Fundamentals

Capitulum I

Your first Latin words, the cases that show what each word is doing, and where those words still live in English. A fifteen-question quiz closes the chapter.

  • 17 words
  • 7 cases
  • 24 roots
  • 15 questions
Start with vocabulary

Part 1 · Introduction

Vocabulary

Tap a card to flip it. Each verb is given in its he, she or it form, so videt means “he, she or it sees.”

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Part 2 · Introduction

Cases

A Latin noun changes its ending to show its job in the sentence. Latin has six main cases, plus a seventh, the locative, used for a handful of place names. Open each case to see puella, girl, at work.

Nominative

The subject of the sentence: the one doing the action.

Puella ridet.

The girl laughs.

Accusative

The direct object: the noun an action is done to.

Pater puellam videt.

The father sees the girl.

Genitive

Possession: whose something is.

Mater puellae

The girl’s mother

Dative

The indirect object: the noun receiving the direct object.

Puer puellae librum dat.

The boy gives the girl a book.

Ablative

Means, location or source: by, with, in or from something.

Puer cum puellā venit.

The boy goes with the girl.

Vocative

The person being spoken to.

Salve, puella!

Hello, girl!

Locative

A location, mostly for names of cities. Puella has no locative, so this example uses Rome.

Puella Romae dormit.

The girl sleeps in Rome.

Puella in every case

  1. Nom.puella
  2. Acc.puellam
  3. Gen.puellae
  4. Dat.puellae
  5. Abl.puellā
  6. Voc.puella
  7. Loc.Romae

Part 3

Etymology

Find out how Latin is still used today. Open each field to see its Latin.

Doctors name the body in Latin. The part each English word shares with its root is marked in gold.

  • Bracchium

    arm

    brachial, bracelet, embrace

  • Cerebrum

    brain

    cerebral, cerebrospinal

  • Manus

    hand

    manual, manicure, manuscript

  • Oculus

    eye

    ocular, binoculars

  • Cor, cordis

    heart

    cordial, accord

  • Dens, dentis

    tooth

    dental, dentist, dentures

  • Pes, pedis

    foot

    pedal, pedestrian, pedicure

  • Pulmo, pulmonis

    lung

    pulmonary

Courts still use whole Latin phrases. Each is shown with its literal meaning and how it is used today.

  • Habeas corpus

    “you should have the body”

    An order to bring a detained person before a judge.

  • Subpoena

    “under penalty”

    An order to appear in court.

  • Pro bono

    “for the good”

    Legal work done without charge.

  • Bona fide

    “in good faith”

    Genuine, made without intent to deceive.

  • De facto

    “from the fact”

    True in practice, even if not official.

  • Affidavit

    “he has declared on oath”

    A written statement sworn to be true.

  • Alibi

    “elsewhere”

    Evidence that you were somewhere else.

  • Veto

    “I forbid”

    The power to reject a decision.

Fossil hunters borrow Latin for the rocks they dig and the animals they name.

  • Fossil

    from fossilis, “dug up”

    The preserved remains of ancient life.

  • Extinct

    from exstinctus, “put out,” like a fire

    A species with no living members.

  • Stratum

    “a layer,” plural strata

    One layer of rock, read like a page of time.

  • Vertebra

    “a joint,” from vertere, to turn

    One bone of the spine.

  • Tyrannosaurus rex

    rex, “king”

    The tyrant lizard king: tyrannosaurus is Greek, rex is Latin.

  • Velociraptor

    velox, “swift,” and raptor, “robber”

    The swift thief.

  • Spinosaurus

    spina, “spine”

    The spine lizard, named for the tall spines along its back.

  • Carnotaurus

    caro, carnis, “flesh,” and taurus, “bull”

    The meat-eating bull, named for the horns above its eyes.

Part 4

Quiz

Test your knowledge: fifteen questions with instant feedback.