← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! Novum caput hodiē incipimus: Dē Rērum Circumstantiīs. In hōc capite discēmus dē adverbiīs — illīs vocibus parvīs quae circumstantiās rērum exprimunt: ubi, quandō, quōmodo, cūr.
Greetings, dearest students! Today we begin a new chapter: On the Circumstances of Things. In this chapter we shall learn about adverbs — those small words which express the circumstances of things: where, when, how, why.
Hodiē ā salūtātiōnibus incipimus. Quōmodo Latīnē salūtāmus? Quōmodo interrogāmus? Quōmodo grātiās agimus? Haec sunt verba quōtīdiāna quae omnēs scīre dēbent!
Today we begin with greetings. How do we greet in Latin? How do we ask questions? How do we give thanks? These are everyday words which everyone ought to know!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Quis who vocat calls mē? me? Ego. I. Tūne is it you es? (are)? Quis who est is igitur then illīc? there? Paulus. Paul. Exspectēmus let us wait dōnec until veniat. he comes. Bene; well; salvē; greetings; agō I give grātiās. thanks.
Quis vocat mē? Ego. — Who (quis) calls (vocat) me (mē)? I (ego). A simple question and answer. Note that the response ego stands alone as a one-word answer.
Tūne es? — Is it you? (Tūne es?) The enclitic -ne attached to tū makes this a yes/no question. Literally: “Are you (the one)?”
Quis est igitur illīc? Paulus. — Who (quis) is (est) then (igitur) there (illīc)? Paul (Paulus). The adverb illīc means “there, in that place” (more distant than hīc).
Exspectēmus dōnec veniat — Let us wait (exspectēmus) until (dōnec) he comes (veniat). Exspectēmus is hortatory subjunctive (”let us wait”). Dōnec + subjunctive expresses anticipated future action.
Bene; salvē; agō grātiās — Well (bene); greetings (salvē); I give (agō) thanks (grātiās). Three common expressions: bene (an adverb of manner), salvē (the imperative of salveō, used as a greeting), and grātiās agō (the idiom for “I thank”).
Quis vocat mē? Ego. Who calls me? I.
Tūne es? Is it you?
Quis est igitur illīc? Paulus. Who is there then? Paul.
Exspectēmus dōnec veniat. Let us wait until he comes.
Bene; salvē; agō grātiās. Well; greetings; I give thanks.
Quis vocat mē? Ego. Tūne es? Quis est igitur illīc? Paulus. Exspectēmus dōnec veniat. Bene; salvē; agō grātiās.
Cāsus Masculīnum/Fēminīnum Neutrum Nōminātīvus quis quid Genitīvus cuius cuius Datīvus cui cui Accūsātīvus quem quid Ablātīvus quō quō
The enclitic -ne is attached to the first word of a question to form a yes/no question:
Latīnē Anglicē Tūne es? Is it you? Venīsne? Are you coming? Estne vērum? Is it true?
Adverbium Significātiō hīc here (near speaker) istīc there (near listener) illīc there (far from both) ubī where?
Dōnec (until) + subjunctive expresses an anticipated future event:
Latīnē Anglicē Exspectēmus dōnec veniat Let us wait until he comes Manē dōnec redeam Wait until I return
Latīnē Anglicē Nota Salvē! (sing.) / Salvēte! (pl.) Hello! Greetings! Imperative of salveō Valē! (sing.) / Valēte! (pl.) Farewell! Imperative of valeō Avē! (sing.) / Avēte! (pl.) Hail! Hello! Imperative of aveō Grātiās agō I thank (you) Idiom Bene Well Adverb
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō quis, quid prōnōmen interr. who? what? vocō, vocāre verbum to call -ne particula (question marker) igitur adverbium then, therefore illīc adverbium there (far) exspectō, exspectāre verbum to wait for, expect dōnec coniūnctiō until bene adverbium well salveō, salvēre verbum to be well salvē interiectiō hello, greetings grātia, -ae (f.) nōmen favor, thanks grātiās agō idiōma I give thanks
Marcus Marcus per through viam the street ambulābat. was walking. Subitō suddenly vōcem a voice audīvit: he heard: “Quis “who vocat calls mē?” me?” rogāvit. he asked.
Vōx a voice respondit: answered: “Ego!” “I!”
Marcus Marcus sē himself vertit turned et and dīxit: said: “Tūne “is it you es, (are), Lūcī? Lucius? Salvē!” Greetings!”
“Salvē, “greetings, Mārce!” Marcus!” respondit answered Lūcius. Lucius. “Quō “where vadis?” are you going?”
