← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
◊ᴺᵉˣᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵃᵗⁱⁿᵘᵐ ◊ᴱᶜᶜˡᵉˢⁱᵃˢᵗⁱᶜᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵉˢˢᵒⁿ²¹³ ◊cubiculum
Welcome to Lesson 213 of the Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. Today’s word is cubiculum, “room, chamber, bedroom.” It is the word Our Lord uses in the Sermon on the Mount when he teaches us how to pray: Tū autem, cum ōrāveris, intrā in cubiculum tuum, “But thou, when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber” (Matthew 6:6).
What does cubiculum mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
Cubiculum is a neuter noun of the second declension (cubiculum, cubiculī, n.). Its first meaning is a private room for resting and sleeping, a bedchamber. From there it comes to mean any inner, private room of a house, the room where one can shut the door and be alone. In the Vulgate it is the room of retreat and of secret prayer: Judith makes herself a secret chamber (sēcrētum cubiculum) in the upper part of her house; Sara goes up into the upper room (superius cubiculum) to pray with tears; the prophet Isaiah tells God’s people to enter their chambers and shut the doors until the wrath has passed.
How does Latin differ from English here?
English has one everyday word, “room,” for every enclosed space inside a building. Latin has no single all-purpose word. It names a room by what it is for: cubiculum, the private room or bedroom; cēnāculum, the dining room, usually upstairs, the “upper room” of the Last Supper and of Pentecost; conclāve, a room that can be locked; cella, a small store-room, and later the monk’s cell. For the private, inner room of a house, the room of prayer in Matthew 6:6, cubiculum is the word, and it is the word taught in this lesson.
English has also borrowed the word. A “cubicle” is a small partitioned space; the older sense, a small sleeping-room, is still the Latin one.
Etymology: cubiculum is built from the verb cubō, cubāre, “to lie down, to recline,” with the suffix -culum, which makes nouns for a place or an instrument. A cubiculum is, literally, “a place for lying down.” From the same root come cubīle (bed, lair), incubāre (to lie upon, to brood), and concubīna.
Orthography: every vowel in cubiculum is short: cŭbĭcŭlum. This course writes it without marks, as cubiculum. In the plural it has the neuter ending -a: cubicula, “rooms.”
Key Takeaways
✠ Cubiculum, cubiculī, n. (2nd declension) means a private room, chamber or bedroom
✠ It is the room of secret prayer in Matthew 6:6: intrā in cubiculum tuum
✠ Latin names rooms by their use: cubiculum (private room), cēnāculum (upper room, dining room), conclāve (lockable room), cella (small room, monk’s cell)
✠ As a neuter noun, cubiculum has the same form in the nominative and accusative, and its plural ends in -a (cubicula)
✠ The Vulgate says intrāre in cubiculum, “to enter into the room,” with in and the accusative
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cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/: four syllables, cu-BI-cu-lum. The stress falls on the second syllable, because the next-to-last syllable (cu) is short. The c is always /k/ here, because every c in the word stands before u.
cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ and cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/: the stress stays on bi.
cubicula /kuˈbi.ku.la/ and cubiculīs /kuˈbi.ku.lis/: the stress stays on bi.
cubiculōrum /ku.bi.kuˈlo.rum/: the genitive plural adds a syllable with a long ō, so the stress moves to lo.
The u is always /u/ as in “rule,” never /ʌ/ as in English “cub” or /juː/ as in English “cubicle.” Say “koo-BEE-koo-loom.”
