The preposition dē is one of the most versatile and frequently used prepositions in Latin. It governs the ablative case and carries two primary meanings: (1) "down from" indicating motion from a higher place, and (2) "about/concerning" indicating the topic of discussion or thought.
Definition: dē is a preposition that requires the ablative case and expresses either physical motion downward from something or abstract reference to a topic.
Question: What does dē mean in Latin? Answer: Dē is a Latin preposition meaning "down from" (physical motion) or "about/concerning" (topic reference). It always takes the ablative case.
In this lesson, dē will appear in various conversational contexts, demonstrating both its physical and abstract meanings. You'll see it used in questions and answers, showing how Romans actually discussed topics, expressed opinions, and described movements in everyday conversation.
Course: Conversational Latin for English Speakers Level: Beginner to Intermediate Focus: Preposition usage in natural dialogue Learning Objective: Master the use of dē with ablative case in conversational contexts
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dē always governs the ablative case -
Physical meaning: "down from" (motion from higher place) -
Abstract meaning: "about, concerning" (topic of discussion) -
Common in conversational phrases like "quid dē...?" (what about...?) -
Essential for expressing opinions and discussing topics
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46.1 Quid what dē about hodiernō today's tempore weather sentīs do you think
46.2 Dē about hāc this rē matter nihil nothing certī certain sciō I know
46.3 Puer the boy dē from arbore the tree dēscendit climbs down
46.4 Multum much dē about tuā your valētūdine health cōgitō I think
46.5 Dē from monte the mountain aqua water fluit flows
46.6 Quid what audīvistī have you heard dē about nostrīs our amīcīs friends
46.7 Magister the teacher dē about philosophiā philosophy disputat discusses
46.8 Dē down from caelō the sky imber rain cadit falls
46.9 Loquāmur let us speak dē about crāstinō tomorrow's itinere journey
46.10 Puella the girl dē from lectō the bed surgit rises
46.11 Dē about tuīs your cōnsiliīs plans mē me certiōrem more certain fac make
46.12 Avēs birds dē from rāmīs the branches volant fly
46.13 Quid what dē about hōc this librō book iūdicās do you judge
46.14 Dē from summō the highest tēctō roof fēlēs the cat salit jumps
46.15 Narrā tell mihi me aliquid something dē about tuō your patriā homeland
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46.1 Quid dē hodiernō tempore sentīs? What do you think about today's weather?
46.2 Dē hāc rē nihil certī sciō. I know nothing certain about this matter.
46.3 Puer dē arbore dēscendit. The boy climbs down from the tree.
46.4 Multum dē tuā valētūdine cōgitō. I think much about your health.
46.5 Dē monte aqua fluit. Water flows down from the mountain.
46.6 Quid audīvistī dē nostrīs amīcīs? What have you heard about our friends?
46.7 Magister dē philosophiā disputat. The teacher discusses philosophy.
46.8 Dē caelō imber cadit. Rain falls from the sky.
46.9 Loquāmur dē crāstinō itinere. Let us speak about tomorrow's journey.
46.10 Puella dē lectō surgit. The girl rises from her bed.
46.11 Dē tuīs cōnsiliīs mē certiōrem fac. Inform me about your plans.
46.12 Avēs dē rāmīs volant. Birds fly from the branches.
46.13 Quid dē hōc librō iūdicās? What is your judgment about this book?
46.14 Dē summō tēctō fēlēs salit. The cat jumps from the highest roof.
46.15 Narrā mihi aliquid dē tuō patriā. Tell me something about your homeland.
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46.1 Quid dē hodiernō tempore sentīs?
46.2 Dē hāc rē nihil certī sciō.
46.3 Puer dē arbore dēscendit.
46.4 Multum dē tuā valētūdine cōgitō.
46.5 Dē monte aqua fluit.
46.6 Quid audīvistī dē nostrīs amīcīs?
46.7 Magister dē philosophiā disputat.
46.8 Dē caelō imber cadit.
46.9 Loquāmur dē crāstinō itinere.
46.10 Puella dē lectō surgit.
46.11 Dē tuīs cōnsiliīs mē certiōrem fac.
46.12 Avēs dē rāmīs volant.
46.13 Quid dē hōc librō iūdicās?
46.14 Dē summō tēctō fēlēs salit.
46.15 Narrā mihi aliquid dē tuō patriā.
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The preposition dē is a fundamental building block of Latin expression, governing the ablative case exclusively. Understanding its dual nature—physical and abstract—is crucial for conversational fluency.
