Declination of geographical names in Russian: features and rules

The Russian language is replete with many rules that regulate the correct use and spelling of words. But besides this, a competent person should be able to incline different words. This topic usually raises many questions and doubts not only among schoolchildren, but also in adults. It is especially difficult for most people to decline their own names, surnames, and geographical names. Today we will talk about this in our article.

Toponyms: what is it?

Declination of geographical names is subject to certain rules, which you just need to know by heart. Otherwise, you will find a lot of funny cases that will characterize you from a not very good side to your friends or colleagues.

Quite often, speaking of declining geographical names in the Russian language, we mean toponyms. This term refers to all geographical identifiers in general. This word came to us from the ancient Greek language, it was formed from two different words denoting in translation "place" and "name". Now in many information sources the word "toponyms" is used.

Where can I see the rules for the declension of place names?

Of course, in order to correctly declare geographical names, it is necessary not only to know the rule, but also apply it to the place. After all, quite often even a person who considers himself competent, doubts the writing of a word. In this case, you will be helped by special dictionaries, by which you can check the declension of geographical names. Rosenthal Dietmar Elyashevich, for example, created a great assistant to schoolchildren of all ages - "Dictionary of the difficulties of the Russian language." Use this wonderful guide can and adults who want to increase the level of literacy.

Types of place names

Before plunging into a topic called "Declination of geographical names", it is worthwhile to find out what are the toponyms. After all, this significantly changes the rules for their declension. At the moment, the following types of place names are distinguished in Russian:

• Slavic - they are originally Russian names or those that have long been mastered in Russian;
• Complex - this kind of toponym consists usually of two words;
• The names of the republics;
• Foreign-language - similar names have their own categories, for each of which there is a separate declension rule.

Rules for declining Slavic toponyms

The declension of geographical names with Slavic roots is subject to a simple rule: the name always agrees with the word applied to it. These words include:

• city;
• village;
• village;
• Street, etc.

In these cases, the toponym is placed in the declination of the defining word. For example, you will always say "in the city of Samara" and "in the city of Moscow." Note that the defining word "city" almost always inclines the toponym that follows. This applies to exceptions. They include the following cases:

• Do not incline toponyms that have a different genus with a defining word (for example, it will be correct to say - on Lake Salekhard);
• The toponyms of the plural (for example, in the village of Topotishchi) are not likely to decline.

If we are talking about street names, then here are the rules for declining geographical names. The toponym of the feminine gender is always consistent with the word "street". The names of the masculine gender do not bow in the same case; composite toponyms also obey this rule. Examples include the following combinations:

• Along the street Cherry orchards;
• On Kaltuk Street;
• To the street Melodichnaya.

Toponyms in the form of an adjective tend to bow: on the Yellow River, at the Green Cape, etc.

Declination of geographical names ending in "o", "e"

For some reason, adults often forget this rule. Even the well-known TV personalities and journalists have annoying mistakes. To be considered a literate person, remember that the Slavic toponyms of the middle kind do not bow in the Russian language. It will be correct to say:

• In the city of Kemerovo;
• Near the city of Grodno;
• In the village of Komarkovo.

Strangely enough, but this simple rule always causes a lot of difficulties. Although there is nothing complicated in it, the main thing is to remember the correct spelling.

Toponyms ending in "s", "e", "in", "s": declination rules

Declination of geographical names with such endings that are so common in Russian causes serious confusion. The fact is that the rules for declining such toponyms have changed more than once in recent decades. Historically, geographical names with the endings of "ov", "ev", "in", "yn" always declined. For example, a house in Ostashkov or a cottage in Mogilev.

At the beginning of the twentieth century there was a tendency not to incline similar geographical names. This was due to a series of military actions, when in order to avoid confusion in the reports, names were used only in the nominative case. The military sought to ensure that in maps and various orders the place names were identical. Over time, this approach has been considered the norm and even applied on television.

In recent years, journalism has begun to return to the primordial form of declining geographical names. But their application in the nominative case is also considered normal and correct.