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213.1a Cubiculum the-room parvum small est is
213.1b Cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG parvum /ˈpar.vum/ small.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES
213.2a Intrā enter in into cubiculum the-room
213.2b Intrā /ˈin.tra/ enter.2SG.IMPV in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG
213.3a Ōstium the-door cubiculī of-the-room clausum closed est is
213.3b Ōstium /ˈos.ti.um/ door.NOM.N.SG cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ room.GEN.N.SG clausum /ˈklau.sum/ closed.PERF.PART.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES
213.4a In in cubiculō the-room ōrō I-pray
213.4b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG ōrō /ˈo.ro/ pray.1SG.PRES
213.5a Frātrēs the-brothers cubicula the-rooms mundant clean
213.5b Frātrēs /ˈfra.tres/ brother.NOM.M.PL cubicula /kuˈbi.ku.la/ room.ACC.N.PL mundant /ˈmun.dant/ clean.3PL.PRES
213.6a Tū you autem but cum when ōrāveris you-shall-have-prayed intrā enter in into cubiculum room tuum your
213.6b Tū /tu/ you.NOM.2SG autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ cum /kum/ when.CONJ ōrāveris /oˈra.ve.ris/ pray.2SG.FUT.PERF intrā /ˈin.tra/ enter.2SG.IMPV in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG tuum /ˈtu.um/ your.ACC.N.SG
213.7a Sacerdōs the-priest in in cubiculō room suō his-own librum book sacrum holy legit reads
213.7b Sacerdōs /saˈtʃer.dos/ priest.NOM.M.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG suō /ˈsu.o/ his-own.REFL.ABL.N.SG librum /ˈli.brum/ book.ACC.M.SG sacrum /ˈsa.krum/ holy.ACC.M.SG legit /ˈle.dʒit/ read.3SG.PRES
213.8a In in cubiculō the-room nūlla no imāgō image pendēbat was-hanging nisi except crux a-cross
213.8b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG nūlla /ˈnul.la/ no.NOM.F.SG imāgō /iˈma.go/ image.NOM.F.SG pendēbat /penˈde.bat/ hang.3SG.IMPERF nisi /ˈni.si/ except.CONJ crux /kruks/ cross.NOM.F.SG
213.9a Vāde go populus people meus my intrā enter in into cubicula chambers tua your
213.9b Vāde /ˈva.de/ go.2SG.IMPV populus /ˈpo.pu.lus/ people.NOM-FOR-VOC.M.SG meus /ˈme.us/ my.NOM.M.SG intrā /ˈin.tra/ enter.2SG.IMPV in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubicula /kuˈbi.ku.la/ room.ACC.N.PL tua /ˈtu.a/ your.ACC.N.PL
213.10a Epīscopus the-bishop hospitem the-guest in into cubiculum room superius upper dūxit led
213.10b Epīscopus /eˈpis.ko.pus/ bishop.NOM.M.SG hospitem /ˈos.pi.tem/ guest.ACC.M.SG in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG superius /suˈpe.ri.us/ upper.COMP.ACC.N.SG dūxit /ˈduk.sit/ lead.3SG.PERF
213.11a Quod what in into aurem the-ear locūtī spoken estis you-have in in cubiculīs the-chambers praedicābitur will-be-preached in on tēctīs the-housetops
213.11b Quod /kwod/ what.REL.NOM.N.SG in /in/ into.PREP+ACC aurem /ˈau.rem/ ear.ACC.F.SG locūtī /loˈku.ti/ speak.PERF.PART.NOM.M.PL estis /ˈes.tis/ be.2PL.PRES in /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculīs /kuˈbi.ku.lis/ room.ABL.N.PL praedicābitur /pre.diˈka.bi.tur/ preach.3SG.FUT.PASS in /in/ on.PREP+ABL tēctīs /ˈtek.tis/ roof.ABL.N.PL
213.12a In in superiōribus the-upper-parts domūs of-house suae her-own fēcit she-made sibi for-herself sēcrētum a-secret cubiculum chamber
213.12b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL superiōribus /su.pe.riˈo.ri.bus/ upper.COMP.ABL.N.PL domūs /ˈdo.mus/ house.GEN.F.SG suae /ˈsu.e/ her-own.REFL.GEN.F.SG fēcit /ˈfe.tʃit/ make.3SG.PERF sibi /ˈsi.bi/ herself.REFL.DAT.3SG sēcrētum /seˈkre.tum/ secret.ACC.N.SG cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG
213.13a Perrēxit she-went in into superius the-upper cubiculum room domūs of-house suae her-own
213.13b Perrēxit /perˈrek.sit/ go-on.3SG.PERF in /in/ into.PREP+ACC superius /suˈpe.ri.us/ upper.COMP.ACC.N.SG cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG domūs /ˈdo.mus/ house.GEN.F.SG suae /ˈsu.e/ her-own.REFL.GEN.F.SG
213.14a Rixam a-quarrel excitāveram I-had-stirred-up cum with animā soul meā my in in cubiculō chamber nostrō our corde heart meō my
213.14b Rixam /ˈrik.sam/ quarrel.ACC.F.SG excitāveram /ek.ʃiˈta.ve.ram/ stir-up.1SG.PLUPERF cum /kum/ with.PREP+ABL animā /ˈa.ni.ma/ soul.ABL.F.SG meā /ˈme.a/ my.ABL.F.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG nostrō /ˈnos.tro/ our.ABL.N.SG corde /ˈkor.de/ heart.ABL.N.SG meō /ˈme.o/ my.ABL.N.SG
213.15a Introdūcam I-will-bring illum him in into domum the-house mātris of-mother meae my et and in into cubiculum the-chamber genetrīcis of-the-mother meae my
213.15b Introdūcam /in.troˈdu.kam/ bring-in.1SG.FUT illum /ˈil.lum/ him.ACC.M.SG in /in/ into.PREP+ACC domum /ˈdo.mum/ house.ACC.F.SG mātris /ˈma.tris/ mother.GEN.F.SG meae /ˈme.e/ my.GEN.F.SG et /et/ and.CONJ in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG genetrīcis /dʒe.neˈtri.tʃis/ mother.GEN.F.SG meae /ˈme.e/ my.GEN.F.SG
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213.1 Cubiculum parvum est. → “The room is small.”
