Cumulative

Card Design

Color-code Parts of Speech

Card Front

Dictionary Information

Abbreviate

Macrons (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū)

All

Essential (2nd conjugation infinitives)

Additional Resources:

Total Words Learned: 65

Comprising Chapters 1-3

Last Updated: 08/14/2025

I. Read the words outloud.
It's true that you will never need to speak to an ancient Roman (unless you learn how to time-travel, in which case please bring me along). However, don't underestimate the importance of pronunciation— it's crucial for understanding components of Latin, especially when you learn new endings to form plural nouns and verb tenses.

There's a reason we spend so much time chanting the words in class. Don't just glaze over the words and make a "blah blah" sound in your head. Remember, the letters in Latin follow consistent rules (unlike in English). Review pronunciation rules here.

II. Write the words down.
You don't necessarily need to make your own hand-written flashcards (it still would be a good idea!) but consider having someone else say the words or press the audio buttons while you write down both the Latin word and its English meaning.

III. Pay attention to parts of speech.
Terms are color-coded by parts of speech:

Verbs
Nouns & Pronouns
Prepositions
Adjectives
Adverbs
Conjunctions
Interjections

You will need to provide dictionary information (the elements other than the head word) starting in Chapter 4 and beyond. Knowing a word's part of speech will help you recognize patterns and translate at a faster rate. Trust me.

IV. Draw nouns.
Who said studying has to be boring? Draw pictures of the nouns, and label them in Latin, of course. I am always happy to see students' creativity at work."

V. Act out verbs.
If you need a break from writing, give kinesthetic learning a shot. Say a verb in Latin while acting it out.

VI. Pay extra attention to adverbs and conjunctions !
Students frequently miss these parts of speech on assessments because they are harder to visualize in comparison to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Honestly, you might just need to chant and write them over and over until they stick.

VII. Beware of hindsight bias.
Often, students make the mistake of thinking that they know the English meanings of words when they really don't.

What happens is that students will flip over a card and recognize the correct answer, but they don't truly know the correct answer. Remember, vocabulary quizzes are NOT multiple choice. They require students to produce the correct answer in writing, not identify the correct answer from a set. So before you hastily flip over a card, make sure that you say or write your answer first. If your answer doesn't match the back of the card, you don't know it well enough.

VIII. Avoid meaningless memorization shortcuts.
Remembering that the Latin word for "to live" (habitō, habitāre) starts with the letter "h" might help you on a quiz in the short term, but what about when you learn habeō, habēre? Making sure you thoroughly know a word will pay off in the long run. This is one reason saying the word outloud is helpful. Account for every syllable and for every letter.

IX. Learn derivatives.
Derivatives are English words that come from Latin words. As it turns out, Latin isn't so dead after all!

Example: An uninhabitable place is where nothing can live. (habitō, habitāre = to live)

The SPA Latin teachers have provided some English derivatives in small gray print on the back side of the cards. You can earn extra points on quizzes by providing these (with correct spelling).

n.b. Sometimes, words change meanings over time, so derivatives might not always be helpful. For example, the English word "trade" comes from the Latin "tradō, tradere" which originally meant "to give," rather than "to exchange." All derivatives provided on this site are "safe."

X. Study English to Latin.
You typically will only have to translate from Latin to English. However, if you study English to Latin, this will help ensure that you know the words really well. This is a more difficult skill that takes longer to achieve, even for Latin teachers.

Cumulative

(takes accusative)

to, toward

aestāte

in the summer

Cornelia in vīllā rūstica aestāte habitat.

Adverbs can be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.

ager, agrī m.

field

derivatives: agriculture, agrarian

alter, alter‍a, alterum

other, another

Flavia puella altera est.

A common pattern of Latin adjectives is -us/-r, -a, -um (2-1-2) in which the forms are presented in the masculine, feminine, and neuter.

