Final Cumulative

Card Design

Color-code Parts of Speech

Card Front

Dictionary Information

Abbreviate

Macrons (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū)

All

Essential (2nd conjugation infinitives)

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.

Final Cumulative

absum,
abesse

to be away

derivative: absent

accidit

(3rd person singular)

(it) happens

agō,
ag‍ere

to do, drive, act

alius,
ali‍a,
ali‍ud

other, another

animus,
anim‍ī m.

mind

derivative: animosity

aperiō,
aper‍īre

to open

derivative: aperture

appāreō,
appār‍ēre

to appear

apud

(takes accusative)

with, among

arripiō,
arrip‍ere

to grab

ars,
artis f.

skill

derivative: artisanal

ascendō,
ascend‍ere

to go up, climb up

derivative: ascension

bonus,
bon‍a,
bon‍um

good

canis,
canis m./f.

dog

derivative: canine

caupōna,
caupon‍ae f.

inn

cēlō,
cēl‍āre

to hide

derivative: conceal

cessō,
cess‍āre

to quit

cīvis,
cīvis m./f.

citizen

derivative: civic

crās

tomorrow

derivative: procrastinate

culpa,
culp‍ae f.

fault

cum

(takes ablative)

with

cūnctī,
cūnct‍ae,
cūnct‍a

all

custōdiō,
custōd‍īre

to guard

derivative: custody

dīcō,
dīc‍ere

to say

derivatives: dictator, contradiction

diū

for a long time

dominus,
domin‍ī m.

master

derivative: dominate

dormiō,
dorm‍īre

to sleep

derivatives: dormant, dormitory

dūcō,
dūc‍ere

to lead

derivatives: productive, conducive, conductor, induce

effugiō,
effug‍ere

to run away, escape

eō,
īre

to go

faciō,
fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

ferō,
ferre

to bring

derivative: reference

ferō, ferre is an irregular verb, so we need to memorize its forms. Maybe this song will help you:

filia,
fili‍ae f.

daughter

filius,
fili‍ī m.

son

fortasse

maybe

fragor,
fragōris m.

crash

frater,
fratris m.

brother

derivative: fraternity

fūrtim

sneakily

derivatives: furtive, furtively

gaudeō,
gaud‍ēre

to be glad

habeō,
hab‍ēre

to have, hold

homō,
hominis m.

person

iaciō,
iac‍ere

to throw

derivatives: eject, projector

identidem

again and again

ignāvus,
ignāv‍a,
ignāv‍um

cowardly, lazy

illud (n.)

that

intereā

meanwhile

inveniō,
inven‍īre

to find

derivative: invention

īra,
īr‍ae f.

anger, wrath

derivative: ire

itaque

and so

iter,
itineris n.

journey

derivative: itinerary

iterum

again

iubeō,
iub‍ēre

to order

līberī,
līber‍ōrum m.

children

longus,
long‍a,
long‍um

long

lūdō,
lud‍ere

to play

derivative: ludicrous

magnā voce

in a loud voice

molestus,
molest‍a,
molest‍um

annoying

mortuus,
mortu‍a,
mortu‍um

DEAD

derivative: mortality

moveō,
mov‍ēre

to move

derivative: motion

murmur,
murmuris n.

rumble

nōlō,
nolle

to not want

nōlō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I don't want

nomen,
nominis n.

name

noster,
nostr‍a,
nostr‍um

our

novus,
nov‍a,
nov‍um

new

derivatives: novelty, novice

nox,
noctis f.

night

nūbēs,
nūbis f.

cloud

onus,
oneris n.

load, burden

parātus,
parāt‍a,
parāt‍um

ready

pars,
partis f.

part

pater,
patris m.

father

derivatives: paternalistic, patrimony

perīculum,
perīcul‍ī n.

danger

perterritus,
perterrit‍a,
perterrit‍um

frightened

pēs,
pedis m.

foot

derivative: pedestrian

plaustrum,
plaustr‍ī n.

wagon

plēnus,
plēn‍a,
plēn‍um

full

derivative: plenary

pōnō,
pōn‍ere

to put, place

derivatives: position, component

porta,
port‍ae f.

gate

derivative: portal

potest

(from possum, posse)

he/she/it can

praetereā

besides

praetereō,
praeterīre

to go past

procul

in the distance

pulvis,
pulveris m.

dust

derivative: pulverize

quam...!