213.2 Intrā in cubiculum. → “Go into the room.”
213.3 Ōstium cubiculī clausum est. → “The door of the room is closed.”
213.4 In cubiculō ōrō. → “I pray in the room.”
213.5 Frātrēs cubicula mundant. → “The brothers clean the rooms.”
213.6 Tū autem, cum ōrāveris, intrā in cubiculum tuum. → “But you, when you pray, go into your room.” (Matthew 6:6)
213.7 Sacerdōs in cubiculō suō librum sacrum legit. → “The priest reads a holy book in his room.”
213.8 In cubiculō nūlla imāgō pendēbat nisi crux. → “No picture hung in the room except a cross.”
213.9 Vāde, populus meus, intrā in cubicula tua. → “Go, my people, enter into your chambers.” (Isaiah 26:20)
213.10 Epīscopus hospitem in cubiculum superius dūxit. → “The bishop led the guest into the upper room.”
213.11 Quod in aurem locūtī estis in cubiculīs, praedicābitur in tēctīs. → “What you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:3)
213.12 In superiōribus domūs suae fēcit sibi sēcrētum cubiculum. → “In the upper part of her house she made herself a secret chamber.” (Judith 8:5)
213.13 Perrēxit in superius cubiculum domūs suae. → “She went up into the upper room of her house.” (Tobit 3:10)
213.14 Rixam excitāveram cum animā meā in cubiculō nostrō, corde meō. → “I had stirred up a quarrel with my soul in our chamber, my heart.” (after Augustine, Confessions 8.8.19)
213.15 Introdūcam illum in domum mātris meae, et in cubiculum genetrīcis meae. → “I will bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me.” (Song of Songs 3:4)
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213.1 Cubiculum parvum est.
213.2 Intrā in cubiculum.
213.3 Ōstium cubiculī clausum est.
213.4 In cubiculō ōrō.
213.5 Frātrēs cubicula mundant.
213.6 Tū autem, cum ōrāveris, intrā in cubiculum tuum.
213.7 Sacerdōs in cubiculō suō librum sacrum legit.
213.8 In cubiculō nūlla imāgō pendēbat nisi crux.
213.9 Vāde, populus meus, intrā in cubicula tua.
213.10 Epīscopus hospitem in cubiculum superius dūxit.
213.11 Quod in aurem locūtī estis in cubiculīs, praedicābitur in tēctīs.
213.12 In superiōribus domūs suae fēcit sibi sēcrētum cubiculum.
213.13 Perrēxit in superius cubiculum domūs suae.
213.14 Rixam excitāveram cum animā meā in cubiculō nostrō, corde meō.
213.15 Introdūcam illum in domum mātris meae, et in cubiculum genetrīcis meae.
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These are the grammar rules for cubiculum in Ecclesiastical Latin:
1. The declension
Cubiculum is a neuter noun of the second declension, declined like verbum, the Word of John 1:1.
Singular: cubiculum (NOM), cubiculī (GEN), cubiculō (DAT), cubiculum (ACC), cubiculō (ABL), cubiculum (VOC)
Plural: cubicula (NOM), cubiculōrum (GEN), cubiculīs (DAT), cubicula (ACC), cubiculīs (ABL), cubicula (VOC)
2. The neuter rule
In every neuter noun the nominative and accusative are the same, and in the plural both end in -a. So cubiculum can be subject (213.1: Cubiculum parvum est) or object (213.12: fēcit … cubiculum), and cubicula can be subject or object (213.5: Frātrēs cubicula mundant, where cubicula is the object). Word order does not tell you which: the verb and the other words do. In 213.5 the verb mundant is plural and agrees with frātrēs, so frātrēs is the subject.
