Pāli Primer Guide
Pāli Primer Guide
Pāli Primer Guide
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 1
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
1.9 Declension of masculine nouns ending in –u 1.13 Declension of masculine nouns ending in –u/–ar
garu (teacher) Singular Plural satthu/satthar
Nominative garu garū, garavo (teacher) Singular Plural
Accusative garuṃ garū, garavo Nominative satthā satthāro
Instrumental garunā garūhi (garūbhi) Accusative satthāraṃ satthāro
Ablative garunā garūhi (garūbhi) Instrumental satthārā satthārehi, satthūhi
Dative garuno, garussa garūnaṃ Ablative satthārā satthārehi, satthūhi
Genitive garuno, garussa garūnaṃ Dative satthu, satthuno, satthussa satthārānaṃ, satthūnaṃ
Locative garumhi, garusmiṃ garūsu Genitive satthu, satthuno, satthussa satthārānaṃ, satthūnaṃ
Vocative garu garū, garavo Locative satthari satthāresu, satthūsu
Vocative satthā, sattha satthāro
1.10 Declension of masculine nouns ending in –ū
vidū (wise man) Singular Plural 1.14 Declension of masculine nouns expressing relationships
Nominative vidū vidū, viduno pitu/pitar
Accusative viduṃ vidū, viduno (father) Singular Plural
Vocative vidū vidū, viduno Nominative pitā pitaro
The rest is similar to the declension of masculine nouns ending in –u. Accusative pitaraṃ pitaro
Instrumental pitarā pitarehi, pitūhi
1.11 Declension of neuter nouns ending in –u Ablative pitarā pitarehi, pitūhi
cakkhu (eye) Singular Plural Dative pitu, pituno, pitussa pitarānaṃ, pitūnaṃ
Nominative cakkhu cakkhū, cakkhūni Genitive pitu, pituno, pitussa pitarānaṃ, pitūnaṃ
Accusative cakkhuṃ cakkhū, cakkhūni Locative pitari pitaresu, pitūsu
Vocative cakkhu cakkhū, cakkhūni Vocative pitā, pita pitaro
Bhātu (brother) is similarly declined.
The rest is similar to the declension of masculine nouns ending in –u.
1.15 Declension of feminine nouns expressing relationships
1.12 Declension of feminine nouns ending in –u mātu/mātar
dhenu (cow) Singular Plural (mother) Singular Plural
Nominative dhenu dhenū, dhenuyo Nominative mātā mātaro
Accusative dhenuṃ dhenū, dhenuyo Accusative mātaraṃ mātaro
Instrumental dhenuyā dhenūhi (dhenūbhi) Instrumental mātarā, mātuyā mātarehi, mātūhi
Ablative dhenuyā dhenūhi (dhenūbhi) mātarā, mātuyā mātarehi, mātūhi
Ablative
Dative dhenuyā dhenūnaṃ mātu, mātuyā, mātāya mātarānaṃ, mātūnaṃ, mātānaṃ
Dative
Genitive dhenuyā dhenūnaṃ mātu, mātuyā, mātāya mātarānaṃ, mātūnaṃ, mātānaṃ
Genitive
Locative dhenuyā, dhenuyaṃ dhenūsu mātari, mātuyā, mātaresu, mātūsu
Locative
Vocative dhenu dhenū, dhenuyo
mātuyaṃ
Vocative mātā, māta, māte mātaro
Dhītu (daughter) and duhitu (daughter) are similarly declined.
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 2
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 3
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
1.18 Declension of adjectives ending in –vantu and –mantu 1.19 Declension of pronominal adverbs
Attributive adjectives ending in –vantu and –mantu can be declined in all three Relative Demonstrative Interrogative
genders. They agree with the nouns they qualify in gender, number and case. yattha - where tattha - there kattha - where
yatra - where tatra - there kutra - where
Masculine gender yato - whence, where tato - thence, therefore kuto - whence
guṇavant yathā - how, in what manner tathā - in that manner kathaṃ - how
(virtuous) Singular Plural yasmā - because tasmā - therefore kasmā - why
Nominative guṇavā, guṇavanto guṇavanto, guṇavantā yadā - when tadā - then kadā - when
Accusative guṇavantaṃ guṇavanto, guṇavante yena - where tena - there
Instrumental guṇavatā, guṇavantena guṇavantehi (guṇavantebhi) yāva - how long/far tāva - so long/far
Ablative guṇavatā, guṇavantamhā, guṇavantehi (guṇavantebhi)
guṇavantasmā
Dative guṇavato, guṇavantassa guṇavantaṃ, guṇavantānaṃ Notes:
Genitive guṇavato, guṇavantassa guṇavantaṃ, guṇavantānaṃ
Locative guṇavati, guṇavante, guṇavantesu
guṇavantamhi,
guṇavantasmiṃ
Vocative guṇavā, guṇava, guṇavanta guṇavanto, guṇavantā
Note the similarities of this declension to the declension of the present
participle masculine gender ending in –nta (2.4). Adjectives ending in –mantu
are declined as cakkhumā, cakkhumanto etc.
