The pronoun nōs means "we" in Latin and serves as the first person plural pronoun. As a personal pronoun, it functions similarly to the English "we/us" and changes form based on its grammatical case: nōs (nominative and accusative), nostrum/nostrī (genitive), nōbīs (dative and ablative).
Q: What does nōs mean in Latin? A: Nōs means "we" or "us" in Latin. It is the first person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and at least one other person together.
In this lesson, nōs will appear in various cases and contexts, demonstrating its flexibility in conversational Latin. You'll see it used as the subject of sentences (nominative), as a direct object (accusative), and in prepositional phrases (with dative and ablative cases). The examples progress from simple statements to more complex conversational exchanges, including questions and responses that would be typical in daily Latin conversation.
Subject: Language Learning - Classical Latin Level: Intermediate Conversational Latin Focus: First Person Plural Pronoun (nōs) Skills: Reading, Grammar, Conversational Patterns Format: Structured lesson with glossed text, translations, and grammatical analysis
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nōs is the first person plural pronoun meaning "we/us" -
It has four main forms: nōs, nostrum/nostrī, nōbīs -
Unlike English, Latin often omits pronouns when they're understood from verb endings -
When Latin does use pronouns, it's typically for emphasis or clarity -
In conversation, nōs frequently appears in questions and responses about group activities
51.1. Nōs we in in forō the-forum conveniēmus are-meeting
51.2. Quid what nōs we hodiē today agēmus shall-do ? ?
51.3. Crās tomorrow nōbīs for-us eundum to-go est it-is
51.4. Amīcus friend noster our nōs us exspectat awaits
51.5. Potesne can-you nōbīscum with-us venīre to-come ? ?
51.6. Librī books nostrī our sunt are novī new
51.7. Magister teacher nōs us laudat praises
51.8. Nōnne surely nōs we bene well labōrāvimus have-worked ? ?
51.9. Pater father nōbīs to-us pecūniam money dedit gave
51.10. Ubi where nōs we manēbimus shall-stay ? ?
51.11. Hoc this opus work ā by nōbīs us factum done est is
51.12. Cūr why nōs us vocāvistī did-you-call ? ?
51.13. Nostrum of-us est it-is officium duty studēre to-study
51.14. Venītis are-you-coming nōbīscum with-us ad to theātrum the-theater ? ?
51.15. Haec these dōna gifts nōbīs to-us data given sunt were
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51.1. Nōs in forō conveniēmus. We are meeting in the forum.
51.2. Quid nōs hodiē agēmus? What shall we do today?
51.3. Crās nōbīs eundum est. Tomorrow we must go.
51.4. Amīcus noster nōs exspectat. Our friend is waiting for us.
51.5. Potesne nōbīscum venīre? Can you come with us?
51.6. Librī nostrī sunt novī. Our books are new.
51.7. Magister nōs laudat. The teacher praises us.
51.8. Nōnne nōs bene labōrāvimus? Haven't we worked well?
51.9. Pater nōbīs pecūniam dedit. Father gave us money.
51.10. Ubi nōs manēbimus? Where shall we stay?
51.11. Hoc opus ā nōbīs factum est. This work was done by us.
51.12. Cūr nōs vocāvistī? Why did you call us?
51.13. Nostrum est officium studēre. It is our duty to study.
51.14. Venītis nōbīscum ad theātrum? Are you coming with us to the theater?
51.15. Haec dōna nōbīs data sunt. These gifts were given to us.
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51.1. Nōs in forō conveniēmus.
51.2. Quid nōs hodiē agēmus?
51.3. Crās nōbīs eundum est.
51.4. Amīcus noster nōs exspectat.
51.5. Potesne nōbīscum venīre?
51.6. Librī nostrī sunt novī.
51.7. Magister nōs laudat.
51.8. Nōnne nōs bene labōrāvimus?
51.9. Pater nōbīs pecūniam dedit.
51.10. Ubi nōs manēbimus?
51.11. Hoc opus ā nōbīs factum est.
51.12. Cūr nōs vocāvistī?
51.13. Nostrum est officium studēre.
51.14. Venītis nōbīscum ad theātrum?
51.15. Haec dōna nōbīs data sunt.
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The first person plural pronoun nōs follows this declension pattern:
Nominative: nōs (we) Genitive: nostrum (of us - partitive), nostrī (of us - objective) Dative: nōbīs (to/for us) Accusative: nōs (us) Ablative: nōbīs (by/with/from us)
Note the special compound form nōbīscum (with us), where the preposition cum is attached to the end of the pronoun rather than preceding it. This is a unique feature of personal pronouns in Latin.
