← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Today we will learn the Latin conjunction "aut" meaning "or". This word is used to present alternatives and is often used in pairs (aut...aut) to mean "either...or".
22.1 Puer the boy aut or puella the girl ad to templum the temple venit comes
22.2 Mīles the soldier aut or in in castrīs the camp aut or in in urbe the city est is
22.3 Ad to forum the forum aut or ad to templum the temple ambulāmus we walk
22.4 Magister the teacher aut or discipulus the student librum the book legit reads
22.5 In in hortō the garden aut or in in agrō the field labōrat he works
22.6 Agricola the farmer equum horse aut or bovem ox habet has
22.7 Mater mother fīlium son aut or fīliam daughter vocat calls
22.8 Mercātor the merchant aurum gold aut or argentum silver vendit sells
22.9 Ad to flūmen the river aut or ad to mare the sea nāvigant they sail
22.10 Puella the girl rosam rose aut or līlium lily capit takes
22.11 Sacerdōs the priest ōrat prays aut or cantat sings
22.12 Scriptor the writer epistulam letter aut or carmen poem scrībit writes
22.13 Dux the leader equō by horse aut or pedibus on foot venit comes
22.14 Servus the slave cibum food aut or aquam water portat carries
22.15 Medicus the doctor sānat heals aut or medicinam medicine dat gives
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22.1 Puer aut puella ad templum venit. Either the boy or the girl comes to the temple.
22.2 Mīles aut in castrīs aut in urbe est. The soldier is either in the camp or in the city.
22.3 Ad forum aut ad templum ambulāmus. We walk either to the forum or to the temple.
22.4 Magister aut discipulus librum legit. Either the teacher or the student reads the book.
22.5 In hortō aut in agrō labōrat. He works either in the garden or in the field.
22.6 Agricola equum aut bovem habet. The farmer has either a horse or an ox.
22.7 Mater fīlium aut fīliam vocat. Mother calls either her son or daughter.
22.8 Mercātor aurum aut argentum vendit. The merchant sells either gold or silver.
22.9 Ad flūmen aut ad mare nāvigant. They sail either to the river or to the sea.
22.10 Puella rosam aut līlium capit. The girl takes either a rose or a lily.
22.11 Sacerdōs ōrat aut cantat. The priest either prays or sings.
22.12 Scriptor epistulam aut carmen scrībit. The writer writes either a letter or a poem.
22.13 Dux equō aut pedibus venit. The leader comes either by horse or on foot.
22.14 Servus cibum aut aquam portat. The slave carries either food or water.
22.15 Medicus sānat aut medicinam dat. The doctor either heals or gives medicine.
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22.1 Puer aut puella ad templum venit.
22.2 Mīles aut in castrīs aut in urbe est.
22.3 Ad forum aut ad templum ambulāmus.
22.4 Magister aut discipulus librum legit.
22.5 In hortō aut in agrō labōrat.
22.6 Agricola equum aut bovem habet.
22.7 Mater fīlium aut fīliam vocat.
22.8 Mercātor aurum aut argentum vendit.
22.9 Ad flūmen aut ad mare nāvigant.
22.10 Puella rosam aut līlium capit.
22.11 Sacerdōs ōrat aut cantat.
22.12 Scriptor epistulam aut carmen scrībit.
22.13 Dux equō aut pedibus venit.
22.14 Servus cibum aut aquam portat.
22.15 Medicus sānat aut medicinam dat.
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For English speakers, "aut" functions similarly to English "or", but with some important differences: -
Position: -
"Aut" typically comes directly before the alternative it introduces -
Can be used once or twice (aut...aut = either...or) -
Unlike English, Latin rarely puts "aut" at the end of a phrase -
Usage: -
Connects equal grammatical elements (nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs) -
Both alternatives must be in the same case when connecting nouns -
When connecting subjects, the verb agrees with the closest subject -
Common Patterns: -
Single aut: presents simple alternatives -
Double aut...aut: presents mutually exclusive choices -
Can connect words, phrases, or clauses
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For English speakers, understanding "aut" requires cultural context: -
Roman Decision-Making: -
Romans valued clear alternatives -
Legal documents often used aut to present choices -
Military commands used aut for clear orders -
Social Context: -
Used in everyday situations -
Common in marketplace transactions -
Important in religious rituals -
Modern Parallels: -
Similar to English "or" but more formal -
Used in modern Latin legal terms -
Found in scientific classification
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Augustine's "Confessions" (I.1):
Tū you excitās stir up ut that laudāre to praise tē you dēlectet it may delight aut or docēre to teach dē about tē you
"Tū excitās ut laudāre tē dēlectet aut docēre dē tē." You stir us up so that it may delight us either to praise you or to teach about you.