3. In with the accusative and in with the ablative
In + accusative means “into” (motion): intrā in cubiculum (213.2, 213.6), in cubicula tua (213.9), in cubiculum superius (213.10), in superius cubiculum (213.13), in cubiculum genetrīcis meae (213.15).
In + ablative means “in” (place where): in cubiculō ōrō (213.4, 213.7, 213.8, 213.14), in cubiculīs (213.11), in superiōribus (213.12), in tēctīs (213.11).
Intrāre in + accusative, “to enter into,” is the regular Vulgate construction. Classical prose more often says intrāre cubiculum, with a plain accusative. Both are correct; in Ecclesiastical Latin you will meet intrāre in far more often.
4. Adjective agreement
Adjectives agree with cubiculum in the neuter: cubiculum parvum (213.1), cubiculum tuum (213.6), cubiculō suō (213.7), cubicula tua (213.9), cubiculō nostrō (213.14), sēcrētum cubiculum (213.12).
Superius (213.10, 213.13) is the neuter of the comparative superior, superius, “higher, upper.” Do not mistake it for an adverb: here it is an adjective agreeing with cubiculum, neuter accusative singular. In 213.12 superiōribus is the same comparative, neuter ablative plural, used as a noun: “the upper parts (of the house).”
5. The reflexive suus
Suō (213.7) and suae (213.12, 213.13) refer back to the subject of their own clause: sacerdōs … in cubiculō suō, “the priest … in his own room”; Judith … domūs suae, “her own house.” Suus agrees with the thing owned, not with the owner: cubiculō suō is neuter because cubiculum is neuter; domūs suae is feminine because domus is feminine.
6. Other forms in the examples
Ōrāveris (213.6) is the future perfect: “when you shall have prayed.” Latin is precise about time where English is loose; English says simply “when you pray.”
Populus meus (213.9) is a nominative used as a vocative, as often in the Vulgate: “my people!”
Clausum est (213.3) is here “is closed,” a state: the perfect participle with est describes the door as it now is.
Domūs (213.12, 213.13) is the genitive singular of domus, a feminine noun of the fourth declension.
7. Related words
cubō, cubāre, cubuī, cubitum: to lie down
cubīle, cubīlis, n.: bed, couch, lair
cubiculārius, cubiculāriī, m.: a chamberlain, a servant of the bedchamber
cēnāculum, cēnāculī, n.: dining room, upper room (also spelled coenaculum)
conclāve, conclāvis, n.: a room that can be locked
Common Mistakes
✠ Do not write cubiculus or cubicula as a singular: the word is neuter, cubiculum, and cubicula is always plural.
✠ Do not use the ablative after in with a verb of motion: intrā in cubiculum, not intrā in cubiculō.
✠ Do not pronounce cubiculum like English “cubicle” (/ˈkjuː.bɪ.kəl/): Latin u is /u/, and the stress is on bi.
✠ Do not make an adjective masculine by habit: cubiculum parvum, not cubiculum parvus.
✠ Do not translate cubiculum as “cubicle” in a Scripture text. In Matthew 6:6 it is “chamber,” “inner room” or “room.”
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The Room of Secret Prayer
The most famous cubiculum in Christian Latin is the one in Matthew 6:6. Christ contrasts the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the street corners, with the disciple who goes into his room, shuts the door, and prays to the Father who sees in secret. For centuries of Latin readers, intrā in cubiculum tuum has been the scriptural warrant for private prayer.
The Fathers read the room inwardly as well. Augustine, describing the crisis in the garden at Milan just before his conversion, speaks of “that great quarrel of my inner house, which I had stirred up with my soul in our chamber, my heart” (in cubiculō nostrō, corde meō, Confessions 8.8.19). The cubiculum of the Gospel has become the heart itself.
Rooms in the Vulgate
Latin Scripture names rooms carefully, and a reader of the Vulgate should know the family:
cubiculum: the private or inner room. Judith’s secret chamber (Judith 8:5), Sara’s upper room (Tobit 3:10), the chambers of Isaiah 26:20, the chamber of the Bride’s mother (Song of Songs 3:4), the king’s bedchamber of which Blastus had charge (quī erat super cubiculum rēgis, Acts 12:20).
cēnāculum (coenaculum in older editions): the upper room. It is the large furnished room of the Last Supper (cēnāculum grande, strātum, Mark 14:15) and the room where the Apostles waited with Mary for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13).
thalamus: the bridal chamber. The Psalm compares the sun to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber (tamquam spōnsus prōcēdēns dē thalamō suō, Psalm 18:6 in the Vulgate numbering).