so...!

quamquam

although

rāmus,
rām‍ī m.

branch

relinquō,
relinqu‍ere

to leave behind

derivative: relinquish

repellō,
repell‍ere

to drive away

derivative: repulsive

rivus,
riv‍ī m.

stream

note: not river

derivative: rivulet

rogō,
rog‍āre

to ask

derivative: interrogate

rota,
rot‍ae f.

wheel

derivative: rotation

scelestus,
scelest‍a,
scelest‍um

wicked

sciō,
sc‍īre

to know

derivatives: science, omniscient, prescient

sē

himself, herself, itself, themselves

soleō,
sol‍ēre

to usually (do)

note: takes infinitive

soror,
sororis f.

sister

derivative: sorority

tantum

only

tardus,
tard‍a,
tard‍um

slow

derivative: tardiness

temerārius,
temerāri‍a,
temerāri‍um

reckless

derivative: temerity

tempus,
temporis n.

time

derivative: contemporary

trahō,
trah‍ere

to drag, pull

derivative: protracted

uxor,
uxoris f.

wife

vertō,
vert‍ere

to turn

derivatives: conversion, vertical, invert

vir,
vir‍ī m.

man

vītō,
vīt‍āre

to avoid

derivative: inevitable

vocō,
voc‍āre

to call

derivatives: vocation, invoke

volō,
velle

to want

volō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I want

vult

(3rd person singular)

he/she/it wants

Sort:

Alphabetically

By Parts of Speech

absum,
abesse

to be away

derivative: absent

accidit

(3rd person singular)

(it) happens

agō,
ag‍ere

to do, drive, act

alius,
ali‍a,
ali‍ud

other, another

animus,
anim‍ī m.

mind

derivative: animosity

aperiō,
aper‍īre

to open

derivative: aperture

appāreō,
appār‍ēre

to appear

apud

(takes accusative)

with, among

arripiō,
arrip‍ere

to grab

ars,
artis f.

skill

derivative: artisanal

ascendō,
ascend‍ere

to go up, climb up

derivative: ascension

bonus,
bon‍a,
bon‍um

good

canis,
canis m./f.

dog

derivative: canine

caupōna,
caupon‍ae f.

inn

cēlō,
cēl‍āre

to hide

derivative: conceal

cessō,
cess‍āre

to quit

cīvis,
cīvis m./f.

citizen

derivative: civic

crās

tomorrow

derivative: procrastinate

culpa,
culp‍ae f.

fault

cum

(takes ablative)

with

cūnctī,
cūnct‍ae,
cūnct‍a

all

custōdiō,
custōd‍īre

to guard

derivative: custody

dīcō,
dīc‍ere

to say

derivatives: dictator, contradiction

diū

for a long time

dominus,
domin‍ī m.

master

derivative: dominate

dormiō,
dorm‍īre

to sleep

derivatives: dormant, dormitory

dūcō,
dūc‍ere

to lead

derivatives: productive, conducive, conductor, induce

effugiō,
effug‍ere

to run away, escape

eō,
īre

to go

faciō,
fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

ferō,
ferre

to bring

derivative: reference

filia,
fili‍ae f.

daughter

filius,
fili‍ī m.

son

fortasse

maybe

fragor,
fragōris m.

crash

frater,
fratris m.

brother

derivative: fraternity

fūrtim

sneakily

derivatives: furtive, furtively

gaudeō,
gaud‍ēre

to be glad

habeō,
hab‍ēre

to have, hold

homō,
hominis m.

person

iaciō,
iac‍ere

to throw

derivatives: eject, projector

identidem

again and again

ignāvus,
ignāv‍a,
ignāv‍um

cowardly, lazy

illud (n.)

that

intereā

meanwhile

inveniō,
inven‍īre

to find

derivative: invention

īra,
īr‍ae f.

anger, wrath

derivative: ire

itaque

and so

iter,
itineris n.

journey

derivative: itinerary

iterum

again

iubeō,
iub‍ēre

to order

līberī,
līber‍ōrum m.

children

longus,
long‍a,
long‍um

long

lūdō,
lud‍ere

to play

derivative: ludicrous

magnā voce

in a loud voice

molestus,
molest‍a,
molest‍um

annoying

mortuus,
mortu‍a,
mortu‍um

DEAD

derivative: mortality

moveō,
mov‍ēre

to move

derivative: motion

murmur,
murmuris n.