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Confusing nostrum and nostrī: Use nostrum for partitive expressions (e.g., "which of us"), and nostrī for objective genitive (e.g., "memory of us"). -
Overusing pronouns: Latin typically omits subject pronouns when the verb ending makes the subject clear. Use nōs for emphasis or clarity. -
Word order with nōbīscum: Remember that cum attaches to the end (nōbīscum), not cum nōbīs. -
Case confusion: The form nōs serves both nominative and accusative functions - context determines which.
Unlike English, which always requires subject pronouns ("we go" not just "go"), Latin often omits them. When Latin does include nōs, it typically adds emphasis: "WE are going" rather than simply "we are going."
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Identify the function: Is it subject (nominative), direct object (accusative), indirect object (dative), or showing possession (genitive)? -
Choose the correct form: -
Subject or direct object → nōs -
Indirect object or with prepositions → nōbīs -
Possession → noster, nostra, nostrum (adjective) -
Partitive → nostrum; Objective → nostrī -
Consider emphasis: Include nōs only when emphasizing or contrasting with others. -
Check verb agreement: First person plural verbs end in -mus (present), -bāmus (imperfect), -bimus (future), etc.
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In Roman conversational culture, the use of nōs carried significant social implications. Romans were highly conscious of group identity and collective action. When Romans used nōs explicitly, they often emphasized their membership in a particular group - whether family, social class, or political faction.
The inclusive nature of nōs made it particularly important in Roman oratory and political discourse. Speakers would strategically use nōs to create solidarity with their audience, shifting between "I" (ego) for personal authority and "we" (nōs) for collective identity.
In daily conversation, as reflected in the comedies of Plautus and Terence, nōs frequently appeared in planning activities, making group decisions, and expressing shared experiences. The question-answer patterns shown in this lesson mirror authentic conversational exchanges found in Roman literature.
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Source: Erasmus, Colloquia Familiaria, "De Rebus Ac Vocabulis"
Original Text: "Nōs omnēs discipulī sumus. Quid nōs hodiē discēmus? Magister noster nōbīs multa docēbit. Prīmum dē rēbus domesticīs loqueēmur, deinde dē litterīs. Nōnne nōs bene prōgredimur? Certē, sed nōbīs magis labōrandum est. Venīte mēcum, et nōs ūnā studēbimus."
Part F-A (Interleaved/Construed Text)
Nōs we omnēs all discipulī students sumus are. Quid what nōs we hodiē today discēmus shall-learn ? ? Magister teacher noster our nōbīs to-us multa many-things docēbit will-teach. Prīmum first dē about rēbus matters domesticīs domestic loqueēmur we-shall-speak, deinde then dē about litterīs literature. Nōnne surely nōs we bene well prōgredimur are-progressing ? ? Certē certainly, sed but nōbīs by-us magis more labōrandum to-be-worked est it-is. Venīte come mēcum with-me, et and nōs we ūnā together studēbimus shall-study.
Nōs omnēs discipulī sumus. Quid nōs hodiē discēmus? Magister noster nōbīs multa docēbit. Prīmum dē rēbus domesticīs loqueēmur, deinde dē litterīs. Nōnne nōs bene prōgredimur? Certē, sed nōbīs magis labōrandum est. Venīte mēcum, et nōs ūnā studēbimus.
We are all students. What shall we learn today? Our teacher will teach us many things. First we shall speak about domestic matters, then about literature. Aren't we progressing well? Certainly, but we must work harder. Come with me, and we shall study together.
Nōs omnēs discipulī sumus. Quid nōs hodiē discēmus? Magister noster nōbīs multa docēbit. Prīmum dē rēbus domesticīs loqueēmur, deinde dē litterīs. Nōnne nōs bene prōgredimur? Certē, sed nōbīs magis labōrandum est. Venīte mēcum, et nōs ūnā studēbimus.
