← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
Of the Voices of Animals
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Discipulī cārissimī, in lectiōne praecedentī dīdicimus animālia sē movēre. Avis volat, piscis natat, quadrupēs graditur, serpēns serpit. Sed nunc altius prōgredimur! Nōn sōlum quōmodo animālia sē movent, sed etiam quid dīcunt — vel potius, quōs sonōs ēdunt. Ūnumquodque animal suam vōcem habet. Equus hinnit. Bōs mūgit. Agnus bālat. Haec verba ipsōs sonōs imitantur!
Dearest students, in the preceding lesson we learned that animals move themselves. A bird flies, a fish swims, a four-footed beast walks, a serpent creeps. But now we progress further! Not only how animals move themselves, but also what they say — or rather, what sounds they make. Each animal has its own voice. A horse neighs. An ox lows. A lamb bleats. These words imitate the very sounds themselves!
Quandō puer eram in Moraviā, in agrīs errābam et animālia audiēbam. Equōs hinnientēs, bovēs mūgientēs, agnōs bālantēs. Hī sonī erant mūsica rūris. Nunc vōbīscum hanc mūsicam condīvidō — per linguam Latīnam, quae ipsa sonōs nātūrae capere potest. Verba hodierna sunt verba vīva, verba sonantia!
When I was a boy in Moravia, I wandered in the fields and listened to animals. Neighing horses, lowing oxen, bleating lambs. These sounds were the music of the countryside. Now I share this music with you — through the Latin language, which itself can capture the sounds of nature. Today’s words are living words, sounding words!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Vermis a worm repit. crawls. Cervus a hart currit. runs. Equus a horse hinnit. neighs. Bōs an ox mūgit. lows. Agnus a lamb bālat. bleats.
vermis — vermis, vermis (m.), 3rd declension: “a worm.” Like piscis and avis, the nominative and genitive singular are identical. The genitive plural is vermium. English “vermin” comes from this root, though it now has a more negative connotation. The diminutive vermiculus (”little worm”) gives us “vermicelli” — the pasta that looks like little worms!
repit — from repō, repere, repsī, reptum (3rd conjugation): “crawls, creeps.” Note the similarity to serpō (which we learned in the previous lesson). Both describe low, creeping motion. English “reptile” comes from reptum — a reptile is literally “a crawling thing.”
cervus — cervus, cervī (m.), 2nd declension: “a hart, a stag, a deer.” This is a regular 2nd declension masculine noun. English “cervine” (relating to deer) and the name “Cervantes” come from this root.
currit — from currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum (3rd conjugation): “runs.” Note the reduplicated perfect cucurrī — the initial syllable is doubled, a pattern seen in several common verbs. English “current,” “course,” “occur,” and “curriculum” (originally a running track) all derive from currō.
equus — equus, equī (m.), 2nd declension: “a horse.” Another regular 2nd declension noun. English “equine” and “equestrian” come from this root. The word for a female horse is equa, equae (f.).
hinnit — from hinniō, hinnīre, hinnīvī/hinniī, hinnītum (4th conjugation): “neighs, whinnies.” This is an onomatopoeic verb — the sound of the word imitates the sound the horse makes: “hinn-” sounds like a whinny! Latin is full of such words for animal sounds.
bōs — bōs, bovis (m./f.), 3rd declension irregular: “an ox, a cow, cattle.” This is an important irregular noun. The nominative bōs has a long vowel, but the stem is bov- (seen in the genitive bovis). The dative/ablative plural is bōbus or būbus. English “bovine” and “beef” (through French boeuf) come from this root.
mūgit — from mūgiō, mūgīre, mūgīvī/mūgiī, mūgītum (4th conjugation): “lows, bellows, moos.” Another onomatopoeic verb — “mūg-” sounds like the low, deep sound a cow makes. The verb can also describe the roaring of the sea or thunder.
agnus — agnus, agnī (m.), 2nd declension: “a lamb.” A regular masculine noun. The Agnus Deī (”Lamb of God”) is a famous phrase in Christian liturgy. English “agnate” (related through the male line) is etymologically unrelated, but the phrase “Paschal lamb” connects to this word.
bālat — from bālō, bālāre, bālāvī, bālātum (1st conjugation): “bleats.” Another onomatopoeic verb — “bāā” sounds like a sheep! This is a first conjugation verb, making it regular and easy to conjugate.