rumble

nōlō,
nolle

to not want

nōlō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I don't want

nomen,
nominis n.

name

noster,
nostr‍a,
nostr‍um

our

novus,
nov‍a,
nov‍um

new

derivatives: novelty, novice

nox,
noctis f.

night

nūbēs,
nūbis f.

cloud

onus,
oneris n.

load, burden

parātus,
parāt‍a,
parāt‍um

ready

pars,
partis f.

part

pater,
patris m.

father

derivatives: paternalistic, patrimony

perīculum,
perīcul‍ī n.

danger

perterritus,
perterrit‍a,
perterrit‍um

frightened

pēs,
pedis m.

foot

derivative: pedestrian

plaustrum,
plaustr‍ī n.

wagon

plēnus,
plēn‍a,
plēn‍um

full

derivative: plenary

pōnō,
pōn‍ere

to put, place

derivatives: position, component

porta,
port‍ae f.

gate

derivative: portal

potest

(from possum, posse)

he/she/it can

praetereā

besides

praetereō,
praeterīre

to go past

procul

in the distance

pulvis,
pulveris m.

dust

derivative: pulverize

quam...!

so...!

quamquam

although

rāmus,
rām‍ī m.

branch

relinquō,
relinqu‍ere

to leave behind

derivative: relinquish

repellō,
repell‍ere

to drive away

derivative: repulsive

rivus,
riv‍ī m.

stream

note: not river

derivative: rivulet

rogō,
rog‍āre

to ask

derivative: interrogate

rota,
rot‍ae f.

wheel

derivative: rotation

scelestus,
scelest‍a,
scelest‍um

wicked

sciō,
sc‍īre

to know

derivatives: science, omniscient, prescient

sē

himself, herself, itself, themselves

soleō,
sol‍ēre

to usually (do)

note: takes infinitive

soror,
sororis f.

sister

derivative: sorority

tantum

only

tardus,
tard‍a,
tard‍um

slow

derivative: tardiness

temerārius,
temerāri‍a,
temerāri‍um

reckless

derivative: temerity

tempus,
temporis n.

time

derivative: contemporary

trahō,
trah‍ere

to drag, pull

derivative: protracted

uxor,
uxoris f.

wife

vertō,
vert‍ere

to turn

derivatives: conversion, vertical, invert

vir,
vir‍ī m.

man

vītō,
vīt‍āre

to avoid

derivative: inevitable

vocō,
voc‍āre

to call

derivatives: vocation, invoke

volō,
velle

to want

volō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I want

vult

(3rd person singular)

he/she/it wants

Verbs

absum,
abesse

to be away

derivative: absent

agō,
ag‍ere

to do, drive, act

aperiō,
aper‍īre

to open

derivative: aperture

appāreō,
appār‍ēre

to appear

arripiō,
arrip‍ere

to grab

ascendō,
ascend‍ere

to go up, climb up

derivative: ascension

cēlō,
cēl‍āre

to hide

derivative: conceal

cessō,
cess‍āre

to quit

custōdiō,
custōd‍īre

to guard

derivative: custody

dīcō,
dīc‍ere

to say

derivatives: dictator, contradiction

dormiō,
dorm‍īre

to sleep

derivatives: dormant, dormitory

dūcō,
dūc‍ere

to lead

derivatives: productive, conducive, conductor, induce

effugiō,
effug‍ere

to run away, escape

eō,
īre

to go

faciō,
fac‍ere

to make, do

derivatives: manufacture, effect, confection

ferō,
ferre

to bring

derivative: reference

gaudeō,
gaud‍ēre

to be glad

habeō,
hab‍ēre

to have, hold

iaciō,
iac‍ere

to throw

derivatives: eject, projector

inveniō,
inven‍īre

to find

derivative: invention

iubeō,
iub‍ēre

to order

lūdō,
lud‍ere

to play

derivative: ludicrous

moveō,
mov‍ēre

to move

derivative: motion

nōlō,
nolle

to not want

pōnō,
pōn‍ere

to put, place

derivatives: position, component

praetereō,
praeterīre

to go past

relinquō,
relinqu‍ere

to leave behind

derivative: relinquish

repellō,
repell‍ere

to drive away

derivative: repulsive

rogō,
rog‍āre

to ask

derivative: interrogate

sciō,
sc‍īre

to know

derivatives: science, omniscient, prescient

soleō,
sol‍ēre

to usually (do)

note: takes infinitive

trahō,
trah‍ere

to drag, pull

derivative: protracted

vertō,
vert‍ere

to turn

derivatives: conversion, vertical, invert

vītō,
vīt‍āre

to avoid

derivative: inevitable

vocō,
voc‍āre

to call

derivatives: vocation, invoke

volō,
velle

to want

Verbs (Conjugated)

accidit

(3rd person singular)