Neuter gender
guṇavant
(virtuous) Singular Plural
Nominative guṇavantaṃ guṇavantāni
Accusative guṇavantaṃ guṇavantāni
The rest is similar to the declension of masculine adjectives ending in –vantu
and –mantu.
Feminine gender
Guṇavatī/guṇavantī and cakkhumatī/cakkhumantī are the feminine forms of
the adjectives ending in –vantu and –mantu. They are declined like kumārī,
i.e. feminine nouns ending in –ī (1.8).
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 4
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 5
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 6
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 7
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 8
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 9
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
tattha tattha (adv.) here and there. devatā (f.) deity. nimanteti (v.) invites.
tathā (adv.) likewise. devī (f.) queen. niraya (m.) purgatory.
Tathāgata (m.) the Buddha. deseti (v.) preaches, instructs, points out. nilīyati (v.) hides.
tarati (v.) crosses (water). doṇi (f.) boat. nivāreti (v.) prevents.
taru (m.) tree. dvāra (n.) door. nivāsa (m.) house.
taruṇī (f.) young woman. nisīdati (v.) sits.
tāpasa (m.) hermit. Dh nīhareti (v.) takes out.
tiṭṭhati (v.) stands, stays. netar (m.) leader.
tiṇa (n.) grass. dhañña (n.) corn. neti (v.) leads, takes away.
tīra (n.) bank. dhana (n.) wealth.
tuṇḍa (n.) beak. dhanavant (adj.) rich. P
tela (n.) oil. dhanu (n.) bow.
tvaṃ (pron.) you. dhamma (m.) doctrine, truth. pakka (adj.) ripe.
dhātu (f.) element, relic. pakkosati (v.) calls, summons.
Th dhāvati (v.) runs. pakkhipati (v.) puts, places, deposits.
dhītar (f.) daughter. pakkhī (m.) bird.
thaketi (v.) shuts, closes. dhīvara (m.) fisherman. pacati (v.) cooks.
thoka (adj.) little. dhenu (f.) cow. pajahati (v.) gives up, abandons, rejects.
dhovati (v.) washes. pañjara (m.) cage.
D paññavant (adj.) wise.
N paññā (f.) wisdom.
dakkha (adj.) clever. pañha (m.) question.
dadāti (v.) gives. Also: deti na (ind. adv.) not. paṭiccādeti (v.) conceals, hides.
daddu (f.) eczema. nagara (n.) city, town. paṭiyādeti (v.) prepares.
dadhi (n.) curd. naccati (v.) dances. paṇḍita (m.) wise man, sage.
dāṭhī (m.) tusker. nattar (m.) grandson. paṇṇa (n.) leaf.
dātar (m.) giver. natthi (adj.) no. patati (v.) falls.
dāna (n.) alms, charity. nadī (f.) river. pati (m.) husband, master.
dāraka (m.) child. namassati (v.) salutes, worships. patta (m.) bowl.
dārikā (f.) girl. nayana (n.) eye. patthanā (f.) aspirations, hope, expectation.
dāru (n.) firewood. nara (m.) man, person. pattharati (v.) spreads.
dāsa (m.) servant. naraka hell, purgatory. pattheti (v.) aspires, hopes, wishes.
dīghajīvī (m.) one with long life. nava (adj.) new. paduma (n.) lotus.
dīpa (m.) island, lamp. nahāyati (v.) bathes. pappoti (v.) reaches, attains.
dīpi (m.) leopard. nānā (ind.) various. pabbajati (v.) renounces the world,
dukkha (n.) suffering. nānākammani (n.) various work. gets/becomes ordained, goes forth.
dubbala (adj.) weak. nārī (f.) woman. pabbata (m.) mountain.
dussa (n.) cloth. nāvā (f.) ship. pabhāta (m.) morning.
duhati (v.) milks. nāvika (m.) sailor. pabhū (m.) eminent person.
duhitar (f.) daughter. nāseti (v.) destroys. parājeti (v.) defeats.
dūta (m.) messenger. nāḷi (f.) a unit of measure. pariyesati (v.) searches, seeks, explores.
dūseti (v.) pollutes, spoils. nikkhamati (v.) leaves, sets out, renounces. parivajjeti (v.) avoids.
deti (v.) gives. Also: dadāti nikkhipati (v.) puts down, throws away. parivāreti (v.) accompanies, surrounds.
deva (m.) deity, god. nidhi (m.) (hidden) treasure. parisā (f.) retinue.
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 10
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 11
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 12
Pāli Primer Language Guide Edition 1 (January 08, 2004)
Pali Alphabet: a ā i ī u ū e o : k kh g gh ṅ : c ch j jh ñ : ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ : t th d dh n : p ph b bh m : y r l v s h ḷ ṃ
An electronic copy of this guide is available from Tipitaka Network (http://www.tipitaka.net) Page 13