Vermis repit. A worm crawls.
Cervus currit. A hart runs.
Equus hinnit. A horse neighs.
Bōs mūgit. An ox lows.
Agnus bālat. A lamb bleats.
Vermis repit. Cervus currit. Equus hinnit. Bōs mūgit. Agnus bālat.
Many Latin verbs for animal sounds are onomatopoeic — they imitate the sounds they describe. This makes them memorable:
Animal Verbum Sonus equus (horse) hinnit “hinn-” = whinny bōs (ox) mūgit “mūg-” = moo agnus (lamb) bālat “bāā-” = bleat
These verbs are easy to remember because you can hear the animal in the word!
The noun bōs is important but irregular:
Cāsus Singulāris Plūrālis Nōminātīvus bōs bovēs Genetīvus bovis boum Datīvus bovī bōbus/būbus Accūsātīvus bovem bovēs Ablātīvus bove bōbus/būbus
Note: The stem changes from bō- (nominative) to bov- (other cases). The genitive plural boum is unusual — most 3rd declension nouns have -um or -ium.
The verb currō has a reduplicated perfect: cucurrī. The first syllable is doubled: -
currō → cu-currī (I ran)
Other common verbs with reduplicated perfects include: -
cadō → ce-cidī (I fell) -
caedō → ce-cīdī (I cut) -
tangō → te-tigī (I touched) -
pellō → pe-pulī (I drove)
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō vermis, vermis (m.) nōmen worm repō, repere, repsī, reptum verbum crawl, creep cervus, cervī (m.) nōmen hart, stag, deer currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum verbum run equus, equī (m.) nōmen horse hinniō, hinnīre, hinnīvī, hinnītum verbum neigh, whinny bōs, bovis (m./f.) nōmen ox, cow mūgiō, mūgīre, mūgīvī, mūgītum verbum low, bellow, moo agnus, agnī (m.) nōmen lamb bālō, bālāre, bālāvī, bālātum verbum bleat
Ōlim once in in Italiā Italy puer a boy nōmine by name Mārcus Marcus in on fundō a farm habitābat. lived. Pater the father eius his erat was agricola a farmer quī who multōs many agrōs fields habēbat. had. In on fundō the farm erant there were multa many animālia: animals: equī, horses, bovēs, oxen, agnī, lambs, et and gallīnae. hens.
Mārcus Marcus cotīdiē daily mānē in the morning ēvigilābat would awaken et and statim immediately sonōs sounds audiēbat. would hear. Prīmum first gallus the rooster canēbat would crow et and diem the day nūntiābat. would announce. Deinde then equī the horses hinnīre to neigh incipiēbant, would begin, quasi as if dīcerent they were saying sē themselves cibum food dēsīderāre. to desire.
Mārcus Marcus dīcēbat used to say patrem his father suum his own explicāvisse had explained ūnumquodque each animal animal suam its own vōcem voice habēre. to have. “Equus “a horse hinnit,” neighs,” pater father dīxerat, had said, “bōs “an ox mūgit, lows, agnus a lamb bālat. bleats. Haec these verba words ipsōs the very sonōs sounds imitantur!” imitate!”
Mārcus Marcus hanc this lēctiōnem lesson numquam never oblītus est. forgot. Ambulābat he would walk per through agrōs the fields et and animālia the animals audiēbat. would hear. Bovēs the oxen in in prātīs the meadows mūgiēbant. were lowing. Agnī the lambs iuxtā beside mātrēs their mothers bālābant. were bleating. Cervī deer in in silvīs the forests propinquīs nearby currēbant, were running, et and etiam even vermēs worms in in terrā the earth repēbant. were crawling.
