The grammar of the Slovincian language is characterized by a high degree of inflection, a lack of articles, and vowel, consonant, and stress alternations.
Slovincian has an inflectional system mostly inherited from Proto-Slavic, with many innovations.
Nouns Slovincian has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter; three numbers: singular, dual, and plural; and seven cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, locative, and vocative.
The vocative is largely replaced by the nominative, but masculine animate singular and a few feminine singular nouns retain it.
The genitive-locative dual has been almost entirely replaced by the plural equivalents, and only few words kept their original forms, e.g.: rãˈkʉ ("hand, arm") nôˈgʉ ("foot, leg") wôˈczʉ ("eye") wùˈszʉ ("ear")
The nominative-accusative-vocative dual is found with masculine and feminine nouns and also with monosyllabic neuter stems in stems with non-alternating final consonants ending with ⟨-ô⟩ and in the word ˈjajê ("egg"). The dative-instrumental dual only occurs with monosyllabic stems.
Nouns can either have non-alternating final stem consonants or alternating final stem consonants. The non-alternating consonants are ⟨s, z, sz, cz, ż, dż, rz, l, j⟩, and the alternating consonants are ⟨p, b, f, v, t, d, k, g, ch, gh, m, n, r⟩.
Masculine nouns Masculine nouns can end in alternating (⟨p, b, f, v, t, d, k, g, ch, gh, m, n, r⟩) and non-alternating (⟨s, z, sz, ż, rz, l, j⟩) consonants, a consonant ending with ⟨-a⟩ (opa), and alternating consonants ending with ⟨-ë⟩ (kamë). The last group is small and shows an irregular alternation in the non-nominative cases in the singular and all cases in the plural: ˈkamë, ˈkamjen ("stone") > ˈkamjenja (). Compare . ˈplômë, ˈplômjen ("flame"). Compare
A few masculine nouns ending in alternating consonants add ⟨j⟩ to the stem when declined. Some nouns with ⟨ej⟩ will add ⟨j⟩, others will not. ˈkóń ("horse") > ˈkônja () ˈmej ("May") > ˈmejjú () ˈroj ("swarm of bees") > ˈrôjú ()
Many masculine nouns whose stem ends in ⟨c⟩ and ⟨z⟩ alternate with ⟨cz⟩ and ⟨ż⟩ in the vocative singular.
Ending in a consonant + Masculine nouns ending in a consonant Stressed Non-stressed Singular Plural Dual Singular Plural Dual animate inanimate virile nonvirile animate inanimate virile nonvirile Nominative -∅ -ˈë, -ˈê -ˈa -∅ -ë, -i, -ôwje -a Genitive -ˈa, -ˈú -ˈó, -ˈy = -a, -ú -ó, -∅, -i = Dative -ˈú -ˈóm -ˈôma -ú, -ôjú, -ejú -óm (-im) -ôma Accusative -ˈa -∅ -ˈó -ˈë -ˈa -a -∅ -ó -ë, -i -a Instrumental -ˈã -amˈy (-ˈmy, -ˈy) -ˈôma -ã -amy (-my, -i) -ôma Locative -ˈú, -ˈê -ˈach (-ˈéch) = -ú, -ê -ach (-éch, -ich) = Vocative-ˈú -ˈë, -ˈê -ˈa -ú, -ê = -a
Examples: + chlôp "man" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈchlôp∅ ˈchlôpji/ˈchlôpë ˈchlôpa Genitive ˈchlôpa ˈchlôp∅/ˈchlôpó = Dative ˈchlôpú/ˈchlôpôjú ˈchlôpóm ˈchlôpôma Accusative ˈchlôpa ˈchlôpó ˈchlôpa Instrumental ˈchlôpã ˈchlôpy/ˈchlôpmy/ˈchlôpamy ˈchlôpôma Locative ˈchlôpjê ˈchlôpjéch/ˈchlôpach = Vocative ˈchlôpjê = =