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Case Required: Always ablative -
Position: Usually precedes its object, though poets sometimes separate them -
Elision: The final -ē can elide before a vowel (d'amīcō)
1. Physical Motion Downward ("down from, off from") -
Indicates movement from a higher to lower position -
Examples: dē monte (down from the mountain), dē arbore (from the tree) -
Often pairs with verbs of motion: dēscendō, cadō, fluō, saliō
2. Abstract Reference ("about, concerning, regarding") -
Indicates the topic of thought, speech, or writing -
Examples: dē amīcīs (about friends), dē philosophiā (concerning philosophy) -
Common with verbs of thinking, speaking, hearing: cōgitō, dīcō, audiō
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Case Error: Using accusative instead of ablative -
WRONG: dē amīcum -
CORRECT: dē amīcō -
Confusing with ex/ē: -
dē = down from (vertical motion) or about -
ex/ē = out of (from inside) -
Word Order in Questions: -
Natural: Quid dē hōc sentīs? -
Awkward: Dē hōc quid sentīs?
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Identify the meaning needed: -
Physical motion down? → "down from" -
Topic of discussion? → "about" -
Put the noun in ablative case: -
1st declension: -ā -
2nd declension: -ō -
3rd declension: -e or -ī -
Place dē before the ablative noun: -
dē + ablative noun -
Include any adjectives in ablative too -
Check your verb: -
Motion verbs with physical dē -
Mental/verbal verbs with abstract dē
Unlike English, which uses many different prepositions (about, concerning, regarding, on the subject of), Latin uses dē for all these meanings. English speakers must remember that "down from" and "about" are the same word in Latin.
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Quid dē...? (What about...?) -
Dē quō? (About what/whom?) -
Dē mē (about me) -
Dē tē (about you) -
dē diē in diem (from day to day)
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For English speakers learning conversational Latin, understanding how Romans used dē in daily discourse reveals much about their communication style. Romans frequently began conversations with "Quid dē...?" just as we might say "What about...?" or "How about...?" This construction appears throughout Latin literature in both formal and informal contexts.
In Roman society, discussing matters "dē rē pūblicā" (about public affairs) was a mark of citizenship and education. Upper-class Romans would gather in the Forum or at dinner parties to debate "dē philosophiā" or "dē litterīs" (about literature). The preposition dē thus became associated with intellectual discourse.
The physical meaning of dē reflects Roman architecture and topography. Romans built on hills (dē colle), had multi-story houses (dē tabulātō superiōre), and their aqueducts brought water "dē montibus" (down from the mountains). Understanding this vertical dimension of Roman life helps explain why dē primarily means "down from" rather than just "from."
In modern conversational Latin groups and Vatican Latin, dē remains essential for topic introduction. Common phrases include: -
"Quid novī dē...?" (What's new about...?) -
"Dē quō loqueris?" (What are you talking about?) -
"Dē mē male dīcit" (He speaks badly about me)
Where English speakers might use various prepositions or constructions ("regarding," "as for," "when it comes to"), Latin speakers consistently use dē. This simplicity makes dē one of the most useful prepositions for beginners to master early in their conversational Latin journey.
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From the Colloquia Scholica (medieval school dialogues), a conversation between students:
Original Text: "Quid dē magistrō nostrō sentīs? Ego quidem putō eum virum esse doctissimum. Dē grammaticā enim et dē rhētoricā optimē disputat. Sed tū quid dē eius sevēritāte dīcis? Nōnne timēs cum dē tuīs errōribus loquitur?"
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quid what dē about magistrō teacher nostrō our sentīs do you think? Ego I quidem indeed putō think eum him virum man esse to be doctissimum most learned. Dē about grammaticā grammar enim for et and dē about rhētoricā rhetoric optimē excellently disputat he discusses. Sed but tū you quid what dē about eius his sevēritāte strictness dīcis do you say? Nōnne surely timēs you fear cum when dē about tuīs your errōribus errors loquitur he speaks?
Quid dē magistrō nostrō sentīs? Ego quidem putō eum virum esse doctissimum. Dē grammaticā enim et dē rhētoricā optimē disputat. Sed tū quid dē eius sevēritāte dīcis? Nōnne timēs cum dē tuīs errōribus loquitur?
What do you think about our teacher? I indeed think he is a most learned man. For he discusses grammar and rhetoric excellently. But what do you say about his strictness? Don't you fear when he speaks about your errors?
