The Latin language is a Romance language that is spoken in the Vatican City. It is a classical language that developed into French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, and Romanian (among others). Many English words are also derived from Latin words.
These Latin lessons were written by Brandon. Need more Latin? Try the video Latin courses at Udemy
1. Alphabet and Pronunciation
The Latin alphabet, which is the proper name for the alphabet we use for English, French, German, etc., has changed slightly since the days of the Romans. However, the vast majority of the Latin alphabet has remained the same. All in all, the only letters that the Romans didn't have were /w/, /u/ and /j/. The letter /w/ has never been used in Latin nor is it used in modern representations of Latin. The letter /j/, on the other hand, wasn't originally used in the language but has come to use to signify the [j] sound (i.e. the sound as in the /y/ in “year”). Originally, this consonantal sound and the vocal sound [i] were both represented by the letter /i/. Also, the letter /u/ has almost been universally introduced into modern Latin where it was originally written /v/.
Secondly, as Latin is not often used as a language of spoken communication, it is not 100% necessary to pronounce the language as I have instructed here. Pronunciation varies rather greatly and is mainly used to aid learners in remembering words, conjugations, etc. However, I do strongly suggest that you decide on pronunciation and stick with it as it will help you develop a sense of the natural flow of the language.
Vowels
ā |
long [aː] as in 'father' |
a |
short [a] as the first vowel in 'aha' |
ē |
[ɛː] in 'they' |
e |
[ɛ] in 'pet' |
ī |
[iː] in 'machine' |
i |
[i] or [ɪ] in 'bit' |
ō |
[oː] in 'boat' |
o |
similar to that of 'boat' but shorter |
ū |
[uː] in 'boot' |
u |
as in 'foot' |
Diphthongs
ae |
as the /ai/ in 'aisle' |
au |
as the /ou/ in 'out' |
ei |
as the /ei/ in 'eight' |
oe |
as the /oi/ in 'toil' |
ui |
either as sound like 'we' or a distinct [u] then [i]. |
Consonants
All consonants have the same pronunciation as in English except for the following:
c |
always [k], never [s] as in 'cent' |
g |
always as in 'gun', never as in 'gem' |
j |
like /y/ in 'yes' |
t |
always /t/ as in native |
v |
as in English /w/ |
ch, ph, th |
like English /c/, /p/, and /t/ respectively |
A note on macrons (the lines above long vowels). The Romans never used macrons—quite frankly, they didn't even use spaces between words! These macrons were added much later by scholars and they are, in many circumstances, arbitrary. I will, however, use them in a few cases where they help distinguish words from one another.
2. Nouns and Cases
As with German, Russian, Greek, etc., there are three genders in Latin, masculine, feminine, and neuter.
There are five cases in Latin and they are as follows:
Nominative |
indicates the subject |
The man ate the apple. |
Genitive |
indicates ownership or relationship |
The book of the girl. |
Dative |
indirect object |
We talk to the guide. |
Accusative |
direct object |
We see the mountain. |
Ablative |
used with the prepositions with/by/from/at/in/on |
The hunter hunted with an arrow. |
There are other uses of the cases that will be noted in the future.
There is also technically a vocative case. This will be dealt with in time.
There are no words for “the” or “a” in Latin. Context is the only necessary indicator.
Finally, when nouns are presented, they are often given showing their “principle parts.” This is a series of four things that tells you how to decline the noun, of what gender the noun is and its meaning. The are usually in the order nominative singular, genitive singular (often abbreviated), gender, meaning. For example:
puella, -ae, f., girl
This tells us that that the word is “puella” in the nominative singular, “puellae” in the genitive singular, it is feminine and it means “girl.”
Note that some words are mainly used in the plural even if they have singular meanings. This will be noted in the principle parts.
3. Personal (Subject) Pronouns
ego |
I |
nos |
we |
tu |
you (singular) |
vos |
you (plural) |
is, ea, id |
he, she, it |
ei, eae, ea |
they (m., f., n.) |
The subject pronouns are rarely used in Latin because, as we will soon see, the verb indicates the person and number, therefore making subject pronouns usually redundant. For this reason, I will not include the pronouns in the conjugations.