+ brat "brother" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈbrat∅ ˈbracë/ˈbratë/ˈbraco ˈbrata Genitive ˈbrata ˈbrató = Dative ˈbratú ˈbratóm ˈbratôma/ˈbratma Accusative ˈbrata ˈbrató ˈbrata Instrumental ˈbratã ˈbraty/ˈbratmy/ˈbratamy ˈbratôma/ˈbratma Locative ˈbracê ˈbracéch/ˈbratach = Vocative ˈbracê = =
+ brzég "edge, shore" (inanimate) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈbrzég∅ ˈbrzêgji ˈbrzêga Genitive ˈbrzêgú ˈbrzêgó = Dative ˈbrzêgú ˈbrzêgóm ˈbrzêgôma Accusative ˈbrzég∅ ˈbrzêgji ˈbrzêga Instrumental ˈbrzêgã ˈbrzêgamy ˈbrzêgôma Locative ˈbrzêgú ˈbrzêgach = Vocative = = =
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ wól "ox, steer" (animal)
! Singular || Plural || Dual |- ! Nominative | ˈwól∅ || ˈwôlôwje/ˈwôlë || ˈwôla |- ! Genitive | ˈwôla || ˈwôló || = |- ! Dative | ˈwôlôjú || ˈwôlóm || ˈwôlôma/ˈwólma|- ! Accusative | ˈwôla || ˈwôlë || ˈwôla|- ! Instrumental | ˈwôlã || wôlaˈmy/ˈwólmy || ˈwôlôma/ˈwólma|- ! Locative | ˈwôlú || ˈwôlach || = |- ! Vocative | ˈwôlê || = || =
+ pjês "dog" (masculine animal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈpjês∅ ˈpsë ˈpsa Genitive ˈpsa ˈpsó = Dative ˈpsú ˈpsóm ˈpsëma Accusative ˈpsa ˈpsë ˈpsa Instrumental ˈpsã psˈmy/psaˈmy ˈpsëma Locative ˈpsú ˈpsach = Vocative psˈú = =
+ lên "flax" (inanimate) Singular Nominative ˈlên∅ Genitive ˈlnú Dative ˈlnú Accusative ˈlên∅ Instrumental ˈlnã Locative ˈlnê Vocative =
+ ksõdz "(chrisian) priest" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈksõdz∅ ˈksãzɵwje/ˈksãzä ˈksãza Genitive ˈksãza ksąˈzó = Dative ˈksãzú/ˈksãzôjú/ˈksãzejú ksãˈzóm ˈksãzôma/ˈksãzema Accusative ˈksãza ksãˈzó ˈksãza Instrumental ˈksãzã ksãzˈmï/ksãzˈamy ˈksãzôma/ˈksãzema Locative ˈksãzú ksãˈzach = Vocative ˈksãzê ˈksãza =
+ kóń "horse" (animal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈkóń∅ ˈkônji/ˈkônjë ˈkônja Genitive ˈkônja ˈkônjy/ˈkônjó = Dative ˈkônjú/ˈkônjejú/ˈkônjôjú ˈkônjim/ˈkônjóm ˈkônjema/ˈkônjôma Accusative ˈkônja ˈkônjë ˈkônja Instrumental ˈkônjã ˈkônjamy/ˈkônjmy/ˈkônjymy ˈkônjema/ˈkônjôma Locative ˈkônjú ˈkônjich/ˈkônjach = Vocative = = =
+ kjêrz "bush, shrub" (inanimate) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈkjˈêrz∅ ˈkrzê ˈkrza Genitive ˈkrza ˈkrzó = Dative ˈkrzú ˈkrzóm = Accusative ˈkjêrz∅ ˈkrzê ˈkrza Instrumental ˈkrzã krzaˈmy = Locative ˈkrzú ˈkrzach = Vocative = = =
+ gôsc "guest" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈgôsc∅ ˈgôscë ˈgôsca Genitive ˈgôsca gôsˈcó = Dative ˈgôscú/ˈgôscôjú/ˈgôscejú gôsˈcóm ˈgôscma/ˈgôscôma/ˈgôscema Accusative ˈgôsca gôsˈcó ˈgôsca Instrumental ˈgôscã gôscˈmy/gôscaˈmy ˈgôscma/ˈgôscôma/ˈgôscema Locative ˈgôscú gôsˈcach = Vocative ˈgôscú = =
+ mjêszczón "burgher" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈmjêszczón∅ ˈmjêszczónjë/ˈmjêszczónjë ˈmjêszczóna/ˈmjêszczana Genitive ˈmjêszczóna/ˈmjêszczana mjêszˈczón∅/mjêszˈczanó = Dative ˈmjêszczónú/ˈmjêszczónôjú mjêszˈczanóm = Accusative ˈmjêszczóna/ˈmjêszczóna mjêszˈczanó ˈmjêszczóna/ˈmjêszczana Instrumental ˈmjêszczónã/ˈmjêszczanã mjêszˈczanmy/mjêszˈczanamy/mjêszˈczany = Locative ˈmjêszczónjê/ˈmjêszczanjê mjêszˈczanach = Vocative ˈmjêszczónjê/ˈmjêszczanjê = =