“In “to forum the forum eō,” I am going,” inquit said Marcus. Marcus. “Et “and tū?” you?”
“Ego “I quoque also in to forum the forum eō!” am going!” Lūcius Lucius respondit. answered. “Exspectēmus “let us wait Titum for Titus — ille — he quoque also veniet.” will come.”
“Quis “who est is igitur then illīc?” there?” rogāvit asked Marcus. Marcus. “Estne “is it Titus?” Titus?”
“Ita “yes vērō!” indeed!” clāmāvit cried Lūcius. Lucius. “Tite, “Titus, salvē! greetings! Venī come ad to nōs!” us!”
Titus Titus accurrit: ran up: “Salvēte, “greetings, amīcī! friends! Quō where ītis?” are you going?”
“In “to forum. the forum. Venīsne are you coming nōbīscum?” with us?”
“Libenter!” “gladly!” inquit said Titus. Titus.
Et and trēs the three amīcī friends ūnā together in to forum the forum iērunt. went.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Amīcī friends bonī good viam the journey breviōrem shorter faciunt. make. Salvē a greeting dīcere to say initium the beginning amīcitiae of friendship est! is!
Marcus per viam ambulābat. Marcus was walking through the street.
Subitō vōcem audīvit: “Quis vocat mē?” rogāvit. Suddenly he heard a voice: “Who calls me?” he asked.
Vōx respondit: “Ego!” A voice answered: “I!”
Marcus sē vertit et dīxit: “Tūne es, Lūcī? Salvē!” Marcus turned himself and said: “Is it you, Lucius? Greetings!”
“Salvē, Mārce!” respondit Lūcius. “Quō vadis?” “Greetings, Marcus!” answered Lucius. “Where are you going?”
“In forum eō,” inquit Marcus. “Et tū?” “I am going to the forum,” said Marcus. “And you?”
“Ego quoque in forum eō!” Lūcius respondit. “I too am going to the forum!” Lucius answered.
“Exspectēmus Titum — ille quoque veniet.” “Let us wait for Titus — he too will come.”
“Quis est igitur illīc?” rogāvit Marcus. “Estne Titus?” “Who is there then?” asked Marcus. “Is it Titus?”
“Ita vērō!” clāmāvit Lūcius. “Tite, salvē! Venī ad nōs!” “Yes indeed!” cried Lucius. “Titus, greetings! Come to us!”
Titus accurrit: “Salvēte, amīcī! Quō ītis?” Titus ran up: “Greetings, friends! Where are you going?”
“In forum. Venīsne nōbīscum?” “To the forum. Are you coming with us?”
“Libenter!” inquit Titus. “Gladly!” said Titus.
Et trēs amīcī ūnā in forum iērunt. And the three friends went together to the forum.
Haec fābula docet: Amīcī bonī viam breviōrem faciunt. This fable teaches: Good friends make the journey shorter.
Salvē dīcere initium amīcitiae est! To say “greetings” is the beginning of friendship!
Marcus per viam ambulābat. Subitō vōcem audīvit: “Quis vocat mē?” rogāvit.
Vōx respondit: “Ego!”
Marcus sē vertit et dīxit: “Tūne es, Lūcī? Salvē!”
“Salvē, Mārce!” respondit Lūcius. “Quō vadis?”
“In forum eō,” inquit Marcus. “Et tū?”
“Ego quoque in forum eō!” Lūcius respondit. “Exspectēmus Titum — ille quoque veniet.”
“Quis est igitur illīc?” rogāvit Marcus. “Estne Titus?”
“Ita vērō!” clāmāvit Lūcius. “Tite, salvē! Venī ad nōs!”
Titus accurrit: “Salvēte, amīcī! Quō ītis?”
“In forum. Venīsne nōbīscum?”
“Libenter!” inquit Titus.
Et trēs amīcī ūnā in forum iērunt.
Haec fābula docet: Amīcī bonī viam breviōrem faciunt. Salvē dīcere initium amīcitiae est!
Dē Argūmentō:
This simple narrative demonstrates greetings, questions, and friendly conversation in Latin. The vocabulary directly reinforces the Vestibulum lesson while showing natural dialogue.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Vocative case: Lūcī (from Lūcius), Mārce (from Marcus), Tite (from Titus) — used when addressing someone directly. -
Question with -ne: Tūne es?, Estne Titus?, Venīsne? -
Hortatory subjunctive: exspectēmus — “let us wait.” -
Interrogative adverb: quō — “where (to)?” (motion toward).