Ūnō one diē day hospes a guest ad to fundum the farm vēnit. came. Erat he was poēta a poet quī who ex from urbe the city Rōmā Rome advēnerat. had arrived. Poēta the poet dīxit said sē himself numquam never tantōs so many sonōs sounds audīvisse. to have heard. “In “in urbe,” the city,” inquit, he said, “audīmus “we hear sōlum only hominēs humans clāmantēs. shouting. Hīc here autem however audiō I hear mūsicam a music nātūrae of nature ipsīus!” itself!”
Mārcus Marcus respondisse to have replied dīcitur is said poētam the poet vērum the truth dīcere. to speak. “Haec “this est is symphōnia the symphony rūstica,” of the countryside,” inquit. he said. “Equī “the horses hinniunt, neigh, bovēs the oxen mūgiunt, low, agnī the lambs bālant. bleat. Ūnumquodque each animal animal suam its own partem part cantat!” sings!”
Poēta the poet tam so dēlectātus est was delighted ut that carmen a poem compōneret. he composed. In in carmine the poem scrīpsit he wrote sē himself in in agrīs the fields vēram true harmōniam harmony invēnisse to have found quam which in in urbe the city frūstrā in vain quaesīvisset. he had sought. Mārcus Marcus puer the boy magistrum the teacher novum new habuerat: had had: nātūram nature ipsam. itself.
Ōlim in Italiā puer nōmine Mārcus in fundō habitābat. Once in Italy a boy named Marcus lived on a farm.
Pater eius erat agricola quī multōs agrōs habēbat. His father was a farmer who had many fields.
In fundō erant multa animālia: equī, bovēs, agnī, et gallīnae. On the farm there were many animals: horses, oxen, lambs, and hens.
Mārcus cotīdiē mānē ēvigilābat et statim sonōs audiēbat. Marcus would awaken daily in the morning and immediately hear sounds.
Prīmum gallus canēbat et diem nūntiābat. First the rooster would crow and announce the day.
Deinde equī hinnīre incipiēbant, quasi dīcerent sē cibum dēsīderāre. Then the horses would begin to neigh, as if saying they desired food.
Mārcus dīcēbat patrem suum explicāvisse ūnumquodque animal suam vōcem habēre. Marcus used to say that his father had explained that each animal has its own voice.
“Equus hinnit,” pater dīxerat, “bōs mūgit, agnus bālat.” “A horse neighs,” his father had said, “an ox lows, a lamb bleats.”
“Haec verba ipsōs sonōs imitantur!” “These words imitate the very sounds!”
Mārcus hanc lēctiōnem numquam oblītus est. Marcus never forgot this lesson.
Ambulābat per agrōs et animālia audiēbat. He would walk through the fields and hear the animals.
Bovēs in prātīs mūgiēbant. The oxen were lowing in the meadows.
Agnī iuxtā mātrēs bālābant. The lambs were bleating beside their mothers.
Cervī in silvīs propinquīs currēbant, et etiam vermēs in terrā repēbant. Deer were running in the nearby forests, and even worms were crawling in the earth.
Ūnō diē hospes ad fundum vēnit. One day a guest came to the farm.
Erat poēta quī ex urbe Rōmā advēnerat. He was a poet who had arrived from the city of Rome.
Poēta dīxit sē numquam tantōs sonōs audīvisse. The poet said that he had never heard so many sounds.
“In urbe,” inquit, “audīmus sōlum hominēs clāmantēs.” “In the city,” he said, “we hear only humans shouting.”
“Hīc autem audiō mūsicam nātūrae ipsīus!” “Here, however, I hear a music of nature itself!”
Mārcus respondisse dīcitur poētam vērum dīcere. Marcus is said to have replied that the poet speaks the truth.
“Haec est symphōnia rūstica,” inquit. “This is the rustic symphony,” he said.
“Equī hinniunt, bovēs mūgiunt, agnī bālant.” “The horses neigh, the oxen low, the lambs bleat.”
“Ūnumquodque animal suam partem cantat!” “Each animal sings its own part!”
Poēta tam dēlectātus est ut carmen compōneret. The poet was so delighted that he composed a poem.