Example: alter, altera, alterum
(Abbreviated: alter, -a, -um)
alter → masculine
altera → feminine
alterum → neuter

In the example sentence above, altera is chosen to modify puella because -a is the feminine ending. Consider the alternative examples below:

Example 1: Masculine
alter puer ambulat.

Example 2: Neuter
alterum templum est.

Adjectives often come after the noun they modify. Watch out for adjectives that are predicate nominatives.

alius, alia, aliud

ambulō, ambul‍āre

to walk

derivatives: amble, ambulatory

amīca, amīcae f.

friend

derivative: amicable

amīcus, amīcī m.

friend

derivative: amicable

arbor, arboris f.

tree

derivatives: arboretum, arborist

Arbor magna est.

An arboretum is a garden full of trees.
An arborist is someone who specializes in taking care of trees.

All nouns in Latin have gender, even if they are inanimate objects or intangible ideas.
Often, nouns that end in -a are feminine, but this is a case in which we just have to memorize the gender with the English meaning.

brevi tempore

in a short time

cadō, cad‍ere

to fall

derivatives: decadent, cadence, cascade

clāmō, clām‍āre

to shout

derivative: exclamatory

cūr...?

why...?

Cūr legis?

currō, curr‍ere

to run

derivatives: occur, current, course

dēfessus, dēfess‍a, dēfessum

tired

dum

while

Dum Cornelia legit, Flavia scribit.

ecce

look!

Ecce! puellae ambulant.

eius

his/hers/its

note: (of him/her/it)

est

(from sum, esse)

he/she/it is

and

Cornelia legit et Flavia scribit.

etiam

also, even

Cornelia puella etiam est.

ē/ex

(takes ablative)

out of

faciō, fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

fēmina, fēminae f.

woman

derivative: feminine

gemō, gem‍ere

to groan

habitō, habit‍āre

to live

derivative: uninhabitable

Cornelia in vīllā rūstica aestāte habitat.

An uninhabitable place is where nothing can live.

hodiē

today

hortus, hortī m.

garden

derivative: horticulture

iam

now, already

Flavia iam sedet sub arbore.

(with ablative)

in, on

Cornelia in vīllā rūstica aestāte habitat.

īrātus, īrāt‍a, īrātum

angry

derivative: irate

labōrō, labōr‍āre

to work

derivative: elaborate

laetus, laet‍a, laetum

happy

Laeta est Flavia.

A common pattern of Latin adjectives is -us/-r, -a, -um (2-1-2) in which the forms are presented in the masculine, feminine, and neuter.

Example: laetus, laeta, laetum
(Abbreviated: laetus, -a, -um)
laetus → masculine
laeta → feminine
laetum → neuter

In the example sentence above, laeta is chosen to modify Flavia because -a is the feminine ending. Consider the alternative example below:

Example
Laetus est Marcus.

Adjectives often come after the noun they modify. Watch out for adjectives that are predicate nominatives.

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legō, leg‍ere

to read

derivatives: illegible, lecture

Cornelia legit et Flavia scribit.

lentē

slowly

multī, mult‍ae, multa

many

derivatives: multitude, multiply

nōmine

named

Puella, nomine Flavia, sedet sub arbore.

nōn

not

nōn iam

no longer

pictūra, pictūrae f.

picture

puella, puellae f.

girl

puer, puerī m.

boy

quae (f.)

who

qui (m.)

who

quod

(conjunction)

because

quoque

also

rīdeō, rīd‍ēre

to laugh, smile

derivatives: derision, ridiculous

rūsticus, rūstic‍a, rūsticum

country

Cornelia in vīllā rūstica aestāte habitat.

saepe

often

scrībō, scrīb‍ere

to write

derivatives: scribe, scribble, script

Cornelia legit et Flavia scribit.

sed

but

sedeō, sed‍ēre

to sit

derivatives: sedentary, session, sessile

servus, servī m.

slave

derivatives: servitude, servile

solus, sol‍a, solum

alone

derivatives: solitude, solitary

strēnuus, strēnu‍a, strēnuum

energetic

derivative: strenuous

sub

(takes ablative)

under

subito

suddenly

sum, esse

to be

Cornelia puella est.