The Conclave and the Cell
Two other Latin words for a room have entered the life of the Church. Conclāve, literally a room “with a key” (cum clāve), gave its name to the papal election: since the thirteenth century the cardinals have been locked in to choose the Pope. Cella, first a small store-room, became the monk’s cell, the cubiculum of the religious life.
The Cubicula of the Catacombs
In the Roman catacombs a cubiculum is a small burial chamber opening off the galleries, often painted. Some of the oldest Christian images, such as the painted chambers in the Catacomb of Callixtus known as the “Cubicula of the Sacraments,” are found in such rooms. Archaeologists still use the Latin word.
Frequency and Register
Cubiculum is a common word in Classical Latin (Cicero, Pliny and Suetonius use it constantly for a bedroom) and a well-known word in the Vulgate, mainly because of Matthew 6:6. In later Church Latin it remains the ordinary word for a private room, while cella is preferred for a monastic room and cēnāculum for an upper room or refectory.
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From the Vulgate: Matthew 6:6 (Clementine text) — On Secret Prayer
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Tu you autem but cum when oraveris you-shall-have-prayed
F.1b Tu /tu/ you.NOM.2SG autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ cum /kum/ when.CONJ oraveris /oˈra.ve.ris/ pray.2SG.FUT.PERF
F.2a intra enter in into cubiculum room tuum your
F.2b intra /ˈin.tra/ enter.2SG.IMPV in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG tuum /ˈtu.um/ your.ACC.N.SG
F.3a et and clauso having-been-shut ostio the-door ora pray Patrem Father tuum your in in abscondito secret
F.3b et /et/ and.CONJ clauso /ˈklau.so/ shut.PERF.PART.ABL.N.SG ostio /ˈos.ti.o/ door.ABL.N.SG ora /ˈo.ra/ pray.2SG.IMPV Patrem /ˈpa.trem/ father.ACC.M.SG tuum /ˈtu.um/ your.ACC.M.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL abscondito /abˈskon.di.to/ hidden-place.ABL.N.SG
F.4a et and Pater Father tuus your qui who videt sees in in abscondito secret reddet will-repay tibi to-you
F.4b et /et/ and.CONJ Pater /ˈpa.ter/ father.NOM.M.SG tuus /ˈtu.us/ your.NOM.M.SG qui /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG videt /ˈvi.det/ see.3SG.PRES in /in/ in.PREP+ABL abscondito /abˈskon.di.to/ hidden-place.ABL.N.SG reddet /ˈred.det/ repay.3SG.FUT tibi /ˈti.bi/ you.DAT.2SG
Part F-B: Text with Translation
Tu autem cum oraveris, intra in cubiculum tuum, et clauso ostio, ora Patrem tuum in abscondito: et Pater tuus, qui videt in abscondito, reddet tibi. → “But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.” (Douay-Rheims)
Part F-C: Latin Text Only
Tu autem cum oraveris, intra in cubiculum tuum, et clauso ostio, ora Patrem tuum in abscondito: et Pater tuus, qui videt in abscondito, reddet tibi.
Part F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
The future perfect oraveris. In a clause about the future, Latin sees the action of the cum clause as settled before the main verb takes effect: literally “when you shall have prayed,” that is, “whenever you set yourself to pray.” The Douay-Rheims keeps the future (“when thou shalt pray”); modern English says “when you pray.” The Nova Vulgata changes it to the simple future, cum orabis.
The ablative absolute clauso ostio. The perfect passive participle clauso agrees with ostio in the ablative: “the door having been shut.” Latin packs into two words what English needs a clause for: “when you have shut the door.”
In abscondito. Absconditum, the neuter of the participle of abscondere (to hide), is used as a noun: “the hidden place, secret.” The phrase is used twice, first of the one who prays, then of the Father who sees. The balance is the point of the verse: the hidden prayer is seen by the One who sees in hidden places.
Reddet tibi. Reddere is “to give back, repay”: the reward is not earned from men, as the hypocrites’ is (receperunt mercedem suam, 6:5), but given back by the Father.
The text. This is the Clementine Vulgate, the Church’s Latin Bible from 1592 to the twentieth century. The Nova Vulgata (1979) reads: Tu autem cum orabis, intra in cubiculum tuum et, clauso ostio tuo, ora Patrem tuum, qui est in abscondito; et Pater tuus, qui videt in abscondito, reddet tibi. The word cubiculum stands unchanged in both.