In carmine scrīpsit sē in agrīs vēram harmōniam invēnisse quam in urbe frūstrā quaesīvisset. In the poem he wrote that he had found in the fields a true harmony which he had sought in vain in the city.
Mārcus puer magistrum novum habuerat: nātūram ipsam. The boy Marcus had had a new teacher: nature itself.
Ōlim in Italiā puer nōmine Mārcus in fundō habitābat. Pater eius erat agricola quī multōs agrōs habēbat. In fundō erant multa animālia: equī, bovēs, agnī, et gallīnae. Mārcus cotīdiē mānē ēvigilābat et statim sonōs audiēbat. Prīmum gallus canēbat et diem nūntiābat. Deinde equī hinnīre incipiēbant, quasi dīcerent sē cibum dēsīderāre.
Mārcus dīcēbat patrem suum explicāvisse ūnumquodque animal suam vōcem habēre. “Equus hinnit,” pater dīxerat, “bōs mūgit, agnus bālat. Haec verba ipsōs sonōs imitantur!” Mārcus hanc lēctiōnem numquam oblītus est. Ambulābat per agrōs et animālia audiēbat. Bovēs in prātīs mūgiēbant. Agnī iuxtā mātrēs bālābant. Cervī in silvīs propinquīs currēbant, et etiam vermēs in terrā repēbant.
Ūnō diē hospes ad fundum vēnit. Erat poēta quī ex urbe Rōmā advēnerat. Poēta dīxit sē numquam tantōs sonōs audīvisse. “In urbe,” inquit, “audīmus sōlum hominēs clāmantēs. Hīc autem audiō mūsicam nātūrae ipsīus!” Mārcus respondisse dīcitur poētam vērum dīcere. “Haec est symphōnia rūstica,” inquit. “Equī hinniunt, bovēs mūgiunt, agnī bālant. Ūnumquodque animal suam partem cantat!”
Poēta tam dēlectātus est ut carmen compōneret. In carmine scrīpsit sē in agrīs vēram harmōniam invēnisse quam in urbe frūstrā quaesīvisset. Mārcus puer magistrum novum habuerat: nātūram ipsam.
Dē Locō et Tempore: The story is set in rural Italy, where a farm boy learns about nature from the animals around him. The contrast between city and country reflects a theme dear to Comenius — that nature itself is the best teacher, and that direct sensory experience (hearing the animals) teaches better than abstract learning.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ōrātiō Oblīqua — The story uses extensive indirect statement: -
dīcēbat patrem suum explicāvisse (he said that his father had explained) -
dīxit sē numquam tantōs sonōs audīvisse (he said that he had never heard) -
scrīpsit sē harmōniam invēnisse (he wrote that he had found) -
Deponent verb — oblītus est (he forgot) from oblīvīscor — passive form, active meaning. -
Result clause — tam dēlectātus est ut carmen compōneret (he was so delighted that he composed) — ut + subjunctive expressing result. -
Imperfect for habitual action — audiēbat, ambulābat, mūgiēbant, bālābant — describing repeated or ongoing past actions.
Vocābula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Significātiō fundus, fundī (m.) farm, estate symphōnia, symphōniae (f.) symphony rūsticus, -a, -um rustic, of the countryside harmōnia, harmoniae (f.) harmony frūstrā (adv.) in vain oblīvīscor, oblīvīscī, oblītus sum (+gen.) forget
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why verbum the word “hinnit” “neighs” tam so simile est is similar sonō to the sound ipsī itself quem which equus a horse facit? makes?
MAGISTER: Bona good quaestiō! question! Hoc this verbum word est is “onomatopoeicum” “onomatopoeic” — id est, that is, verbum a word quod which sonum the sound ipsum itself imitātur. imitates. Dīc say mihi: to me: quid what audīs do you hear cum when dīcis you say “hinnit”? “neighs”?
DISCIPULUS: Audiō... I hear... “hinn...” “hinn...” — ecce! behold! Hoc this est is quasi like sonus the sound equī of a horse ipse! itself!