4. Verbs
Just like nouns, verbs have principle parts. For verbs they are as follows: the first person singular of the present active indicative, the present active infinitive, the first person singular of the present perfect indicative, and the supine or perfect passive participle which are almost always identical (note that with intransitive verbs, the 4th part is often the future active participle). These will be explained in more detail as they arise.
There are 4 basic conjugations in Latin. They are separated as those whose second principle part end in -are, -ēre, -ere, and -ire. Of course, there are many irregular verbs.
5. To be (present, imperfect, and future)
sum, esse, fui, futurus to be
Present:
sum |
I am |
sumus |
we are |
es |
you are |
estis |
you (pl.) are |
est |
he, she, it is |
sunt |
they are |
Imperfect:
eram |
I was |
eramus |
we were |
eras |
you were |
eratis |
you were |
erat |
he, she, it was |
erant |
they were |
Future:
ero |
I will be |
erimus |
we will be |
eris |
you will be |
eritis |
you will be |
erit |
he, she, it will be |
erunt |
they will be |
Compounds that include esse
absum |
to be absent |
adsum |
to be present |
desum |
to fail at (+ dat.) |
insum |
to be in |
intersum |
to be among (+ dat.) |
obsum |
to be against (+ dat.) |
praesum |
to be in charge of (+ dat.) |
prosum, prodesse, profui, profuturus |
to be useful for, be good for (+ dat.) |
subsum |
to be near (+ dat.) |
supersum |
to survive (+ dat.) |
6. The First Declension
The first declension ends in the nominative in -a and in the genitive in -ae. The vast majority of the words are feminine however there are several masculine words which tend to be those that have to do with occupations of males.
|
aqua, -ae, f. water |
agricola, -ae, m. farmer |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
aqua |
-a |
aquae |
-ae |
agricola |
-a |
agricolae |
-ae |
Gen. |
aquae |
-ae |
aquarum |
-arum |
agricolae |
-ae |
agricolarum |
-arum |
Dat. |
aquae |
-ae |
aquis |
-is |
agricolae |
-ae |
agricolis |
-is |
Acc. |
aquam |
-am |
aquas |
-as |
agricolam |
-am |
agricolas |
-as |
Abl. |
aquā |
-ā |
aquis |
-is |
agricolā |
-ā |
agricolis |
-is |
7. Common First Declension Nouns
(Keep in mind that because you are not speaking or reading about daily topics in Latin, the vocabulary will seem a little odd at first. However, I will be adding more modern vocabulary and vocabulary such as colors, dates, weather, etc. that you wouldn't ofter, if ever, see in genuine Latin)
Feminine Nouns |
|||
barba, -ae, f. |
beard |
fossa, -ae, f. |
ditch |
braccae, -arum, f.pl. |
pants, trousers |
fuga, -ae, f. |
flight |
casa, -ae, f. |
cottage, hut |
gloria, -ae, f. |
fame, glory |
causa, -ae, f. |
cause, reason |
hora, -ae, f. |
hour |
*dea, -ae, f. |
goddess |
ira, -ae, f. |
anger, wrath |
femina, -ae, f. |
woman |
lingua, -ae, f. |
tongue, language |
fenestra, -ae, f. |
window |
poena, -ae, f. |
punishment |
*filia, -ae, f. |
daughter |
puella, -ae, f. |
girl |
formula, -ae, f. |
nice shape, beauty, equation, identity |
tuba, -ae, f. |
trumpet |
fortuna, -ae, f. |
fortune, luck |
|
|
Feminine Abstract Nouns (-ia) |
|||
amicitia, -ae, f. |
friendship |
injuria, -ae, f. |
wrong, injustice |
audacia, -ae, f. |
boldness |
inopia, -ae, f. |
lack |
elegantia, -ae, f. |
elegance, refinement |
prudentia, -ae, f. |
discretion |
copia, -ae, f. |
supply |
scientia, -ae, f. |
knowledge |
gratia, -ae, f. |
favor |
|
|
Feminine Abstract Nouns Denoting Fields of Study |
|||
alchimia, -ae, f. |
alchemy |
medicina, -ae, f. |
medicine |
chemia, -ae, f. |
chemistry |
physicae, -arum, f.pl. |
phyics |
mathematica, -ae, f. |
mathematics |
|
|
Masculine Nouns |
|||
agricola, -ae, m. |
farmer |
pirata, -ae, m. |
pirate |
incola, -ae, m. |
inhabitant |
poeta, -ae, m. |
poet |
nauta, -ae, m. |
sailor |
|
|
*the dative and ablative plural of dea and filia are deabus and filiabus, respectively.