Complex Slavic toponyms

The deviation of geographical names consisting of several words is subject to a certain rule. If we are talking about a complex toponym, then its first part is always inclined, regardless of the presence or absence of the defining word. Examples include the following:

• in Rostov-on-Don;
• In Komsomolsk-on the Amur, and so on.

From this rule there is one exception - the name of the city of Gus-Khrustalny. The first part of this complex toponym should not be inclined.

Much confusion is caused by names in which the first part stands in the middle genus. According to the rules of the Russian language, it must be subject to mandatory declension, but in recent years, the tendency to unchangeability of this part is growing. Therefore, for example, both versions of the spelling will be correct: in Orekhovo-Zuevo and in Orekhov-Zuevo.

How correctly to incline toponyms - names of republics?

When you do not know how to correctly write the name of the republic, then remember the rule about which we will now talk. The names ending in "Iya" and "her" should be consistent with the word "republic". For example, "in the Republic of Korea" or "from the Republic of Macedonia". But in this rule there are pitfalls, as, indeed, in many rules of the Russian language.

Official documents exclude the possibility of declining such names, although journalism applies the usual rule of the Russian language to them. The exception applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. By agreement between our countries, it was decided not to incline the given name.

In all other cases, the name does not agree with the word "republic" and remains in the nominative case.

Foreign-language toponyms

With foreign-language geographical names, it is rather difficult for a Russian person to cope. It's easier to remember which ones are not inclined. So, in the list of geographical names that are not subject to declension, are included:

• Finnish names;
• Georgian and Abkhazian (except for the names of resorts);
• French toponyms ending in the letter "a";
• Complex Italian, Portuguese and Spanish toponyms;
• Administrative-territorial units.

You can only declare names that have an ending in "a" and are mastered in Russian. For example, in Verona and from Ankara. French names can be inclined only if they have acquired the ending "a" in Russian sound.

If the foreign-language geographical names end in "e", "s", "and", "o", then they refer to the indeclinable. Examples of this rule are many:

• In Tokyo;
• From Mexico City;
• To Santiago.

Exceptions are names that in Russian have a plural formed from a foreign word. For example, correctly write "in the Himalayas."

Declination of names and surnames

Many believe that the declination of geographical names and proper names have common rules. This is not entirely true. Of course, the rules have much in common, but in fact they are not identical.

Most often, the correct declension of names and surnames, geographical names raises a lot of questions in the spring-summer period, when graduates graduate from school and receive certificates. It is quite common for incorrect spelling of toponyms and proper names in diplomas. Avoid these unpleasant moments will help knowledge of the rules of the Russian language. Let's look at the main points of the rule.

Declination of standard surnames

Declining the standard surnames is quite simple - they become in the desired form intuitively. But in the case when the surname was borrowed from a foreign language and ends with "s", "in", then in the instrumental case it will have the ending "ohm". For example, the surname Green in the instrumental case will sound like Green.

Often questions arise with the declension of female surnames with the end of "ina." In this case, everything depends on the nominative case of the male name. For example, we have Andrey Zhemchuzhina. The name of his wife Julia will be inclined as a common noun. For example, things Julia Pearls. If the husband's name is Andrey Zhemchuzhin, then in this case we will talk about the things of Julia Zhemchuzhina.

Non-standard surnames: how to incline?

Previously it was believed that the decline in the name is primarily affected by the gender of the person. But in fact the most important factor here is the ending of the surname. It is from him that everything depends first.

Surnames that do not end in:

• "E";
• "and";
• "about";
• "Y";
• "S";
• "E";
• "Yu";
• "Yx";
• "their".

The male surnames end in a consonantal letter. If the surname ends in "I" and before that there is also a vowel letter, then the name should be bowed. In a similar case, with the ending "a" the surname refers to those who are not indigestible.

Of course, the Russian language is not so simple. But if you remember a few rules listed by us, you will never blush because of incorrect spelling of geographical names and proper names.