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A short descriptive text, composed for this lesson, of a monk’s room in a monastery. It is a pedagogical text, not a quotation; 213.27 echoes Matthew 6:6.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
213.16a Hoc this est is cubiculum the-room frātris of-Brother Paulī Paul
213.16b Hoc /hok/ this.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG frātris /ˈfra.tris/ brother.GEN.M.SG Paulī /ˈpau.li/ Paul.GEN.M.SG
213.17a Cubiculum the-room in in superiōre the-upper parte part monastēriī of-the-monastery est is
213.17b Cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL superiōre /su.pe.riˈo.re/ upper.COMP.ABL.F.SG parte /ˈpar.te/ part.ABL.F.SG monastēriī /mo.nasˈte.ri.i/ monastery.GEN.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES
213.18a Cubiculum the-room nōn not magnum large est is sed but lūcidum bright
213.18b Cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG nōn /non/ not.ADV magnum /ˈmaɲ.ɲum/ large.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES sed /sed/ but.CONJ lūcidum /ˈlu.tʃi.dum/ bright.NOM.N.SG
213.19a In in mediō the-middle-of cubiculō the-room stat stands mēnsa a-table lignea wooden
213.19b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL mediō /ˈme.di.o/ middle.ABL.N.SG cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG stat /stat/ stand.3SG.PRES mēnsa /ˈmen.sa/ table.NOM.F.SG lignea /ˈliɲ.ɲe.a/ wooden.NOM.F.SG
213.20a Ūna one fenestra window cubiculī of-the-room ad towards orientem the-east spectat looks
213.20b Ūna /ˈu.na/ one.NOM.F.SG fenestra /feˈnes.tra/ window.NOM.F.SG cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ room.GEN.N.SG ad /ad/ towards.PREP+ACC orientem /o.riˈen.tem/ east.ACC.M.SG spectat /ˈspek.tat/ look.3SG.PRES
213.21a Māne in-the-morning sōl the-sun per through fenestram the-window cubiculum the-room implet fills
213.21b Māne /ˈma.ne/ in-the-morning.ADV sōl /sol/ sun.NOM.M.SG per /per/ through.PREP+ACC fenestram /feˈnes.tram/ window.ACC.F.SG cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG implet /ˈim.plet/ fill.3SG.PRES
213.22a In on pariete the-wall cubiculī of-the-room pendet hangs crux a-cross
213.22b In /in/ on.PREP+ABL pariete /paˈri.e.te/ wall.ABL.M.SG cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ room.GEN.N.SG pendet /ˈpen.det/ hang.3SG.PRES crux /kruks/ cross.NOM.F.SG
213.23a In in angulō the-corner cubiculī of-the-room est is lectulus a-little-bed dūrus hard
213.23b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL angulō /ˈaŋ.gu.lo/ corner.ABL.M.SG cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ room.GEN.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES lectulus /ˈlek.tu.lus/ little-bed.NOM.M.SG dūrus /ˈdu.rus/ hard.NOM.M.SG
213.24a Nihil nothing pretiōsum precious in in cubiculō the-room invenītur is-found
213.24b Nihil /ˈni.il/ nothing.NOM.N.SG pretiōsum /pre.tsiˈo.sum/ precious.NOM.N.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG invenītur /in.veˈni.tur/ find.3SG.PRES.PASS
213.25a Cubiculum the-room ōstium a-door habet has sed but clāvem a-key nōn not habet has
213.25b Cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG ōstium /ˈos.ti.um/ door.ACC.N.SG habet /ˈa.bet/ have.3SG.PRES sed /sed/ but.CONJ clāvem /ˈkla.vem/ key.ACC.F.SG nōn /non/ not.ADV habet /ˈa.bet/ have.3SG.PRES
213.26a Post after Complētōrium Compline frāter the-brother in into cubiculum room suum his-own redit returns
213.26b Post /post/ after.PREP+ACC Complētōrium /kom.pleˈto.ri.um/ Compline.ACC.N.SG frāter /ˈfra.ter/ brother.NOM.M.SG in /in/ into.PREP+ACC cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG suum /ˈsu.um/ his-own.REFL.ACC.N.SG redit /ˈre.dit/ return.3SG.PRES
213.27a In in cubiculō the-room clausō having-been-shut ōstiō the-door Patrem Father suum his in in absconditō secret ōrat he-prays-to