8. The Second Declension
The second declension is marked as masculine nouns (and very few feminine nouns) whose nominative end in either -(i)us, -er, or -ir and whose genitive singular ends in -i. As well, neuter nouns ending in -(i)um in the nominative singular and -i in the genitive singular.
|
somnus, -i, m. sleep |
amicus, -i, m. friend |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
somnus |
-us |
somni |
-i |
amicus |
-us |
amici |
-i |
Gen. |
somni |
-i |
somnorum |
-orum |
amici |
-i |
amicorum |
-orum |
Dat. |
somno |
-o |
somnis |
-is |
amico |
-o |
amicis |
-is |
Acc. |
somnum |
-um |
somnos |
-os |
amicum |
-um |
amicos |
-os |
Abl. |
somno |
-o |
somnis |
-is |
amico |
-o |
amicis |
-is |
|
gladius, -i, m. sword (-ius ending) |
|||
|
Singular |
Plural |
||
Nom. |
gladius |
-us |
gladii |
-i |
Gen. |
gladi |
-i |
gladiorum |
-orum |
Dat. |
gladio |
-o |
gladiis |
-is |
Acc. |
gladium |
-um |
gladios |
-os |
Abl. |
gladio |
-o |
gladiis |
-is |
|
vir, -i, m. man (strong endings) |
ager, agri, m. field (weak endings) |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
vir |
-us |
viri |
-i |
ager |
-us |
agri |
-i |
Gen. |
viri |
-i |
virorum |
-orum |
agri |
-i |
agrorum |
-orum |
Dat. |
viro |
-o |
viris |
-is |
agro |
-o |
agris |
-is |
Acc. |
virum |
-um |
viros |
-os |
agrum |
-um |
agros |
-os |
Abl. |
viro |
-o |
viris |
-is |
agro |
-o |
agris |
-is |
|
bellum, -i, n. war |
|||
|
Singular |
Plural |
||
Nom. |
bellum |
-um |
bella |
-a |
Gen. |
belli |
-i |
bellorum |
-orum |
Dat. |
bello |
-o |
bellis |
-is |
Acc. |
bellum |
-um |
bella |
-a |
Abl. |
bello |
-o |
bellis |
-is |
Note that all neuter nouns in all declensions will have matching endings in the nominative and accusative singular and in the nominative and accusative plural.
9. Common Second Declension Nouns
Masculine Nouns Ending in -us |
|||
amicus, -i, m. |
friend |
locus, -i, m. |
place |
animus, -i, m. |
mind, spirit |
modus, -i, m. |
manner, means |
campus, -i, m. |
plain, field |
mundus, -i, m. |
world |
cervus, -i, m. |
deer |
oculus, -i, m. |
eye |
cibus, -i, m. |
food |
servus, -i, m. |
servant |
deus, -i, m. |
god |
somnus, -i, m. |
sleep |
equus, -i, m. |
horse |
ventus, -i, m. |
wind |
Masculine Nouns Ending in -ius |
|||
filius, -i, m. |
son |
socius, -i, m. |
ally |
gladius, -i, m. |
sword |
|
|
Masculine Nouns with Strong -er/-ir Endings |
|||
adulter, -i, m. |
adulterer |
vesper, -i, m. |
evening |
miser, -i, m. |
wretch |
vir, -i, m. |
man |
puer, -i, m. |
boy |
|
|
Masculine Nouns with Weak -er Endings |
|||
ager, agri, m. |
field |
liber, libri, m. |
book |
cancer, cancri, m. |
crab |
magister, magistri, m. |
teacher |
Neuter Nouns Ending in -um |
|||
bellum, -i, n. |
war |
oppidum, -i, n. |
town |
castrum, -i, n. |
fort; (plural) camp |
simulacrum, -i, n. |
image |
hiberna, -orum, n.pl. |
winter quarters |
venenum, -i, n. |
poison |
Neuter Nouns Ending in -ium |
|||
auxilium, -i, n. |
help |
sacrificium, -i, n. |
sacrifice |
concilium, -i, n. |
assembly |
servitium, -i, n. |
slavery |
10. The Third Declension
The third declension is probably the most common declension. It is characterized by a consonantal stem, -is ending in the genitive singular and may be of any gender.
