← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
The pronoun "nōs" means "we" and is used as the first person plural personal pronoun. It declines for case but not for gender. This lesson introduces its forms and usage in various contexts.
50.1 Templum the temple nōs us vidēmus. we see
50.2 Ad to forum the forum nōs us ambulāmus. we walk
50.3 Librōs books pater father nōbīs to us dat. gives
50.4 Magister the teacher nōs us docet. teaches
50.5 Is he nōbīscum with us venit. comes
50.6 Nōbīs for us facile easy est. it is
50.7 Nostrī of us memor mindful est. he is
50.8 In in hortō the garden nōs us sedēmus. we sit
50.9 Fābulam a story ea she nōbīs to us narrat. tells
50.10 Per through viam the street nōs us currimus. we run
50.11 Amīcī friends nōs us vocant. call
50.12 Eī to him nōs us respondēmus. we respond
50.13 Id it nōbīs to us plācet. pleases
50.14 Bonī good nōs we sumus. are
50.15 Magister the teacher nōbīscum with us ambulat. walks
50.1 Templum nōs vidēmus. We see the temple.
50.2 Ad forum nōs ambulāmus. We walk to the forum.
50.3 Librōs pater nōbīs dat. Father gives us books.
50.4 Magister nōs docet. The teacher teaches us.
50.5 Is nōbīscum venit. He comes with us.
50.6 Nōbīs facile est. It is easy for us.
50.7 Nostrī memor est. He is mindful of us.
50.8 In hortō nōs sedēmus. We sit in the garden.
50.9 Fābulam ea nōbīs narrat. She tells us a story.
50.10 Per viam nōs currimus. We run through the street.
50.11 Amīcī nōs vocant. Friends call us.
50.12 Eī nōs respondēmus. We respond to him.
50.13 Id nōbīs plācet. It pleases us.
50.14 Bonī nōs sumus. We are good.
50.15 Magister nōbīscum ambulat. The teacher walks with us.
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50.1 Templum nōs vidēmus.
50.2 Ad forum nōs ambulāmus.
50.3 Librōs pater nōbīs dat.
50.4 Magister nōs docet.
50.5 Is nōbīscum venit.
50.6 Nōbīs facile est.
50.7 Nostrī memor est.
50.8 In hortō nōs sedēmus.
50.9 Fābulam ea nōbīs narrat.
50.10 Per viam nōs currimus.
50.11 Amīcī nōs vocant.
50.12 Eī nōs respondēmus.
50.13 Id nōbīs plācet.
50.14 Bonī nōs sumus.
50.15 Magister nōbīscum ambulat.
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The pronoun "nōs" has different forms for different cases:
Nominative (subject): nōs (we) Genitive (possession): nostrī/nostrum (of us) Dative (indirect object): nōbīs (to/for us) Accusative (direct object): nōs (us) Ablative: nōbīs (by/with/from us)
Special forms: -
nōbīscum = cum nōbīs (with us) - the preposition cum attaches to the end -
nostrum is used for partitive expressions ("of us" in the sense of "some of us") -
nostrī is used for objective genitive ("of us" as object of action)
The pronoun agrees in number (always plural) but not in gender, as it represents the speakers.
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For English speakers, understanding "nōs" requires recognizing several cultural differences: -
Latin uses "nōs" more formally than English "we" -
The distinction between nostrī/nostrum doesn't exist in English -
The attachment of cum to form nōbīscum shows Latin's flexibility -
First person plural was important in Roman political and legal documents -
Romans used "nōs" to show collective identity and group membership
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From Cicero's "Pro Archia" (1.1):
50.16 In in hortō the garden botanicō botanical herbās herbs nōs we colligimus. collect.
50.17 Plantae plants novae new nōbīs to us placent. please.
50.18 Fōlia leaves et and flōrēs flowers nōs we studiōsē carefully exāmināmus. examine.
50.19 Nōmina the names plantārum of plants magister the teacher nōbīs to us explicat. explains.
50.20 Rādīcēs roots et and sēmina seeds nōs we observāmus. observe.
50.21 Specimen the specimen nōbīscum with us ad to scholam school portāmus. we carry.
50.22 Nōbīs to us necesse necessary est it is plantās plants classīficāre. to classify.
50.23 Arbōrēs trees altās tall nōs we quoque also metīmur. measure.
50.24 Labōrēs labors nostrī our scientiam knowledge augent. increase.
50.25 Varietātēs varieties novās new nōs we studemus. study.
50.26 Dē about familiīs families plantārum of plants magister the teacher nōbīs to us docet. teaches.
50.27 Specimina specimens nōs we siccāmus dry et and servāmus. preserve.
50.28 Librī books dē about botanicā botany nōbīscum with us sunt. are.
50.29 Methodum the method Linnaeanam Linnaean nōs we sequimur. follow.
50.30 Hortī gardens nostrī our multās many speciēs species continent. contain.
Nōs enim omnēs in studiīs litterārum versāmur quī vītam sine hīs studiīs agere nōn possumus. For all of us who cannot spend our life without these pursuits are engaged in the study of literature.