In Latin, just like in English, we have verbs that aren't formed — orconjugated — normally. These are called irregular verbs. In English, we say

I am
you are
it is, etc.

NOT

I is
you am
it be

sum, esse is conjugated as follows:

	Singular	Plural
1st person	sum = I am	sumus = we are
2nd person	es = you are	estis = y'all are
3rd person	est = she is	sunt = they are

Infinitive: esse = to be

Practice the "Esse Chant" to drill how sum is conjugated in the present.

sunt

(from sum, esse)

they are

tandem

at last

ubi

(adverb)

where

ubi...?

where...?

ubi

(conjunction)

when

vīcīnus, vīcīn‍a, vīcīnum

neighboring, nearby

derivative: vicinity

vīlla, vīllae f.

house

vir, virī m.

man

Sort:

Alphabetically

By Parts of Speech

(takes accusative)

to, toward

aestāte

in the summer

ager, agrī m.

field

derivatives: agriculture, agrarian

alter, alter‍a, alter‍um

other, another

ambulō, ambul‍āre

to walk

derivatives: amble, ambulatory

amīca, amīc‍ae f.

friend

derivative: amicable

amīcus, amīc‍ī m.

friend

derivative: amicable

arbor, arboris f.

tree

derivatives: arboretum, arborist

brevi tempore

in a short time

cadō, cad‍ere

to fall

derivatives: decadent, cadence, cascade

clāmō, clām‍āre

to shout

derivative: exclamatory

cūr...?

why...?

currō, curr‍ere

to run

derivatives: occur, current, course

dēfessus, dēfess‍a, dēfess‍um

tired

dum

while

ecce

look!

eius

his/hers/its

note: (of him/her/it)

est

(from sum, esse)

he/she/it is

and

etiam

also, even

ē/ex

(takes ablative)

out of

faciō, fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

fēmina, fēmin‍ae f.

woman

derivative: feminine

gemō, gem‍ere

to groan

habitō, habit‍āre

to live

derivative: uninhabitable

hodiē

today

hortus, hort‍ī m.

garden

derivative: horticulture

iam

now, already

(with ablative)

in, on

īrātus, īrāt‍a, īrāt‍um

angry

derivative: irate

labōrō, labōr‍āre

to work

derivative: elaborate

laetus, laet‍a, laet‍um

happy

legō, leg‍ere

to read

derivatives: illegible, lecture

lentē

slowly

multī, mult‍ae, mult‍a

many

derivatives: multitude, multiply

nōmine

named

nōn

not

nōn iam

no longer

pictūra, pictūr‍ae f.

picture

puella, puell‍ae f.

girl

puer, puer‍ī m.

boy

quae (f.)

who

qui (m.)

who

quod

(conjunction)

because

quoque

also

rīdeō, rīd‍ēre

to laugh, smile

derivatives: derision, ridiculous

rūsticus, rūstic‍a, rūstic‍um

country

saepe

often

scrībō, scrīb‍ere

to write

derivatives: scribe, scribble, script

sed

but

sedeō, sed‍ēre

to sit

derivatives: sedentary, session, sessile

servus, serv‍ī m.

slave

derivatives: servitude, servile

solus, sol‍a, sol‍um

alone

derivatives: solitude, solitary

strēnuus, strēnu‍a, strēnu‍um

energetic

derivative: strenuous

sub

(takes ablative)

under

subito

suddenly

sum, esse

to be

sunt

(from sum, esse)

they are

tandem

at last

ubi

(adverb)

where

ubi...?

where...?

ubi

(conjunction)

when

vīcīnus, vīcīn‍a, vīcīn‍um

neighboring, nearby

derivative: vicinity

vīlla, vīll‍ae f.