|
rex, regis, m. king |
uxor, uxoris, f. wife |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
rex |
– |
reges |
-es |
uxor |
– |
uxores |
-es |
Gen. |
regis |
-is |
regum |
-um |
uxoris |
-is |
uxorum |
-um |
Dat. |
regi |
-i |
regibus |
-ibus |
uxori |
-i |
uxoribus |
-ibus |
Acc. |
regem |
-em |
reges |
-es |
uxorem |
-em |
uxores |
-es |
Abl. |
rege |
-e |
regibus |
-ibus |
uxore |
-e |
uxoribus |
-ibus |
The neuter declension is the same except for the nominative singular and the nominative and accusative plural.
|
opus, operis, n. work |
|||
|
Singular |
Plural |
||
Nom. |
opus |
– |
opera |
-a |
Gen. |
operis |
-is |
operum |
-um |
Dat. |
operi |
-i |
operibus |
-ibus |
Acc. |
opus |
– (same as nom.) |
opera |
-a |
Abl. |
opere |
-e |
operibus |
-ibus |
“i-stem”
These differ from other third declension nouns in that they take the ending -ium in the genitive plural. They may sometimes also take the endings -im, -i, -is instead of the endings -em, -e, -es in the accusative singular, ablative singular, and the accusative plural, respectively.
|
hostis, hostis, m. enemy |
animal, animalis, n. animal |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
hostis |
– |
hostes, hostis |
-es, -is |
animal |
– |
animalia |
-ia |
Gen. |
hostis |
-is |
hostium |
-ium |
animalis |
-is |
animalium |
-um |
Dat. |
hosti |
-i |
hostibus |
-ibus |
animali |
-i |
animalibus |
-ibus |
Acc. |
hostem, hostim |
-em, -im |
hostes, hostis |
-es, -is |
animal |
– (same as nom.) |
animalia |
-ia |
Abl. |
hoste, hosti |
-e, -i |
hostibus |
-ibus |
animale, animali |
-e, -i |
animalibus |
-ibus |
11. Common Third Declension Nouns
Masculine and Feminine Nouns |
|||
canis, canis, m. |
dog |
mons, montis, m. |
mountain |
cervix, cervicis, f. |
neck |
nox, noctis, f. |
night |
custos, cutodis, m. |
guard |
ops, opis, f. |
power, help |
feles, felis, f. |
cat |
pars, partis, f. |
part |
frater, fratris, m. |
brother |
pater, patris, m. |
father |
leo, leonis, m. |
lion |
rex, regis, m. |
king |
mater, matris, f. |
mother |
soror, sororis, f. |
sister |
miles, milites, m. |
soldier |
uxor, uxoris, f. |
wife |
mulier, mulieris, f. |
woman |
vigil, vigilis, m. |
fireman |
Masculine Nouns of Agency Ending in -or, -oris |
|||
doctor, -oris, m. |
teacher |
monitor, -oris, m. |
advisor |
gladiator, -oris, m. |
gladiator |
vector, -oris, m. |
rider, passenger |
imperator, -oris, m. |
general, emperor |
|
|
Feminine Abstract Nouns Ending in -tas, -tatis |
|||
aequalitas, -tatis, f. |
equality |
majestas, -tatis, f. |
majesty |
fraternitas, -tatis, f. |
brotherhood |
majoritas, -tatis, f. |
majority |
libertas, -tatis, f. |
freedom |
|
|
Neuter Nouns |
|||
caput, capitis, n. |
head |
lemma, lemmatis, n. |
theme |
cor, cordis, n. |
heart |
limen, liminis, n. |
threshold, doorway |
crimen, criminis, n. |
accusation, crime, guilt |
nomen, nominis, n. |
name, noun |
flumen, fluminis, n. |
flow, river, stream |
opus, operis, n. |
work |
genus, generis, n. |
gender |
stamen, staminis, n. |
thread |
iter, itineris, n. |
road |
|
|
12. The Fourth Declension
The fourth declension can be either masculine, feminine, or neuter. However the masculine/feminine declension is slightly different than that of neuter nouns. The masculine/feminine declension is characterized by -us in the nominative singular and -ūs in the genitive singular. The neuter is characterized by -u in the nominative singular and -ūs in the genitive singular.