213.27b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL cubiculō /kuˈbi.ku.lo/ room.ABL.N.SG clausō /ˈklau.so/ shut.PERF.PART.ABL.N.SG ōstiō /ˈos.ti.o/ door.ABL.N.SG Patrem /ˈpa.trem/ father.ACC.M.SG suum /ˈsu.um/ his-own.REFL.ACC.M.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL absconditō /abˈskon.di.to/ hidden-place.ABL.N.SG ōrat /ˈo.rat/ pray.3SG.PRES
213.28a In in silentiō the-silence cubiculī of-the-room frāter the-brother vōcem the-voice Deī of-God audit hears
213.28b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL silentiō /siˈlen.tsi.o/ silence.ABL.N.SG cubiculī /kuˈbi.ku.li/ room.GEN.N.SG frāter /ˈfra.ter/ brother.NOM.M.SG vōcem /ˈvo.tʃem/ voice.ACC.F.SG Deī /ˈde.i/ God.GEN.M.SG audit /ˈau.dit/ hear.3SG.PRES
213.29a Hospitēs guests cubiculum the-room frātris of-the-brother numquam never intrant enter
213.29b Hospitēs /ˈos.pi.tes/ guest.NOM.M.PL cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.ACC.N.SG frātris /ˈfra.tris/ brother.GEN.M.SG numquam /ˈnum.kwam/ never.ADV intrant /ˈin.trant/ enter.3PL.PRES
213.30a Parvum small est is cubiculum the-room sed but magnum great est is cor the-heart quod which in in eō it ōrat prays
213.30b Parvum /ˈpar.vum/ small.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/ room.NOM.N.SG sed /sed/ but.CONJ magnum /ˈmaɲ.ɲum/ great.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES cor /kor/ heart.NOM.N.SG quod /kwod/ which.REL.NOM.N.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL eō /ˈe.o/ it.ABL.N.SG ōrat /ˈo.rat/ pray.3SG.PRES
Part B: Natural Sentences
213.16 Hoc est cubiculum frātris Paulī. → “This is Brother Paul’s room.”
213.17 Cubiculum in superiōre parte monastēriī est. → “The room is in the upper part of the monastery.”
213.18 Cubiculum nōn magnum est, sed lūcidum. → “The room is not large, but it is bright.”
213.19 In mediō cubiculō stat mēnsa lignea. → “In the middle of the room stands a wooden table.”
213.20 Ūna fenestra cubiculī ad orientem spectat. → “The room’s one window faces east.”
213.21 Māne sōl per fenestram cubiculum implet. → “In the morning the sun fills the room through the window.”
213.22 In pariete cubiculī pendet crux. → “A cross hangs on the wall of the room.”
213.23 In angulō cubiculī est lectulus dūrus. → “In the corner of the room there is a hard little bed.”
213.24 Nihil pretiōsum in cubiculō invenītur. → “Nothing of value is found in the room.”
213.25 Cubiculum ōstium habet, sed clāvem nōn habet. → “The room has a door, but it has no key.”
213.26 Post Complētōrium frāter in cubiculum suum redit. → “After Compline the brother goes back to his room.”
213.27 In cubiculō, clausō ōstiō, Patrem suum in absconditō ōrat. → “In the room, with the door shut, he prays to his Father in secret.”
213.28 In silentiō cubiculī frāter vōcem Deī audit. → “In the silence of the room the brother hears the voice of God.”
213.29 Hospitēs cubiculum frātris numquam intrant. → “Guests never go into the brother’s room.”
213.30 Parvum est cubiculum, sed magnum est cor quod in eō ōrat. → “The room is small, but great is the heart that prays in it.”
Part C: Latin Text Only
Hoc est cubiculum frātris Paulī. Cubiculum in superiōre parte monastēriī est. Cubiculum nōn magnum est, sed lūcidum. In mediō cubiculō stat mēnsa lignea. Ūna fenestra cubiculī ad orientem spectat. Māne sōl per fenestram cubiculum implet. In pariete cubiculī pendet crux. In angulō cubiculī est lectulus dūrus. Nihil pretiōsum in cubiculō invenītur. Cubiculum ōstium habet, sed clāvem nōn habet. Post Complētōrium frāter in cubiculum suum redit. In cubiculō, clausō ōstiō, Patrem suum in absconditō ōrat. In silentiō cubiculī frāter vōcem Deī audit. Hospitēs cubiculum frātris numquam intrant. Parvum est cubiculum, sed magnum est cor quod in eō ōrat.
Part D: Grammar and Genre Notes
A description is built from a few simple patterns, and each one uses cubiculum in a different case.
Nominative, as subject: Cubiculum … est (213.17, 213.18), Cubiculum ōstium habet (213.25), Parvum est cubiculum (213.30). In 213.16 cubiculum is the complement of est: Hoc est cubiculum, “This is the room.” Hoc is neuter because it points to a neuter thing.
