← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
In this lesson, we will study the first person plural personal pronoun "nōs" (we). This important pronoun is essential for expressing collective actions and group identity in Latin. We will explore its various cases and uses in different contexts.
49.1 Nōs we in in templō temple sumus are
49.2 Pater father nōs us vocat calls
49.3 Ad to nōs us venit comes magister the teacher
49.4 Nōbīs to us librum book dat gives amīcus friend
49.5 Nostrum of us pater father est is bonus good
49.6 Cum with nōbīs us ambulat walks dominus the master
49.7 Nōs we ad to urbem city properāmus hurry
49.8 Magister teacher nōs us docet teaches
49.9 Nōbīs for us templum temple pulchrum beautiful est is
49.10 Inter among nōs us pāx peace est is
49.11 Nostrī of us amīcī friends bonī good sunt are
49.12 Deus God nōs us amat loves
49.13 Nōs we in in hortō garden labōrāmus work
49.14 Ab from nōbīs us discēdit departs puer the boy
49.15 Apud with nōs us habitat lives sacerdōs the priest
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49.1 In templō nōs sumus. We are in the temple.
49.2 Vocat nōs pater. Father calls us.
49.3 Magister ad nōs venit. The teacher comes to us.
49.4 Amīcus nōbīs librum dat. The friend gives us a book.
49.5 Pater nostrum bonus est. Our father is good.
49.6 Dominus cum nōbīs ambulat. The master walks with us.
49.7 Ad urbem nōs properāmus. We hurry to the city.
49.8 Docet nōs magister. The teacher teaches us.
49.9 Templum nōbīs pulchrum est. The temple is beautiful to us.
49.10 Pāx inter nōs est. There is peace among us.
49.11 Amīcī nostrī bonī sunt. Our friends are good.
49.12 Amat nōs Deus. God loves us.
49.13 In hortō nōs labōrāmus. We work in the garden.
49.14 Puer ab nōbīs discēdit. The boy departs from us.
49.15 Sacerdōs apud nōs habitat. The priest lives with us.
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49.1 In templō nōs sumus.
49.2 Vocat nōs pater.
49.3 Magister ad nōs venit.
49.4 Amīcus nōbīs librum dat.
49.5 Pater nostrum bonus est.
49.6 Dominus cum nōbīs ambulat.
49.7 Ad urbem nōs properāmus.
49.8 Docet nōs magister.
49.9 Templum nōbīs pulchrum est.
49.10 Pāx inter nōs est.
49.11 Amīcī nostrī bonī sunt.
49.12 Amat nōs Deus.
49.13 In hortō nōs labōrāmus.
49.14 Puer ab nōbīs discēdit.
49.15 Sacerdōs apud nōs habitat.
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For English speakers, the pronoun "nōs" is important to understand because it has different forms depending on its function in the sentence: -
Cases of nōs: -
Nominative (subject): nōs (we) -
Accusative (direct object): nōs (us) -
Genitive (possession): nostrum/nostrī (of us, our) -
Dative (indirect object): nōbīs (to/for us) -
Ablative (with prepositions): nōbīs (by/with/from us) -
Key differences from English: -
Latin doesn't distinguish between "us" as direct object and "us" after prepositions -
The genitive has two forms: nostrum (partitive) and nostrī (objective) -
The dative and ablative share the same form (nōbīs) -
Common constructions: -
With prepositions: ad nōs, cum nōbīs, inter nōs -
As subject: nōs + first person plural verb -
As direct object: verb + nōs -
Possessive: nostrum/nostrī + noun
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Understanding "nōs" in Latin requires appreciating several cultural aspects: -
Community Identity: -
Romans emphasized collective identity -
Family and social groups were central to Roman life -
"Nōs" often implied membership in important groups -
Religious Context: -
In Christian Latin, "nōs" often appears in prayers -
Expresses collective worship and community -
Used in liturgical texts and hymns -
Social Hierarchy: -
"Nōs" could indicate social class -
Distinguished between "us" (Romans) and "them" (barbarians) -
Important in political and legal contexts -
Modern Relevance: -
Similar to French "nous" and Spanish "nosotros" -
Helps understand development of Romance languages -
Important for ecclesiastical Latin
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Augustine's "Confessions" (1.1):
Tū you excitās stir up ut that laudāre to praise tē you dēlectet it may delight nōs us
Tū excitās ut laudāre tē dēlectet nōs. You stir us up so that praising you may delight us.
This passage demonstrates Augustine's use of "nōs" in a religious context, expressing the collective Christian experience of divine inspiration and worship.