+ kam/kamä/kamjêń "rock, stone" (inanimate) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈkam∅/ˈkamä∅/ˈkamjêń∅ ˈkamjênjë ˈkamjênja Genitive ˈkamjênja kaˈmjênjó = Dative ˈkamjênjú kaˈmjênjóm = Accusative ˈkam∅/ˈkamä∅/ˈkamjênj∅ ˈkamjênjë ˈkamjênja Instrumental ˈkamjênjã kaˈmjenjmy/kaˈmjênjamy = Locative ˈkamjênjê/kaˈmjênjú kaˈmjênjach = Vocative = = =
+ dzeń "day" (inanimate) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈdzeń∅ ˈdnji ˈdnja Genitive ˈdnja ˈdnjó/ˈdnjy = Dative ˈdnjú ˈdnjóm ˈdnjôma Accusative ˈdzeń∅ ˈdnji ˈdnja Instrumental ˈdnjã dnjaˈmy ˈdnjôma Locative ˈdnjú ˈdnjach = Vocative = = =
Ending with ⟨-a⟩ + Masculine nouns ending with ⟨-a⟩ Non-stressed Singular Plural Dual virile nonvirile Nominative -a -ë, -ôwje -a Genitive -ë, -i, -a -ó, -∅ = Dative -ê, -ôjú, -ejú -óm (-im) -ôma Accusative -ã -ó, -∅ -ë -a Instrumental -õ, -ã -amy (-my, -y) -ôma Locative -y -ú, -ê -ach (-éch, -ich) = Vocative -ú, -ë = -aExamples:+ opa "monkey" (animal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈopa ˈopë ˈopa Genitive ˈopë/ˈopa ˈopó = Dative ˈopjê/ˈopôjú ˈopóm ˈopôma Accusative ˈopã ˈopë ˈopa Instrumental ˈopõ ˈopamy/ˈopmy ˈopôma Locative ˈopjê ˈopach = Vocative ˈopjê = =
+ bùla "bull" (animal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈbùla ˈbùlë ˈbùla Genitive ˈbùlë bùˈló = Dative ˈbùlôjú bùˈlóm ˈbùlôma Accusative ˈbùlã ˈbùlë ˈbùla Instrumental ˈbùlõ/ˈbùlã bùlaˈmy ˈbùlôma Locative bùˈlú bùˈlach = Vocative ˈbùlú = =
+ twórca "creator" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈtwórca ˈtwórcôwje ˈtwórca Genitive ˈtwórcë/ˈtwórca ˈtwórcó = Dative ˈtwórcôjú/ˈtwórcejú ˈtwórcóm ˈtwórcôma Accusative ˈtwórcã ˈtwórcä ˈtwórca Instrumental ˈtwórcõ/ˈtwórcã ˈtwórcamy ˈtwórcôma Locative ˈtwórcú ˈtwórcach = Vocative ˈtwórcú = =
+ nożênja "bridegroom" (personal) Singular Plural Dual Nominative noˈżênja ˈnożênjë = Genitive noˈżênjë noˈżênjó = Dative ˈnożênjejú/ˈnożênjôjú noˈżênjóm = Accusative ˈnożênjã noˈżênjó = Instrumental ˈnożênjõ noˈżênjamy = Locative noˈżênjú noˈżênjach = Vocative noˈżênja = =
Feminine nouns Feminine nouns can end in a consonant, ⟨-a⟩, and ⟨-o⟩.
Feminine nouns ending in non-alternating consonants always add ⟨-j-⟩ to non-nominative cases except the genitive plural, which takes -∅. ˈdlon ("open palm"), ˈdlonjë (genitive singular), ˈdlon (genitive plural)
A few feminine nouns end in ⟨-i⟩, ⟨-ëw⟩ (⟨-ew⟩), and ⟨-wja⟩. There are two nouns that end in ⟨-ë⟩ and two nouns that end in ⟨-é⟩: ˈcérkwji, ˈcérkjëw, ˈcérkwja ("church") (Compare ) polˈnôcë ("midnight") ˈkrë (alternatively ˈkrev) ("blood") brëˈvjé ("eyebrow") ɡôspôˈdënjé ("female host")
It can be noticed that both masculine and feminine nouns can end in a consonant with ⟨-a⟩ ending. Masculine nouns ending in ⟨-a⟩ always refer to a male being and female nouns ending in ⟨-a⟩ a female being; the one exception is ˈslëga ("servant") and nouns ending in ⟨-ola⟩, which can refer to a person of either gender.
