Masculine Nouns in -a

Level 2

Tata ends in -a, takes -a endings in the cases, and still needs masculine words around it.

How It Works

Most nouns in -a are feminine, but a small group names men: tata (dad), kolega (colleague), sluga (servant), gazda (boss, owner). Some men's names do too, such as Nikola, Luka and Mustafa.

They split in two. The ending follows the -a pattern, and the words around them are masculine.

CaseForm
nominativemoj tata
genitivemog tate
dativemom tati
accusativemog tatu
instrumentals mojim tatom

Notice moj, not moja, and došao, not došla. The vocative is usually tata or tato.

The plural is less settled: tate is common, and the verb agreement in the plural varies, so a learner can leave it for later.

Examples (4)

  1. Moj tata radi u Tuzli.

    My dad works in Tuzla.

    Moj is the masculine form.

  2. Vidim tatu.

    I see Dad.

    The accusative ends in -u.

  3. Moj kolega je rekao da dolazi.

    My colleague said he is coming.

    Moj and rekao are masculine.

  4. Idem u grad s Nikolom.

    I am going to town with Nikola.

    Instrumental -om for a masculine name in -a.

Common Mistakes

  • Learners make the words around tata feminine.

    Moja tata je došla.
    Moj tata je došao.

    Tata names a man, so the adjective and the participle are masculine.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Masculine Nouns in -aLevel 2

Learn This First

Some masculine nouns end in -a.

Words in This Pattern

tatakolegaslugagazda