Quid dē magistrō nostrō sentīs? Ego quidem putō eum virum esse doctissimum. Dē grammaticā enim et dē rhētoricā optimē disputat. Sed tū quid dē eius sevēritāte dīcis? Nōnne timēs cum dē tuīs errōribus loquitur?
This passage demonstrates multiple uses of dē in natural conversation: -
"dē magistrō nostrō" - about our teacher (topic of opinion) -
"dē grammaticā" - about grammar (subject of discussion) -
"dē rhētoricā" - about rhetoric (parallel to grammaticā) -
"dē eius sevēritāte" - about his strictness (topic of inquiry) -
"dē tuīs errōribus" - about your errors (subject of speech)
Notice how dē structures the entire conversation, introducing each new topic. The passage also shows typical word order in questions with dē, and how Romans naturally repeated the preposition rather than using conjunctions to link multiple objects.
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This is a beautiful philosophical dialogue in Latin about happiness, virtue, pain, and wisdom. Let me help organize the key themes:
Happiness (46.16-46.19) - One friend asks about thinking on fēlīcitās (happiness) - The other has pondered much but found nothing certain - Suggestion: we depend too much on external things (externīs bonīs) - External hopes often fail us
Virtue as Inner Source (46.20-46.21) - Question shifts to virtūs (virtue) itself - Belief that true joy (laetitiam) comes from an inner source (interiōre fonte)
Pain and Philosophy (46.22-46.27) - Philosophers teach we cannot fall from the highest good (summō bonō) - One speaker doubts this doctrine when seeing afflicted friends - Insight: perhaps wisdom itself arises from adversity (ē adversīs...orītur) - A paradoxical but profound truth
Continuing Dialogue (46.28-46.30) - They learn more daily through conversation - Gratitude for discussing such great matters - Plan to continue tomorrow with other questions
- Realistic doubt mixed with philosophical idealism - The tension between theory and lived experience - Value placed on dialogue and daily learning (cotīdiē...discō)
Would you like me to parse any particular sentences more closely?
46.16 Salvē amīce, quid hodiē dē fēlīcitāte cōgitās? Hello friend, what are you thinking about happiness today?
46.17 Dē eā rē multum meditātus sum, sed nihil certī invēnī. I have pondered much about that matter, but I've found nothing certain.
46.18 Fortasse dē aliīs rēbus nimium pendēmus. Perhaps we depend too much on other things.
46.19 Vērum dīcis, nam dē externīs bonīs saepe spēs nostra dēcidit. You speak truth, for our hope often falls away from external goods.
46.20 Quid ergō dē virtūte ipsā sentīs? What then do you think about virtue itself?
46.21 Crēdō nōs dē interiōre fonte vēram laetitiam haurīre posse. I believe we can draw true joy from an inner source.
46.22 Sed dīc mihi, dē dolōre quid philosophī docent? But tell me, what do philosophers teach about pain?
46.23 Audiō eōs dīcere nōs nōn dē summō bonō cadere posse. I hear them say that we cannot fall from the highest good.
46.24 At ego dē hāc doctrīnā dubitō cum amīcōs afflīctōs videō. But I doubt this teaching when I see friends in distress.
46.25 Fortasse dē dolōris nātūrā parum intellegimus. Perhaps we understand little about the nature of pain.
46.26 Quid sī dē adversīs rēbus sapientia ipsa orītur? What if wisdom itself arises from adversity?
46.27 Mīrābile dictū, sed forsitan dē vēritāte aliquid habēs. Wonderful to say, but perhaps you have something about the truth.
46.28 Cotīdiē dē hīs rēbus plūs discō tēcum colloquēns. Daily I learn more about these matters conversing with you.
46.29 Grātiās tibi agō quod mēcum dē tantīs rēbus disputāre volēs. I thank you for being willing to discuss such great matters with me.
46.30 Mox dē hortō discēdere dēbēmus, sed crās dē aliīs quaestiōnibus loquāmur. Soon we must depart from the garden, but tomorrow let us speak about other questions.
