Latin Class

In this class, you will be learning how to read and speak proper Latin (remember: proper and conversational Latin are very different things). You will also learn a bit about the history of the Roman empire and the Olympian gods and goddesses (in later lessons).

Classroom Teacher: [Eyes of the Reaper]

Students
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Brief Outline

-Numbers (1-10)
-Declensions
-Basics of Latin and Educational Stories (stories are in Latin to help build vocabulary)
-Roman History and Myths
-Roman Comedy
-Daily Latin Mottos/Phrases


Lesson 1 - Numbers

1 Unus (Oon-us)
2 Duo (Doo-oh)
3 Tres (Tray-s)
4 Quattor (Qua-tor)
5 Quinque (Kwin-kway)
6 Séx (Sayks)
7 Septem (Sep-tem)
8 Octem (Oct-em)
9 Novem (No-wem)
10 Decem (Dek-em)


Lesson 2 - Declensions

Declensions tell you how to change the endings of nouns. There are three declensions that a Latin word could be in and are named as such (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). 1st declension words end in "-us" (i.e.: Caecilius (proper name; a banker from Pompei), servus (slave), cibus (food), Graecus (a Greek). 2nd declension words end in "-a" (i.e. Metella (Caecilius' wife), agricola (farmer), puella (girl). 3rd declension words end in everything else (i.e.: Grumio (Caecilius' cook/slave), Clemens (Caecilius' body guard/slave). Note: If a noun ends in "-ae" or "-i" it is a plural noun, not necessarily a third declension noun.


Lesson 3 - Basics of Latin and Educational Stories

Some major differences between Latin and English are pronunciations. In Latin the "v" makes an English "w" sound, the "c" is equal to the English "k", and the "g" is never like the English "j". The Latin "i" it usually pronounced like an English double/long "e", but sometimes it used to replace the "j" (i.e. "iulius caesar" pronounced yoo-lee-us cy-sar) since they did not have one (it came to the English language from Greek like "x" and "z").Note: do not ask about the Roman alphabet. You use it everyday when you write something in English or any other Western European language. (I will have a picture up of it as soon as possible.) Also, notice that all the letters in the quotation marks ("letter") are lower case. The Romans did not have a set of different letters for capital letters. Either everything is lower case or capitalized, it does not matter but do not do both (unless there is a name, then capitalize).

Stage 1
Stage 2
More soon!


Lesson 4 - Roman History and Myths

Coming soon!


Lesson 5 - Roman Comedy

Dirty Minded Romans - Just a bit of classic, dirty humor from ancient Rome. Note: It is rated NC-17 for the language!

More soon!


Lesson 6 - Daily Latin Mottos/Phrases (Updated semi-daily and only on weekdays, not weekends!)

8/22/06
ab ovo usque ad mala
"From the egg all the way up to the apples." Everyday meaning: This phrase (however uncommon it is) means 'Including everything,' or 'From begining to end.' Roman meals were several courses long, begining with a single egg for each guest and ending with apples as the desert.

8/23/06
absit invidia
"Let illwill be absent." Everyday meaning: "No offense intended/implied."

8/25/06
absolvo
"I set free." Everyday meaning: "I declare the defendent not guilty." This is a legal term and is used when a judge in an American court of law, in one word, states that the accused is innocent.

8/28/06
ab uno disce omnes
"From one, learn all." This was written by Vergil (who wrote the Aeneid). It means that from one example, we can understand every situation.

8/29/06
ab urbe condita
"From the founding of the city." The Romans (even to this day) count time from the day Rome was founded. They do not recognize BC or AD, only "AUC". Rome was founed in 753 BC, so, in order to come up with what year it is there, add 753 years to the current year.

8/30/06
ad astra per aspera
"To the stars through difficulties." This happens to be the motto of the State of Kansas of the United States of America. Everyday meaning: "All paths to success are littered with hardships."

8/31/06
ad augusta per angusta
"To distinction through the narrow places." This motto's explaination is the same as the above 'Everyday meaning'.

9/1/06
Adeste Fidelis
"Be present, Faithful Ones." Everyday meaning: "O' come, all ye' faithful."

9/5/06
ad gustum
"To your taste." Everyday meaning: This used to be written in recipes to state seasonings, typically refering to salt.

9/6/06
ad hoc
"To this." Everyday meaning: "For this purpose." This is a temporary solution to a problem. It is usually a committee.

9/7/06
ad hominem
"To the person." Everyday meaning: This is a phrase commonly used in rhetoric. It is a type of argument directed at an opponent's character rather than the topic.

9/8/06
ad infinitum
"To inifinty." Everyday meaning: This is used to say that something is unlimited.

9/11/06
ad iterim
"For the meantime." Everyday meaning: This phrase is used to mean 'a temporary fix to a problem.'

9/12/06
ad libitum
"For the purpose of pleasure." Everyday meaning: To do something extemporaneously/off of the top of your head (i.e. 'ad lib' in acting).

9/13/06
ad referendum
"For the purpose of refering." Everyday meaning: "For future reference."

9/14/06
ad rem
"For this matter." Everyday meaning: "To the point." This is the opposite of 'ad hominem.'

9/15/06
ad valorem
"For the value." Everyday meaning: "In proportion to its value." This is used for property taxes. If the value of the land increases, so will the tax on it.

9/18/06
ad verbum
"For the word." Everyday meaning: "Word for word," or "Verbatum."



Go or return to:
-Languages Department
-EPC Departmental Staff
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