MAGISTER: Rēctē rightly intellegis. you understand. Multī many sonī sounds animālium of animals habent have verba words tālia. such. “Bālat” “bleats” habet has sonum the sound “bāā” “baa” — sīcut just as agnus a lamb ipse itself sonat. sounds. “Mūgit” “lows” habet has sonum the sound profundum deep “mūū” “moo” — sīcut just as bōs. an ox.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō therefore Latīna the Latin lingua language sonōs the sounds nātūrae of nature capere potest! can capture!
MAGISTER: Certē. certainly. Et and hoc this est is ratiō the reason cūr why haec these verba words facile easily memoriae to memory mandantur. are committed. Sī if audīs you hear sonum the sound in in verbō, the word, verbum the word numquam never oblīvīscēris. will you forget. Nātūra nature ipsa itself est is magister the teacher optimus. best.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc now intellegō I understand cūr why pater father meus my dīcat says mē me dēbēre ought animālia the animals audīre to hear antequam before dē about eīs them legam. I read. Rēs the thing ante before verbum! the word!
MAGISTER: Optimē excellently dīxistī, you have said, discipule! student! Hoc this est is prīncipium the principle nostrum our maximum: greatest: rēs the thing ante before verbum, the word, sensus the senses ante before librum. the book. Nunc now exī go out et and animālia the animals audī hear — deinde then verba the words discēs! you will learn!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr verbum “hinnit” tam simile est sonō ipsī quem equus facit? Master, why is the word “neighs” so similar to the very sound which a horse makes?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Hoc verbum est “onomatopoeicum” — id est, verbum quod sonum ipsum imitātur. Good question! This word is “onomatopoeic” — that is, a word which imitates the sound itself.
Dīc mihi: quid audīs cum dīcis “hinnit”? Tell me: what do you hear when you say “neighs”?
DISCIPULUS: Audiō... “hinn...” — ecce! Hoc est quasi sonus equī ipse! I hear... “hinn...” — behold! This is like the sound of a horse itself!
MAGISTER: Rēctē intellegis. Multī sonī animālium habent verba tālia. You understand rightly. Many sounds of animals have such words.
“Bālat” habet sonum “bāā” — sīcut agnus ipse sonat. “Bleats” has the sound “baa” — just as a lamb itself sounds.
“Mūgit” habet sonum profundum “mūū” — sīcut bōs. “Lows” has the deep sound “moo” — just as an ox.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō Latīna lingua sonōs nātūrae capere potest! Therefore the Latin language can capture the sounds of nature!
MAGISTER: Certē. Et hoc est ratiō cūr haec verba facile memoriae mandantur. Certainly. And this is the reason why these words are easily committed to memory.
Sī audīs sonum in verbō, verbum numquam oblīvīscēris. If you hear the sound in the word, you will never forget the word.
Nātūra ipsa est magister optimus. Nature itself is the best teacher.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc intellegō cūr pater meus dīcat mē dēbēre animālia audīre antequam dē eīs legam. Now I understand why my father says I ought to hear the animals before I read about them.
Rēs ante verbum! The thing before the word!
MAGISTER: Optimē dīxistī, discipule! Hoc est prīncipium nostrum maximum: rēs ante verbum, sensus ante librum. You have said it excellently, student! This is our greatest principle: the thing before the word, the senses before the book.
Nunc exī et animālia audī — deinde verba discēs! Now go out and hear the animals — then you will learn the words!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr verbum “hinnit” tam simile est sonō ipsī quem equus facit?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Hoc verbum est “onomatopoeicum” — id est, verbum quod sonum ipsum imitātur. Dīc mihi: quid audīs cum dīcis “hinnit”?
DISCIPULUS: Audiō... “hinn...” — ecce! Hoc est quasi sonus equī ipse!
MAGISTER: Rēctē intellegis. Multī sonī animālium habent verba tālia. “Bālat” habet sonum “bāā” — sīcut agnus ipse sonat. “Mūgit” habet sonum profundum “mūū” — sīcut bōs.
DISCIPULUS: Ergō Latīna lingua sonōs nātūrae capere potest!