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"nōs" is accusative, object of "dēlectet" -
Subjunctive "dēlectet" in purpose clause -
Word order emphasizes divine action -
Personal pronouns ("tū", "tē", "nōs") create intimacy
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49.16 Deus God nōs us per through grātiam grace suam his salvat saves
49.17 Nōs we ad to templum temple sanctum holy orāre to pray venīmus come
49.18 Pater Father noster our quī who in in caelīs heavens es are
49.19 Miserēre have mercy nōbīs on us Domine Lord sancte holy
49.20 Inter among nōs us Spīritus Spirit Sanctus Holy habitat dwells
49.21 Christe Christ exaudī hear nōs us orantes praying
49.22 Angelī angels custōdiunt guard nōs us in in viīs ways nostrīs our
49.23 Libera free nōs us ā from malō evil Domine Lord
49.24 Pāx peace Domini of the Lord sit may be semper always nōbīscum with us
49.25 Ad to nōs us venit comes rēgnum kingdom tuum your
49.26 Nōs we in in fidē faith ambulāmus walk
49.27 Salva save nōs us Domine Lord vigilantes watching
49.28 Grātia grace tua your sit may be semper always nōbīscum with us
49.29 Per through nōs us lux light Christi of Christ lucet shines
49.30 Benedic bless nōs us et and custōdī keep nōs us Deus God
49.16 Deus nōs per grātiam suam salvat. God saves us through his grace.
49.17 Ad templum sanctum orāre nōs venīmus. We come to the holy temple to pray.
49.18 Pater noster quī in caelīs es. Our Father who art in heaven.
49.19 Miserēre nōbīs, Domine sancte. Have mercy on us, holy Lord.
49.20 Inter nōs Spīritus Sanctus habitat. The Holy Spirit dwells among us.
49.21 Christe, exaudī nōs orantes. Christ, hear us praying.
49.22 Angelī nōs in viīs nostrīs custōdiunt. Angels guard us in our ways.
49.23 Libera nōs ā malō, Domine. Deliver us from evil, Lord.
49.24 Pāx Domini sit semper nōbīscum. The peace of the Lord be always with us.
49.25 Ad nōs venit rēgnum tuum. Your kingdom comes to us.
49.26 Nōs in fidē ambulāmus. We walk in faith.
49.27 Salva nōs, Domine, vigilantes. Save us, Lord, as we keep watch.
49.28 Grātia tua sit semper nōbīscum. May your grace be always with us.
49.29 Per nōs lux Christi lucet. Through us the light of Christ shines.
49.30 Benedic nōs et custōdī nōs, Deus. Bless us and keep us, God.
49.16 Deus nōs per grātiam suam salvat.
49.17 Ad templum sanctum orāre nōs venīmus.
49.18 Pater noster quī in caelīs es.
49.19 Miserēre nōbīs, Domine sancte.
49.20 Inter nōs Spīritus Sanctus habitat.
49.21 Christe, exaudī nōs orantes.
49.22 Angelī nōs in viīs nostrīs custōdiunt.
49.23 Libera nōs ā malō, Domine.
49.24 Pāx Domini sit semper nōbīscum.
49.25 Ad nōs venit rēgnum tuum.
49.26 Nōs in fidē ambulāmus.
49.27 Salva nōs, Domine, vigilantes.
49.28 Grātia tua sit semper nōbīscum.
49.29 Per nōs lux Christi lucet.
49.30 Benedic nōs et custōdī nōs, Deus.
This section demonstrates several important features of Latin Christian prayer: -
Forms of Address: -
Vocative case for divine names: "Domine" (O Lord), "Christe" (O Christ) -
Reverential titles: "Deus" (God), "Pater noster" (Our Father) -
Descriptive epithets: "sancte" (holy), "vigilans" (watchful) -
Verbal Moods: -
Imperatives for petitions: "miserēre" (have mercy), "libera" (free), "benedic" (bless) -
Subjunctive for wishes: "sit" (may it be) -
Indicative for statements of faith: "habitat" (dwells), "lucet" (shines) -
Uses of "nōs": -
Direct object with verbs of salvation: "salvat nōs" (saves us) -
With prepositions: "inter nōs" (among us), "per nōs" (through us) -
Special form "nōbīscum" (with us) combining nōbīs + cum -
Possessive "noster" in formal address: "Pater noster" (Our Father) -
Prayer-Specific Features: -
Formulaic endings: "nōbīscum" (with us) -
Parallel structures: "benedic nōs et custōdī nōs" (bless us and keep us) -
Abstract nouns: "grātia" (grace), "pāx" (peace) -
Present participles in petitions: "vigilantes" (watching), "orantes" (praying) -
Word Order: -
Verb-final for solemnity: "Spīritus Sanctus habitat" (The Holy Spirit dwells) -
Fronted vocatives: "Domine, salvā nōs" (Lord, save us) -
Emphasis through placement: "Per nōs lux Christi lucet" (Through us the light of Christ shines) -
Special Constructions: -
Double accusative: "custōdī nōs vigilantes" (keep us watching) -
Purpose infinitives: "orāre venīmus" (we come to pray) -
Ablative of means: "per grātiam" (through grace) -
Genitive of possession: "pāx Domini" (peace of the Lord)
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