With stem ending in an alternating consonant with ⟨-a⟩ ending + Feminine nouns' stem ending in ⟨p, b, f, w, t, d, k, g, ch, gh, m, n, r⟩ with ⟨-a⟩ ending Stressed Non-stressed Singular Plural Dual Singular Plural Dual Nominative -ˈa -ˈë -ˈê -a -ë, -i -ê Genitive -ˈë -ˈó, -∅ = -ë, -i -ó, -∅ = Dative -ˈê -ˈóm = -ê -óm (-im) -óma Accusative -ˈã -ˈë -ˈê -ã -ë, -i -ê Instrumental -ˈõ -aˈmy (-ˈmy, -ˈy) = -õ -amy (-my, -y) -óma Locative -ˈê -ˈach (-ˈéch) = -ë -ach (-éch, -ich) = Vocative = = -ˈê -ô = -êExamples:+ rëba "fish" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈrëba ˈrëbë ˈrëbjê Genitive ˈrëbë ˈryb∅/ˈrëbó = Dative ˈrëbjê ˈrëbóm ˈrëbóma Accusative ˈrëbã ˈrëbë ˈrëbjê Instrumental ˈrëbõ ˈrëbamy/ˈrëby ˈrëbóma Locative ˈrëbjê ˈrëbach = Vocative = = =
+ rãka "hand; arm" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈrãka ˈrãkji ˈrãcê Genitive ˈrãkji ˈrãk∅/ˈrãkó rãˈkú Dative ˈrãcê rãˈkóm ˈrãkóma Accusative ˈrãkã ˈrãkji ˈrãcê Instrumental rãˈkõ rãkaˈmy ˈrãkóma Locative ˈrãcê rãˈkach = Vocative = = =
+ skra "spark" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈskra ˈskrë ˈskrzê Genitive ˈskrë ˈskê∅r/ˈskró = Dative ˈskrzê ˈskróm = Accusative ˈskrã ˈskrë ˈskrzê Instrumental ˈskrõ skraˈmy = Locative ˈskrzê ˈskrach = Vocative = = =
With stem ending in a non-alternating consonant with ⟨-a⟩ ending
+ Feminine nouns' stems ending in a ⟨s, z, sz, ż, rz, l, j⟩ with ⟨-a⟩ ending Stressed Non-stressed Singular Plural Dual Singular Plural Dual Nominative -ˈa -ˈê, -ˈë -ˈy -a -ë -y Genitive -ˈê, -ˈë -ˈó, -∅, -ˈy = -ë -∅, -y = Dative -ˈy -ˈóm = -y -óm (-im) -óma Accusative -ˈã -ˈê, -ˈë -ˈy -ã -ë -y Instrumental -ˈõ -aˈmy (-ˈmy, -ˈy) = -õ -amy (-my, -y) -óma Locative -ˈi -ˈach (-ˈéch) = -i -ach (-éch, -ich) = Vocative = = -ˈy = = -yExamples:+ tãcza "thundercloud" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈtãcza ˈtãczë ˈtãczy Genitive ˈtãczë ˈtãczy/ˈtãcz∅ = Dative ˈtãczy ˈtãczóm ˈtãczóma Accusative ˈtãczã ˈtãczë ˈtãczy Instrumental ˈtãczõ ˈtãczamy/ˈtãczmy ˈtãczóma Locative ˈtãczy ˈtãczach = Vocative = = =
+ zêmja "earth; soil" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈzêmja ˈzêmjë ˈzêmjy Genitive ˈzêmjë ˈzem∅/zêˈmjó = Dative ˈzêmjy zêˈmjóm ˈzêmjóma Accusative ˈzêmjã ˈzêmjë ˈzêmjy Instrumental zeˈmjõ zêmjaˈmy ˈzêmjóma Locative ˈzêmjy zêˈmjach = Vocative = = =
+ sla "breastplate (for a horse)" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈsla ˈslê ˈsly Genitive ˈslê ˈsêl∅ = Dative ˈsly ˈslóm = Accusative ˈslã ˈslê ˈsly Instrumental ˈslõ slaˈmy = Locative ˈsly ˈslach = Vocative = = =
+ kôsa "scythe" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈkôsa ˈkôsë ˈkôsy Genitive ˈkôsë ˈkôs∅/ˈkôsy = Dative ˈkôsy ˈkôsóm ˈkôsóma Accusative ˈkôsã ˈkôsë ˈkôsy Instrumental ˈkôsõ ˈkôsamy ˈkôsóma Locative ˈkôsy ˈkôsach = Vocative = = =
+ lza "tear" Singular Plural Dual Nominative ˈlza ˈlzë ˈlzy Genitive ˈlzë ˈzêl∅/ˈlzy = Dative ˈlzy ˈlzóm = Accusative ˈlzã ˈlzë ˈlzy Instrumental ˈlzõ lzaˈmy = Locative ˈlzy ˈlzach = Vocative = = =