(it) happens

nōlō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I don't want

potest

(from possum, posse)

he/she/it can

volō (alone)

(1st person singular)

I want

vult

(3rd person singular)

he/she/it wants

Nouns

animus,
anim‍ī m.

mind

derivative: animosity

ars,
artis f.

skill

derivative: artisanal

canis,
canis m./f.

dog

derivative: canine

caupōna,
caupon‍ae f.

inn

cīvis,
cīvis m./f.

citizen

derivative: civic

culpa,
culp‍ae f.

fault

dominus,
domin‍ī m.

master

derivative: dominate

filia,
fili‍ae f.

daughter

filius,
fili‍ī m.

son

fragor,
fragōris m.

crash

frater,
fratris m.

brother

derivative: fraternity

homō,
hominis m.

person

īra,
īr‍ae f.

anger, wrath

derivative: ire

iter,
itineris n.

journey

derivative: itinerary

līberī,
līber‍ōrum m.

children

murmur,
murmuris n.

rumble

nomen,
nominis n.

name

nox,
noctis f.

night

nūbēs,
nūbis f.

cloud

onus,
oneris n.

load, burden

pars,
partis f.

part

pater,
patris m.

father

derivatives: paternalistic, patrimony

perīculum,
perīcul‍ī n.

danger

pēs,
pedis m.

foot

derivative: pedestrian

plaustrum,
plaustr‍ī n.

wagon

porta,
port‍ae f.

gate

derivative: portal

pulvis,
pulveris m.

dust

derivative: pulverize

rāmus,
rām‍ī m.

branch

rivus,
riv‍ī m.

stream

note: not river

derivative: rivulet

rota,
rot‍ae f.

wheel

derivative: rotation

soror,
sororis f.

sister

derivative: sorority

tempus,
temporis n.

time

derivative: contemporary

uxor,
uxoris f.

wife

vir,
vir‍ī m.

man

Pronouns

illud (n.)

that

sē

himself, herself, itself, themselves

Adjectives

alius,
ali‍a,
ali‍ud

other, another

bonus,
bon‍a,
bon‍um

good

cūnctī,
cūnct‍ae,
cūnct‍a

all

ignāvus,
ignāv‍a,
ignāv‍um

cowardly, lazy

longus,
long‍a,
long‍um

long

molestus,
molest‍a,
molest‍um

annoying

mortuus,
mortu‍a,
mortu‍um

DEAD

derivative: mortality

noster,
nostr‍a,
nostr‍um

our

novus,
nov‍a,
nov‍um

new

derivatives: novelty, novice

parātus,
parāt‍a,
parāt‍um

ready

perterritus,
perterrit‍a,
perterrit‍um

frightened

plēnus,
plēn‍a,
plēn‍um

full

derivative: plenary

scelestus,
scelest‍a,
scelest‍um

wicked

tardus,
tard‍a,
tard‍um

slow

derivative: tardiness

temerārius,
temerāri‍a,
temerāri‍um

reckless

derivative: temerity

Adverbs

crās

tomorrow

derivative: procrastinate

diū

for a long time

fortasse

maybe

fūrtim

sneakily

derivatives: furtive, furtively

identidem

again and again

intereā

meanwhile

itaque

and so

iterum

again

praetereā

besides

procul

in the distance

quam...!

so...!

tantum

only

Prepositions

apud

(takes accusative)

with, among

cum

(takes ablative)

with

Prepositional Phrases

ad vīllam‍

(accusative singular)

to the house

ad vīllās‍

(accusative plural)

to the houses

in piscinā‍

(ablative singular)

in the fishpond

in piscinam‍

(accusative singular)

into the fishpond

Conjunctions

quamquam

although

Other Phrases

magnā voce

in a loud voice

Settings

Fero Song

Verbs

Verbs (Conjugated)

Nouns

Pronouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Prepositions

Prepositional Phrases

Conjunctions

Other Phrases