MAGISTER: Certē. Et hoc est ratiō cūr haec verba facile memoriae mandantur. Sī audīs sonum in verbō, verbum numquam oblīvīscēris. Nātūra ipsa est magister optimus.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc intellegō cūr pater meus dīcat mē dēbēre animālia audīre antequam dē eīs legam. Rēs ante verbum!
MAGISTER: Optimē dīxistī, discipule! Hoc est prīncipium nostrum maximum: rēs ante verbum, sensus ante librum. Nunc exī et animālia audī — deinde verba discēs!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium teaches the concept of onomatopoeia — words that imitate sounds. The key insight is that hinniō, mūgiō, and bālō all contain the sounds they describe. This makes them easier to remember than abstract vocabulary.
The dialogue also reinforces Comenius’s core pedagogical principle: rēs ante verbum (the thing before the word). Students should hear actual animals before learning the Latin words for their sounds. Direct sensory experience precedes and enables verbal learning.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Indirect statement after verbs of saying: cūr pater meus dīcat mē dēbēre — subjunctive dīcat after intellegō (virtual indirect question), then accusative + infinitive mē dēbēre. -
Future tense: oblīvīscēris (you will forget), discēs (you will learn) — deponent and regular futures. -
Imperative: dīc (say!), exī (go out!), audī (hear!) — different conjugation imperatives.
Match each animal with its characteristic sound:
Animal Sonus 1. equus a. mūgit 2. bōs b. bālat 3. agnus c. repit 4. vermis d. hinnit 5. cervus e. currit
Complete each sentence with the correct verb from the word bank:
Verba: hinnit, mūgit, bālat, repit, currit -
Agnus in prātō __________. -
Equus in stabulō __________. -
Bōs in agrō __________. -
Vermis in terrā __________. -
Cervus per silvam __________.
-
A worm crawls in the earth. -
The horse neighs loudly. -
The lambs are bleating beside their mothers. -
The deer runs through the forest. -
The ox lows in the meadow.
-
Bovēs in prātīs mūgiunt. -
Mārcus audiēbat equōs hinnientēs. -
Vermēs per terram repunt. -
Agnus iuxtā mātrem bālat. -
Cervī per silvās cucurrērunt.
Complete the declension of this irregular noun:
Cāsus Singulāris Plūrālis Nōminātīvus bōs __________ Genetīvus __________ boum Datīvus bovī __________ Accūsātīvus __________ bovēs Ablātīvus bove __________
Memorize these sentences: -
Vermis repit. A worm crawls. -
Cervus currit. A hart runs. -
Equus hinnit. A horse neighs. -
Bōs mūgit. An ox lows. -
Agnus bālat. A lamb bleats. -
Ūnumquodque animal suam vōcem habet. Each animal has its own voice. -
Rēs ante verbum, sensus ante librum. The thing before the word, the senses before the book.
-
d (equus hinnit) -
a (bōs mūgit) -
b (agnus bālat) -
c (vermis repit) -
e (cervus currit)
-
bālat -
hinnit -
mūgit -
repit -
currit
-
Vermis in terrā repit. -
Equus clārē hinnit. (or: magnā vōce) -
Agnī iuxtā mātrēs bālant. -
Cervus per silvam currit. -
Bōs in prātō mūgit.
-
The oxen low in the meadows. -
Marcus used to hear the horses neighing. -
Worms crawl through the earth. -
A lamb bleats beside its mother. -
The deer ran through the forests.
Cāsus Singulāris Plūrālis Nōminātīvus bōs bovēs Genetīvus bovis boum Datīvus bovī bōbus/būbus Accūsātīvus bovem bovēs Ablātīvus bove bōbus/būbus
In proximā lectiōne plūra animālia audiēmus! Porcus grunnit, ursus murmurat, lupus ululat. Etiam canis quī lātrat et ariēs quī arietat! Mundus animālium est plēnus sonōrum. Rūs est symphōnia vīva — et nōs omnēs sonōs discēmus!
In the next lesson we will hear more animals! A pig grunts, a bear murmurs, a wolf howls. Also a dog which barks and a ram which butts! The world of animals is full of sounds. The countryside is a living symphony — and we shall learn all the sounds!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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