u̯ē *‍
acc ton. *‍n̥h₃u̯é *‍nō̰ acc–dat encl. *‍ *‍na acc na, ny
obl encl. *‍noh₃
gen mùdviejų *‍ˈnāi̯āu̯ *‍na̋ju naju
dat–abl–instr mùdviem *‍ˈnāmā *‍na̋ma nama
loc mùdviese *‍ˈnāi̯āu̯ *‍na̋ju naju
Table 33: The reflexes of the PIE second-person dual pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍i̯úH *‍i̯ṵ̄, *‍i̯u ? mjùdu, fjùdvi *‍u̯ū *‍vy vy, va
acc ton. *‍uh₃u̯é *‍u̯ō̰ acc–dat encl. *‍u̯ā *‍va acc va, vy
obl encl. *‍u̯oh₃
gen jùdviejų *‍ˈu̯āi̯āu̯ *‍va̋ju vaju
dat–abl–instr jùdviem *‍ˈu̯āmā *‍va̋ma vama
loc jùdviese *‍ˈu̯āi̯āu̯ *‍va̋ju vaju
Table 34: The reflexes of the PIE first-person plural pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍u̯éi̯ *‍ˈmei̯ ? mẽs *‍ˌmū *‍my̑ my
acc ton. *‍n̥smé
obl encl. *‍nō̆s *‍nōs mùs acc–dat encl. *‍nə̄ *‍ny ny
gen mū́sų, mū́s *‍ˈnāsu *‍na̋sŭ nasŭ
dat–abl mùms *‍ˈnāmə *‍na̋mŭ namŭ
instr mumìs, mum̃s *‍ˈnāmī *‍na̋mi nami
loc mumysę *‍ˈnāsu *‍na̋su nasŭ
Table 35: The reflexes of the PIE second-person plural pronouns in Slavic.
PIE PBS Lith. PS CS OCS
nom *‍i̯úHs *‍ˈi̯ṵ̄š jū̃s *‍ˌu̯ū *‍vy̑ vy
acc ton. *‍usmé *‍u̯ōs jùs *‍u̯ə̄ (acc–dat encl.) *‍vy vy
obl encl. *‍u̯ō̆s
gen jū́sų, jū́s *‍ˈu̯āsu *‍va̋sŭ vasŭ
dat–abl jùms *‍ˈu̯āmə *‍va̋mŭ vamŭ
instr jumìs, jum̃s *‍ˈu̯āmī *‍va̋mi vami
loc jumysę *‍ˈu̯āsu *‍va̋su vasŭ

5.8. Adjectives

5.8.1. Stem-formation

In OCS, adjectives are inflected as (i̯)o-stems in the masculine and neuter and as (i̯)ah₂-stems in the feminine. In the present and preterite participle active, comparatives and in the number ‘four’ there are traces of consonant-stem declension (Vaillant 1958: 495).

Certain forms are indeclinable but behave syntactically like adjectives.

They are often considered to be direct reflexes of i-stem adjectives but perhaps are instead adverbs formed on the basis of the neuter accusative singular of i-stem adjectives (Majer 2018).

While u-stem adjectives are common in Baltic, in Slavic they have been extended with a suffix *‍-ko-.

Comparatives to original u-stems do not display the *‍-ko- extension.

Comparatives are generally built on the basis of PIE *‍-i̯es-/*‍-i̯os-/*‍-is-, in Slavic changed to *‍-i̯is-.

Most comparatives are extended with -ě-, which possibly goes back to a Balto-Slavic adverbial formation in *‍, which has otherwise disappeared in Slavic; but it is not unambiguous (Vaillant 1958: 569).

Superlatives are not found as an inflectional category in Common Slavic. An absolute superlative (elative; ‘super-new, entirely new’) is formed from a comparative with the Common Slavic prefix *‍per-.

To express a relative superlative (‘newest’) the comparative form is used.

Occasionally and almost only in adverbial use, such forms may be reinforced with the prefix CS *‍najĭ-.

5.8.2. Short and long forms of the adjectives

Common Slavic adjectives have a short and a long form. The short forms are declined as substantival (i̯)o-/(i̯)ah₂-stems.

The long form, which shows definiteness, originally consisted of the short form plus the PS pronoun *‍i̯a-.

Over the course of the Common Slavic period the adjective and pronoun fused, leading to a new adjective paradigm that cannot be synchronically derived from the individual elements, e.g. CS gen.sg.f *‍novy-jeję > novyję.