Augustine uses "aut" to present two ways of serving God - through praise or through teaching. The alternatives are complementary rather than exclusive.
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"aut" connects two infinitives (laudāre, docēre) -
Both infinitives depend on dēlectet -
Demonstrates "aut" in subordinate clause usage
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These sentences present either/or choices with religious themes. Here's the organized vocabulary:
| Latin | English | |-------|---------| | misereātur | may have mercy | | benedīcat | bless | | vidēs | you see | | ōrāmus | we pray | | cantātur | is sung | | salvat | he saves | | adiuvant | help | | docet | teaches | | sānat | heals | | movet | moves | | quiēscit | rests | | petimus | we seek | | baptizat | baptizes | | benedīcit | blesses | | vigilat | watches | | ōrat | prays | | prōtegit | protects | | intercēdit | intercedes | | portāmus | we carry | | acceptāmus | we accept | | pūnit | punishes | | ignōscit | forgives |
- Deus - God - nōs - us - Peccāta/Virtūtēs - sins/virtues - Psalmus/Hymnus - psalm/hymn - Corpus/Animam - body/soul - Angeli/Sanctī - angels/saints - Christus - Christ - Spīritus - Spirit - Grātiam/Misericordiam - grace/mercy - Sacerdōs - priest - Marīa - Mary - Crūcem/Rosārium - cross/rosary - Vītam/Mortem - life/death
Note: The aut (or) structure indicates these are practice sentences for choosing vocabulary appropriately.
22.16 Deus misereātur aut benedīcat nōs. May God have mercy or bless us.
22.17 Peccāta aut virtūtēs nostra vidēs. You see our sins or virtues.
22.18 Ōrāmus in templō aut in domō. We pray in the temple or at home.
22.19 Psalmus aut hymnus cantātur. A psalm or hymn is sung.
22.20 Corpus aut animam salvat. He saves body or soul.
22.21 Angeli aut sanctī nōs adiuvant. Angels or saints help us.
22.22 Christus docet aut sānat. Christ teaches or heals.
22.23 Spīritus movet aut quiēscit. The Spirit moves or rests.
22.24 Grātiam aut misericordiam petimus. We seek grace or mercy.
22.25 Sacerdōs baptizat aut benedīcit. The priest baptizes or blesses.
22.26 Fīdēlis vigilat aut ōrat. The faithful one watches or prays.
22.27 Marīa prōtegit aut intercēdit. Mary protects or intercedes.
22.28 Crūcem aut rosārium portāmus. We carry the cross or rosary.
22.29 Vītam aut mortem acceptāmus. We accept life or death.
22.30 Deus pūnit aut ignōscit. God punishes or forgives.
22.16 Deus misereātur aut benedīcat nōs.
22.17 Peccāta aut virtūtēs nostra vidēs.
22.18 Ōrāmus in templō aut in domō.