This passage from Erasmus exemplifies Renaissance humanist Latin conversation, showing how nōs functions in educational dialogue. The text demonstrates several key uses: -
Nōs omnēs - emphatic subject, stressing group identity -
nōbīs multa docēbit - dative of advantage (to/for us) -
nōs bene prōgredimur - subject pronoun with present verb -
nōbīs...labōrandum est - dative of agent with passive periphrastic
The passage uses the rhetorical question Nōnne expecting agreement, typical of pedagogical dialogue. The gerundive construction labōrandum est with dative nōbīs shows obligation in an impersonal construction common in scholarly Latin.
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G.1. Salvē hello, amīce friend! Quid what nōs we hodiē today emēmus shall-buy ? ?
G.2. Nōbīs for-us opus need est is pāne bread et and caseō cheese.
G.3. Venī come mēcum with-me; nōs we optimum best pistōrem baker inveniēmus shall-find.
G.4. Quantum how-much pecūniae money nōbīscum with-us habēmus do-we-have ? ?
G.5. Satis enough est is; pater father nōbīs to-us decem ten dēnāriōs denarii dedit gave.
G.6. Ecce look! Hic this pistor baker nōs us bene well nōvit knows.
G.7. Salvēte hello, iuvenēs young-men! Quid what vōbīs for-you hodiē today parābō shall-I-prepare ? ?
G.8. Dā give nōbīs to-us, quaesō please, duōs two pānēs loaves recentēs fresh.
G.9. Nōnne surely vōs you etiam also placenta cake dēlectābit will-delight ? ?
G.10. Grātiās thanks! Sed but nōs we modo only necessāria necessities emimus are-buying.
G.11. Nunc now ad to tabernārium shopkeeper eāmus let-us-go; nōbīs for-us vīnum wine emendum to-buy est is.
G.12. Meminī I-remember nōs us hīc here optimum excellent vīnum wine ēmisse to-have-bought.
G.13. Salvē hello, tabernārī shopkeeper! Habēsne do-you-have vīnum wine quod which nōbīs to-us placeat may-please ? ?
G.14. Certē certainly! Gustāte taste hoc this; crēdō I-believe id it vōs you dēlectātūrum will-delight esse to-be.
G.15. Bene well sapit it-tastes! Quantum how-much prō for hōc this ā from nōbīs us petīs do-you-ask ? ?
G.1. Salvē, amīce! Quid nōs hodiē emēmus? Hello, friend! What shall we buy today?
G.2. Nōbīs opus est pāne et caseō. We need bread and cheese.
G.3. Venī mēcum; nōs optimum pistōrem inveniēmus. Come with me; we'll find the best baker.
G.4. Quantum pecūniae nōbīscum habēmus? How much money do we have with us?
G.5. Satis est; pater nōbīs decem dēnāriōs dedit. It's enough; father gave us ten denarii.
G.6. Ecce! Hic pistor nōs bene nōvit. Look! This baker knows us well.
G.7. Salvēte, iuvenēs! Quid vōbīs hodiē parābō? Hello, young men! What shall I prepare for you today?
G.8. Dā nōbīs, quaesō, duōs pānēs recentēs. Please give us two fresh loaves.
G.9. Nōnne vōs etiam placenta dēlectābit? Won't a cake also delight you?
G.10. Grātiās! Sed nōs modo necessāria emimus. Thanks! But we're only buying necessities.
G.11. Nunc ad tabernārium eāmus; nōbīs vīnum emendum est. Now let's go to the shopkeeper; we need to buy wine.
G.12. Meminī nōs hīc optimum vīnum ēmisse. I remember we bought excellent wine here.
G.13. Salvē, tabernārī! Habēsne vīnum quod nōbīs placeat? Hello, shopkeeper! Do you have wine that might please us?
G.14. Certē! Gustāte hoc; crēdō id vōs dēlectātūrum esse. Certainly! Taste this; I believe it will delight you.
G.15. Bene sapit! Quantum prō hōc ā nōbīs petīs? It tastes good! How much do you ask from us for this?
G.1. Salvē, amīce! Quid nōs hodiē emēmus?
G.2. Nōbīs opus est pāne et caseō.
G.3. Venī mēcum; nōs optimum pistōrem inveniēmus.
G.4. Quantum pecūniae nōbīscum habēmus?
G.5. Satis est; pater nōbīs decem dēnāriōs dedit.