|
manus, manūs, f. hand |
genu, genūs, n. knee |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
manus |
-us |
manūs |
-ūs |
genu |
-u |
genua |
-ua |
Gen. |
manūs |
-ūs |
manuum |
-uum |
genūs |
-ūs |
genuum |
-uum |
Dat. |
manui |
-ui |
manibus |
-ibus |
genu |
-u |
genibus |
-ibus |
Acc. |
manum |
-um |
manūs |
-ūs |
genu |
-u |
genua |
-ua |
Abl. |
manu |
-u |
manibus |
-ibus |
genu |
-u |
genibus |
-ibus |
13. Common Fourth Declension Nouns
Masculine and Feminine Nouns |
|||
acus, -ūs, f. |
needle |
gradus, -ūs, m. |
step, pace |
aestus, -ūs, m. |
heat |
Idūs, -uum, f. pl. |
Ides (Cf. Ides of March) |
arcus, -ūs, m. |
bow |
lacus, -ūs, m. |
lake |
cantus, -ūs, m. |
song |
manus, -ūs, f. |
hand |
condus, -ūs, m. |
shopkeeper |
metus, -ūs, f. |
fear, dread |
cultus, -ūs, m. |
civilization |
portus, -ūs, m. |
harbor |
*domus, -ūs, f. |
house, home |
senatus, -ūs, m. |
senate |
exericitus, -ūs, m. |
army |
tonsus, -ūs, m. |
haircut |
fructus, -ūs, m. |
enjoyment, profit, fruit |
tribus, -ūs, f. |
tribe |
Masculine Abstract Nouns |
|||
adventus, -ūs, m. |
approach, arrival |
motus, -ūs, m. |
motion |
casus, -ūs, m. |
chance, case |
prospectus, -ūs, m. |
view, prospect |
census, -ūs, m. |
census |
reditus, -ūs, m. |
return |
cruciatus, -ūs, m. |
torture |
sensus, -ūs, m. |
feeling, sensation |
flatus, -ūs, m. |
wind |
sonitus, -ūs, m. |
sound, noise |
fletus, -ūs, m. |
weeping |
spiritus, -ūs, m. |
breath, soul, enthusiasm |
Neuter Nouns |
|||
cornu, -ūs, n. |
horn |
genu, -ūs, n. |
knee |
*Sometimes domus, -i, f. of the second declension.
14. The Fifth Declension
The fifth declension has -es in the nominative singular and -ei in the genitive singular and are usually feminine.
|
res, rei, f. thing |
dies, diei (die), m./f., day |
||||||
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular |
Plural |
||||
Nom. |
res |
-es |
res |
-es |
dies |
-es |
dies |
-es |
Gen. |
rei |
-ei |
rerum |
-erum |
diei, die |
-ei |
dierum |
-erum |
Dat. |
rei |
-ei |
rebus |
-ebus |
diei, die |
-ei |
diebus |
-ebus |
Acc. |
rem |
-em |
res |
-es |
diem |
-em |
dies |
-es |
Abl. |
re |
-e |
rebus |
-ebus |
die |
-e |
diebus |
-ebus |
15. Common Fifth Declension Nouns
dies, diei, m./f. |
day |
plebes, plebei, f. |
commoners |
effigies, effigiei, f. |
effigy, likeness, statue |
spes, spei, f. |
hope |
fides, fidei, f. |
faith |
species, speciei, f. |
appearance |
res, rei, f. |
thing |
|
|
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