house

vir, vir‍ī m.

man

Verbs

ambulō, ambul‍āre

to walk

derivatives: amble, ambulatory

cadō, cad‍ere

to fall

derivatives: decadent, cadence, cascade

clāmō, clām‍āre

to shout

derivative: exclamatory

currō, curr‍ere

to run

derivatives: occur, current, course

faciō, fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

gemō, gem‍ere

to groan

habitō, habit‍āre

to live

derivative: uninhabitable

labōrō, labōr‍āre

to work

derivative: elaborate

legō, leg‍ere

to read

derivatives: illegible, lecture

rīdeō, rīd‍ēre

to laugh, smile

derivatives: derision, ridiculous

scrībō, scrīb‍ere

to write

derivatives: scribe, scribble, script

sedeō, sed‍ēre

to sit

derivatives: sedentary, session, sessile

sum, esse

to be

Verbs (Conjugated)

est

(from sum, esse)

he/she/it is

sunt

(from sum, esse)

they are

Nouns

ager, agrī m.

field

derivatives: agriculture, agrarian

amīca, amīc‍ae f.

friend

derivative: amicable

amīcus, amīc‍ī m.

friend

derivative: amicable

arbor, arboris f.

tree

derivatives: arboretum, arborist

fēmina, fēmin‍ae f.

woman

derivative: feminine

hortus, hort‍ī m.

garden

derivative: horticulture

pictūra, pictūr‍ae f.

picture

puella, puell‍ae f.

girl

puer, puer‍ī m.

boy

servus, serv‍ī m.

slave

derivatives: servitude, servile

vīlla, vīll‍ae f.

house

vir, vir‍ī m.

man

Pronouns

eius

his/hers/its

note: (of him/her/it)

quae (f.)

who

qui (m.)

who

Adjectives

alter, alter‍a, alter‍um

other, another

dēfessus, dēfess‍a, dēfess‍um

tired

īrātus, īrāt‍a, īrāt‍um

angry

derivative: irate

laetus, laet‍a, laet‍um

happy

multī, mult‍ae, mult‍a

many

derivatives: multitude, multiply

rūsticus, rūstic‍a, rūstic‍um

country

solus, sol‍a, sol‍um

alone

derivatives: solitude, solitary

strēnuus, strēnu‍a, strēnu‍um

energetic

derivative: strenuous

vīcīnus, vīcīn‍a, vīcīn‍um

neighboring, nearby

derivative: vicinity

Adverbs

aestāte

in the summer

cūr...?

why...?

etiam

also, even

hodiē

today

iam

now, already

lentē

slowly

nōmine

named

nōn

not

nōn iam

no longer

quoque

also

saepe

often

subito

suddenly

tandem

at last

ubi

(adverb)

where

ubi...?

where...?

Prepositions

(takes accusative)

to, toward

ē/ex

(takes ablative)

out of

(with ablative)

in, on

sub

(takes ablative)

under

Prepositional Phrases

ex agrīs‍

(ablative plural)

out of the fields

ex agrō‍

(ablative singular)

out of the field

in pictūr‍ā

(ablative singular)

in the picture

sub arbore‍

(ablative singular)

under the tree

Conjunctions

dum

while

and

quod

(conjunction)

because

sed

but

ubi

(conjunction)

when

Interjections

ecce

look!

Other Phrases

brevi tempore

in a short time

Settings

Additional Resources:

Total Words Learned: 65

Comprising Chapters 1-3

Last Updated: 08/14/2025

Example Sentence

Translation Tip

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Latin Adjectives

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Synonym

Example Sentence

Derivatives

Why feminine?

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Derivatives

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Latin Adjectives

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Irregular Verb Tea

Verbs

Verbs (Conjugated)

Nouns

Pronouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Prepositions

Prepositional Phrases

Conjunctions

Interjections

Other Phrases