G.6. Ecce! Hic pistor nōs bene nōvit.
G.7. Salvēte, iuvenēs! Quid vōbīs hodiē parābō?
G.8. Dā nōbīs, quaesō, duōs pānēs recentēs.
G.9. Nōnne vōs etiam placenta dēlectābit?
G.10. Grātiās! Sed nōs modo necessāria emimus.
G.11. Nunc ad tabernārium eāmus; nōbīs vīnum emendum est.
G.12. Meminī nōs hīc optimum vīnum ēmisse.
G.13. Salvē, tabernārī! Habēsne vīnum quod nōbīs placeat?
G.14. Certē! Gustāte hoc; crēdō id vōs dēlectātūrum esse.
G.15. Bene sapit! Quantum prō hōc ā nōbīs petīs?
This market dialogue demonstrates advanced uses of nōs in conversational contexts:
Impersonal Constructions with Dative: -
Nōbīs opus est (we need/there is need for us) -
Nōbīs...emendum est (we must buy/it must be bought by us)
Subjunctive in Questions: -
Quid nōs hodiē emēmus? - deliberative subjunctive (what should we buy?) -
quod nōbīs placeat - relative clause of characteristic
Perfect Infinitive in Indirect Statement: -
Meminī nōs...ēmisse - accusative with infinitive after verb of remembering
Future Active Infinitive: -
vōs dēlectātūrum esse - future infinitive in indirect statement
The dialogue shifts between nōs (we/us) and vōs (you plural) as speakers change, showing the natural flow of conversation. Note how the baker addresses the young men with vōs while they refer to themselves as nōs.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering the use of extensive comprehensible input for Latin acquisition. These conversational Latin lessons form part of a comprehensive curriculum designed specifically for autodidacts - self-directed learners who want to develop genuine reading and speaking ability in Latin.
The method employed in these lessons draws from the pedagogical traditions found at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, combining: -
Construed text approach: Word-by-word glossing that allows beginners to decode complex sentences while building vocabulary -
Natural language patterns: Authentic Latin word order and idiomatic expressions drawn from classical and Renaissance sources -
Conversational focus: Practical dialogues and everyday situations that bring Latin to life as a living language -
Progressive complexity: Carefully structured lessons that systematically introduce new vocabulary and grammar
Each lesson provides multiple exposures to target vocabulary through varied contexts, following research showing that learners need 7-15 meaningful encounters with a word before it becomes part of their active vocabulary. The interlinear format in Part A scaffolds comprehension, while Parts B and C provide practice with natural Latin text. G.1. Salvē hello, amīce friend! Quid what nōs we hodiē today emēmus shall-buy ? ?
G.2. Nōbīs for-us opus need est is pāne bread et and caseō cheese.
G.3. Venī come mēcum with-me; nōs we optimum best pistōrem baker inveniēmus shall-find.
G.4. Quantum how-much pecūniae money nōbīscum with-us habēmus do-we-have ? ?
G.5. Satis enough est is; pater father nōbīs to-us decem ten dēnāriōs denarii dedit gave.
G.6. Ecce look! Hic this pistor baker nōs us bene well nōvit knows.
G.7. Salvēte hello, iuvenēs young-men! Quid what vōbīs for-you hodiē today parābō shall-I-prepare ? ?
G.8. Dā give nōbīs to-us, quaesō please, duōs two pānēs loaves recentēs fresh.
G.9. Nōnne surely vōs you etiam also placenta cake dēlectābit will-delight ? ?
G.10. Grātiās thanks! Sed but nōs we modo only necessāria necessities emimus are-buying.
G.11. Nunc now ad to tabernārium shopkeeper eāmus let-us-go; nōbīs for-us vīnum wine emendum to-buy est is.
G.12. Meminī I-remember nōs us hīc here optimum excellent vīnum wine ēmisse to-have-bought.
G.13. Salvē hello, tabernārī shopkeeper! Habēsne do-you-have vīnum wine quod which nōbīs to-us placeat may-please ? ?
G.14. Certē certainly! Gustāte taste hoc this; crēdō I-believe id it vōs you dēlectātūrum will-delight esse to-be.
G.15. Bene well sapit it-tastes! Quantum how-much prō for hōc this ā from nōbīs us petīs do-you-ask ? ?