Genitive, “of the room”: fenestra cubiculī (213.20), in pariete cubiculī (213.22), in angulō cubiculī (213.23), in silentiō cubiculī (213.28). A description often locates things this way: “on the wall of the room,” “in the corner of the room.”
Ablative after in, “in the room”: in mediō cubiculō (213.19), in cubiculō (213.24, 213.27). In mediō cubiculō means “in the middle of the room”: Latin uses the adjective medius, agreeing with the noun, where English uses a noun and “of.” In the same way, in superiōre parte means “in the upper part.”
Accusative, as object or after in of motion: cubiculum implet (213.21), cubiculum … intrant (213.29), in cubiculum suum redit (213.26).
Verbs of position. A description of a room needs verbs of standing and hanging: stat (stands, 213.19), pendet (hangs, 213.22), est (there is, 213.23), spectat ad orientem (faces east, 213.20). Latin often puts the verb before the subject in such sentences, as in 213.19 and 213.22: stat mēnsa, pendet crux. The effect is “there stands a table,” “there hangs a cross.”
The ablative absolute in 213.27, clausō ōstiō, is taken from Matthew 6:6 (Section F).
Lectulus (213.23) is the diminutive of lectus, “bed”: “a little bed, a cot.” Latin diminutives in -ulus, -ula, -ulum are common. Do not confuse them with the suffix -culum in cubiculum, which marks a place or an instrument, not smallness.
Cubiculum ōstium habet (213.25): both neuters look alike in the nominative and accusative. The sense decides: a room has a door, so cubiculum is the subject and ōstium the object.
Complētōrium (213.26) is Compline, the last Hour of the Divine Office, after which the Rule of Saint Benedict keeps silence through the night. The prayer then goes on in the cubiculum.
Nihil pretiōsum (213.24): an adjective with nihil is neuter singular. Pretiōsum has ti before a vowel, pronounced /tsi/.
The closing line (213.30) returns to the reading of Augustine in Section E: the small room is the place of a great heart.
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C and g. Before a, o, u and consonants, c is /k/ and g is /g/: cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/, crux /kruks/, angulō /ˈaŋ.gu.lo/. Before e, i, ae and oe, c is /tʃ/ and g is /dʒ/: sacerdōs /saˈtʃer.dos/, fēcit /ˈfe.tʃit/, genetrīcis /dʒe.neˈtri.tʃis/, lūcidum /ˈlu.tʃi.dum/.
Xc before e or i is /kʃ/: excitāveram /ek.ʃiˈta.ve.ram/.
Gn is /ɲɲ/: magnum /ˈmaɲ.ɲum/, lignea /ˈliɲ.ɲe.a/.
Ti before a vowel is /tsi/ (silentiō /siˈlen.tsi.o/, pretiōsum /pre.tsiˈo.sum/), except after s, t or x, where it stays /ti/: ōstium /ˈos.ti.um/.
H is silent: hospitem /ˈos.pi.tem/, habet /ˈa.bet/, nihil /ˈni.il/.
Ae is /e/: suae /ˈsu.e/, meae /ˈme.e/, praedicābitur /pre.diˈka.bi.tur/. Au is a true diphthong: clausum /ˈklau.sum/, aurem /ˈau.rem/, Paulī /ˈpau.li/.
S between vowels is written /s/ in this lesson. Many Italian-trained singers and priests voice it to /z/ (/ˈklau.zum/); both are heard.
Stress. In words of three or more syllables the stress falls on the next-to-last syllable if it is long (cubiculōrum /ku.bi.kuˈlo.rum/, introdūcam /in.troˈdu.kam/), otherwise on the one before it (cubiculum /kuˈbi.ku.lum/, epīscopus /eˈpis.ko.pus/).
Macrons. This lesson marks long vowels in Sections A–D and in the Genre Section. The citation in Section F is printed without macrons, as it stands in the Clementine Vulgate. The Ecclesiastical pronunciation does not distinguish vowel length in sound, so the IPA carries no length marks; the macrons still show where the stress falls.
Coenaculum and cēnāculum. Older editions of the Vulgate (and the Douay-Rheims Latin) print coenaculum; modern editions print cenaculum. In Ecclesiastical pronunciation both are /tʃeˈna.ku.lum/.
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◊ᴺᵉˣᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵃᵗⁱⁿᵘᵐ ◊ᴱᶜᶜˡᵉˢⁱᵃˢᵗⁱᶜᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵉˢˢᵒⁿ²¹³ ◊cubiculum ◊ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉ
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