22.19 Psalmus aut hymnus cantātur.
22.20 Corpus aut animam salvat.
22.21 Angeli aut sanctī nōs adiuvant.
22.22 Christus docet aut sānat.
22.23 Spīritus movet aut quiēscit.
22.24 Grātiam aut misericordiam petimus.
22.25 Sacerdōs baptizat aut benedīcit.
22.26 Fīdēlis vigilat aut ōrat.
22.27 Marīa prōtegit aut intercēdit.
22.28 Crūcem aut rosārium portāmus.
22.29 Vītam aut mortem acceptāmus.
22.30 Deus pūnit aut ignōscit.
22.16 Deus God misereātur may have mercy aut or benedīcat bless nōs us
22.17 Peccāta sins aut or virtūtēs virtues nostra our vidēs you see
22.18 Ōrāmus we pray in in templō the temple aut or in in domō home
22.19 Psalmus psalm aut or hymnus hymn cantātur is sung
22.20 Corpus body aut or animam soul salvat he saves
22.21 Angeli angels aut or sanctī saints nōs us adiuvant help
22.22 Christus Christ docet teaches aut or sānat heals
22.23 Spīritus the Spirit movet moves aut or quiēscit rests
22.24 Grātiam grace aut or misericordiam mercy petimus we seek
22.25 Sacerdōs the priest baptizat baptizes aut or benedīcit blesses
22.26 Fīdēlis the faithful one vigilat watches aut or ōrat prays
22.27 Marīa Mary prōtegit protects aut or intercēdit intercedes
22.28 Crūcem the cross aut or rosārium rosary portāmus we carry
22.29 Vītam life aut or mortem death acceptāmus we accept
22.30 Deus God pūnit punishes aut or ignōscit forgives
22.16 Deus misereātur aut benedīcat nōs. May God have mercy or bless us.
22.17 Peccāta aut virtūtēs nostra vidēs. You see our sins or virtues.
22.18 Ōrāmus in templō aut in domō. We pray in the temple or at home.
22.19 Psalmus aut hymnus cantātur. A psalm or hymn is sung.
22.20 Corpus aut animam salvat. He saves body or soul.
22.21 Angeli aut sanctī nōs adiuvant. Angels or saints help us.
22.22 Christus docet aut sānat. Christ teaches or heals.
22.23 Spīritus movet aut quiēscit. The Spirit moves or rests.
22.24 Grātiam aut misericordiam petimus. We seek grace or mercy.
22.25 Sacerdōs baptizat aut benedīcit. The priest baptizes or blesses.
22.26 Fīdēlis vigilat aut ōrat. The faithful one watches or prays.
22.27 Marīa prōtegit aut intercēdit. Mary protects or intercedes.
22.28 Crūcem aut rosārium portāmus. We carry the cross or rosary.
22.29 Vītam aut mortem acceptāmus. We accept life or death.
22.30 Deus pūnit aut ignōscit. God punishes or forgives.
22.16 Deus misereātur aut benedīcat nōs.
22.17 Peccāta aut virtūtēs nostra vidēs.
22.18 Ōrāmus in templō aut in domō.
22.19 Psalmus aut hymnus cantātur.
22.20 Corpus aut animam salvat.
22.21 Angeli aut sanctī nōs adiuvant.
22.22 Christus docet aut sānat.
22.23 Spīritus movet aut quiēscit.
22.24 Grātiam aut misericordiam petimus.
22.25 Sacerdōs baptizat aut benedīcit.
22.26 Fīdēlis vigilat aut ōrat.
22.27 Marīa prōtegit aut intercēdit.
22.28 Crūcem aut rosārium portāmus.
22.29 Vītam aut mortem acceptāmus.
22.30 Deus pūnit aut ignōscit.
The prayer genre demonstrates special grammatical features when using "aut": -
Subjunctive Mood in Prayers: -
Used for wishes and requests -
Example: "misereātur aut benedīcat" (may he have mercy or bless) -
Often appears in formal church prayers -
Verb Forms: -
Present tense for ongoing actions (ōrāmus, vigilat) -
Perfect tense for completed actions (salvāvit) -
Passive voice in liturgical context (cantātur) -
Special Features of Christian Latin: -
Technical religious vocabulary (baptizat, benedīcit) -
Abstract nouns (grātia, misericordia) -
Names of religious figures (Christus, Marīa) -
Patterns with "aut": -
Often connects paired concepts (corpus/anima, vīta/mors) -
Links complementary actions (vigilat/ōrat) -
Connects divine attributes (pūnit/ignōscit) -
Case Usage: -
Accusative for direct objects (grātiam, misericordiam) -
Ablative for location (in templō, in domō) -
Nominative for subjects of prayer (Deus, Spīritus) -
Common Prayer Constructions: -
Direct address to deity (2nd person) -
First person plural for communal prayer -
Third person for describing divine action
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