Nōs enim omnēs in studiīs litterārum versāmur quī vītam sine hīs studiīs agere nōn possumus.
This passage demonstrates: -
Nōs as subject of main clause -
Complex sentence structure with relative clause -
First person plural showing collective identity -
Typical Ciceronian periodic style
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Here's a cleaned-up translation with grammatical notes:
50.16 We collect herbs in the botanical garden. - colligimus = 1st pl. pres. (we collect)
50.17 New plants please us. - placent = 3rd pl. pres. (they please); dative nōbīs (to us)
50.18 We carefully examine the leaves and flowers. - exāmināmus = 1st pl. pres.
50.19 The teacher explains the names of plants to us. - explicat = 3rd sg. pres.; plantārum = gen. pl.
50.20 We observe the roots and seeds. - observāmus = 1st pl. pres.
50.21 We carry a specimen to school with us. - portāmus = 1st pl. pres.; nōbīscum = with us
50.22 It is necessary for us to classify plants. - necesse est + infinitive construction
50.23 We also measure the tall trees. - metīmur = 1st pl. pres.; altās = acc. fem. pl.
50.24 Our labors increase knowledge. - augent = 3rd pl. pres.
50.25 We study new varieties. - studemus = 1st pl. pres. + acc.
50.26 The teacher teaches us about plant families. - dē + abl. (about/concerning)
50.27 We dry and preserve specimens. - siccāmus = 1st pl. pres.
50.28 Books about botany are with us. - sunt = 3rd pl. pres.
50.29 We follow the Linnaean method. - sequimur = 1st pl. pres.
50.30 Our gardens contain many species. - continent = 3rd pl. pres.; multās = acc. fem. pl.
50.16 In hortō botanicō herbās nōs colligimus. We collect herbs in the botanical garden.
50.17 Plantae novae nōbīs placent. New plants please us.
50.18 Fōlia et flōrēs nōs studiōsē exāmināmus. We carefully examine leaves and flowers.
50.19 Nōmina plantārum magister nōbīs explicat. The teacher explains the names of plants to us.
50.20 Rādīcēs et sēmina nōs observāmus. We observe roots and seeds.
50.21 Specimen nōbīscum ad scholam portāmus. We carry the specimen with us to school.
50.22 Nōbīs necesse est plantās classīficāre. It is necessary for us to classify plants.
50.23 Arbōrēs altās nōs quoque metīmur. We also measure tall trees.
50.24 Labōrēs nostrī scientiam augent. Our labors increase knowledge.
50.25 Varietātēs novās nōs studemus. We study new varieties.
50.26 Dē familiīs plantārum magister nōbīs docet. The teacher teaches us about plant families.
50.27 Specimina nōs siccāmus et servāmus. We dry and preserve specimens.
50.28 Librī dē botanicā nōbīscum sunt. Books about botany are with us.
50.29 Methodum Linnaeanam nōs sequimur. We follow the Linnaean method.
50.30 Hortī nostrī multās speciēs continent. Our gardens contain many species.
50.16 In hortō botanicō herbās nōs colligimus.
50.17 Plantae novae nōbīs placent.
50.18 Fōlia et flōrēs nōs studiōsē exāmināmus.
50.19 Nōmina plantārum magister nōbīs explicat.
50.20 Rādīcēs et sēmina nōs observāmus.
50.21 Specimen nōbīscum ad scholam portāmus.
50.22 Nōbīs necesse est plantās classīficāre.
50.23 Arbōrēs altās nōs quoque metīmur.
50.24 Labōrēs nostrī scientiam augent.
50.25 Varietātēs novās nōs studemus.
50.26 Dē familiīs plantārum magister nōbīs docet.
50.27 Specimina nōs siccāmus et servāmus.
50.28 Librī dē botanicā nōbīscum sunt.
50.29 Methodum Linnaeanam nōs sequimur.
50.30 Hortī nostrī multās speciēs continent.
In botanical Latin, several important grammatical features are demonstrated: -
Technical vocabulary uses standard Latin grammar -
Botanical terms often appear in genitive case (plantārum) -
Scientific descriptions frequently use present tense -
Adjectives commonly follow nouns in technical descriptions -
First person plural (nōs) is common in scientific writing -
Ablative case used for scientific instruments and methods
The genre section shows how Latin remains the international language of botanical description, using classical grammar to express modern scientific concepts.
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