46.16 Salvē amīce, quid hodiē dē fēlīcitāte cōgitās?
46.17 Dē eā rē multum meditātus sum, sed nihil certī invēnī.
46.18 Fortasse dē aliīs rēbus nimium pendēmus.
46.19 Vērum dīcis, nam dē externīs bonīs saepe spēs nostra dēcidit.
46.20 Quid ergō dē virtūte ipsā sentīs?
46.21 Crēdō nōs dē interiōre fonte vēram laetitiam haurīre posse.
46.22 Sed dīc mihi, dē dolōre quid philosophī docent?
46.23 Audiō eōs dīcere nōs nōn dē summō bonō cadere posse.
46.24 At ego dē hāc doctrīnā dubitō cum amīcōs afflīctōs videō.
46.25 Fortasse dē dolōris nātūrā parum intellegimus.
46.26 Quid sī dē adversīs rēbus sapientia ipsa orītur?
46.27 Mīrābile dictū, sed forsitan dē vēritāte aliquid habēs.
46.28 Cotīdiē dē hīs rēbus plūs discō tēcum colloquēns.
46.29 Grātiās tibi agō quod mēcum dē tantīs rēbus disputāre volēs.
46.30 Mox dē hortō discēdere dēbēmus, sed crās dē aliīs quaestiōnibus loquāmur.
This philosophical dialogue showcases advanced uses of dē in intellectual discourse:
Abstract Topics with dē: -
dē fēlīcitāte (about happiness) -
dē virtūte (about virtue) -
dē dolōre (about pain) -
dē vēritāte (about truth)
Philosophical Constructions: -
"dē eā rē meditātus sum" - Perfect passive participle with dē showing topic of meditation -
"dē externīs bonīs...dēcidit" - Physical metaphor (falling from) applied to abstract concepts -
"dē interiōre fonte" - Mixing physical source with abstract drawing of joy
Question Patterns: -
Direct: "Quid dē virtūte sentīs?" -
Indirect: "dē dolōre quid philosophī docent?" -
Hypothetical: "Quid sī dē adversīs rēbus...?"
Advanced Verbal Constructions: -
disputāre dē (to discuss about) -
dubitāre dē (to doubt about) -
docēre dē (to teach about) -
intellegere dē (to understand about)
Word Order Variations: Notice how dē phrases move throughout sentences for emphasis: -
Initial position for topic introduction -
Post-verbal for flowing narrative -
Split constructions for elegant variation
This dialogue demonstrates how educated Romans used dē to structure philosophical arguments, introduce topics for debate, and create sophisticated intellectual discourse.
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The Latinum Institute's Conversational Latin course represents a unique approach to Latin acquisition, developed by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), who has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006.
This lesson is part of a comprehensive series designed specifically for autodidacts—self-directed learners who want to achieve genuine conversational fluency in Latin. Unlike traditional grammar-translation methods, these lessons prioritize natural language patterns, authentic dialogue, and immediate practical usage.
Drawing from the pedagogical principles outlined at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, each lesson follows a carefully structured progression: -
Granular Interleaving (Part A): Every word is glossed individually, allowing beginners to build vocabulary systematically 46.16 Salvē hello amīce friend quid what hodiē today dē about fēlīcitāte happiness cōgitās are you thinking
46.17 Dē about eā it rē matter multum much meditātus having pondered sum I am sed but nihil nothing certī certain invēnī I found
46.18 Fortasse perhaps dē from aliīs other rēbus things nimium too much pendēmus we depend
46.19 Vērum true dīcis you say nam for dē from externīs external bonīs goods saepe often spēs hope nostra our dēcidit falls down
46.20 Quid what ergō therefore dē about virtūte virtue ipsā itself sentīs do you think
46.21 Crēdō I believe nōs us dē from interiōre inner fonte source vēram true laetitiam joy haurīre to draw posse to be able
46.22 Sed but dīc tell mihi me dē about dolōre pain quid what philosophī philosophers docent teach
46.23 Audiō I hear eōs them dīcere to say nōs us nōn not dē from summō highest bonō good cadere to fall posse to be able
46.24 At but ego I dē about hāc this doctrīnā teaching dubitō doubt cum when amīcōs friends afflīctōs afflicted videō I see
46.25 Fortasse perhaps dē about dolōris of pain nātūrā nature parum little intellegimus we understand
46.26 Quid what sī if dē from adversīs adverse things rēbus things sapientia wisdom ipsa itself orītur arises
46.27 Mīrābile wonderful dictū to say sed but forsitan perhaps dē about vēritāte truth aliquid something habēs you have
46.28 Cotīdiē daily dē about hīs these rēbus matters plūs more discō I learn tēcum with you colloquēns conversing
46.29 Grātiās thanks tibi to you agō I give quod because mēcum with me dē about tantīs such great rēbus matters disputāre to discuss volēs you are willing
46.30 Mox soon dē from hortō garden discēdere to depart dēbēmus we must sed but crās tomorrow dē about aliīs other quaestiōnibus questions loquāmur let us speak