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō vertō, vertere, vertī, versum verbum to turn quō adverbium where (to)? whither? vadō, vadere verbum to go forum, -ī (n.) nōmen forum, marketplace accurrō, accurrere verbum to run up libenter adverbium gladly ūnā adverbium together amīcitia, -ae (f.) nōmen friendship
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quōmodo how Latīnē in Latin salūtāmus? do we greet?
MAGISTER: Multīs in many modīs! ways! Cum when aliquem someone vidēmus, we see, dīcimus we say “Salvē!” “greetings!” aut or “Avē!” “hail!” Haec these sunt are imperātīva imperatives verbōrum of the verbs salveō to be well et and aveō. to be glad.
DISCIPULUS: Et and cum when discēdimus? we depart?
MAGISTER: Tum then dīcimus we say “Valē!” “farewell!” aut or “Valēte!” “farewell!” — imperātīvum — the imperative verbī of the verb valeō, to be strong/well, quod which significat signifies “sīs “may you be validus!” strong!”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how grātiās thanks agimus? do we give?
MAGISTER: Dīcimus we say “Grātiās “thanks agō” I give” aut or “Grātiās “thanks tibi to you agō.” I give.” Sī if maximē most grātī grateful sumus, we are, dīcimus we say “Maximās “greatest grātiās thanks agō!” I give!”
DISCIPULUS: Quid what significat signifies “bene”? “well”?
MAGISTER: “Bene” “well” est is adverbium an adverb quod which statum the state bonum good indicat. indicates. “Quōmodo “how valēs?” are you? “Bene “well valeō!” I am!” Aut or simpliciter simply “Bene!” “well!” — id — that est, is, “omnia “all things bona good sunt!” are!”
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās thanks agō, I give, magister! master!
MAGISTER: Libenter! gladly! — ecce — behold etiam also hoc this verbum word ūtile! useful! “Libenter” “gladly” significat signifies “cum “with gaudiō,” joy,” “voluntāriē.” “willingly.”
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Latīnē salūtāmus? Master, how do we greet in Latin?
MAGISTER: Multīs modīs! In many ways!
Cum aliquem vidēmus, dīcimus “Salvē!” aut “Avē!” When we see someone, we say “Greetings!” or “Hail!”
Haec sunt imperātīva verbōrum salveō et aveō. These are imperatives of the verbs “to be well” and “to be glad.”
DISCIPULUS: Et cum discēdimus? And when we depart?
MAGISTER: Tum dīcimus “Valē!” aut “Valēte!” Then we say “Farewell!”
— imperātīvum verbī valeō, quod significat “sīs validus!” — the imperative of the verb “to be strong,” which signifies “may you be strong!”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo grātiās agimus? How do we give thanks?
MAGISTER: Dīcimus “Grātiās agō” aut “Grātiās tibi agō.” We say “I give thanks” or “I give thanks to you.”
Sī maximē grātī sumus, dīcimus “Maximās grātiās agō!” If we are most grateful, we say “I give the greatest thanks!”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat “bene”? What signifies “well”?
MAGISTER: “Bene” est adverbium quod statum bonum indicat. “Well” is an adverb which indicates a good state.
“Quōmodo valēs?” “Bene valeō!” Aut simpliciter “Bene!” — id est, “omnia bona sunt!” “How are you?” “I am well!” Or simply “Well!” — that is, “all things are good!”
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās agō, magister! I give thanks, master!
MAGISTER: Libenter! — ecce etiam hoc verbum ūtile! Gladly! — behold this word also is useful!
“Libenter” significat “cum gaudiō,” “voluntāriē.” “Gladly” signifies “with joy,” “willingly.”
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Latīnē salūtāmus?
MAGISTER: Multīs modīs! Cum aliquem vidēmus, dīcimus “Salvē!” aut “Avē!” Haec sunt imperātīva verbōrum salveō et aveō.
DISCIPULUS: Et cum discēdimus?
MAGISTER: Tum dīcimus “Valē!” aut “Valēte!” — imperātīvum verbī valeō, quod significat “sīs validus!”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo grātiās agimus?
MAGISTER: Dīcimus “Grātiās agō” aut “Grātiās tibi agō.” Sī maximē grātī sumus, dīcimus “Maximās grātiās agō!”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat “bene”?
MAGISTER: “Bene” est adverbium quod statum bonum indicat. “Quōmodo valēs?” “Bene valeō!” Aut simpliciter “Bene!” — id est, “omnia bona sunt!”
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās agō, magister!
MAGISTER: Libenter! — ecce etiam hoc verbum ūtile! “Libenter” significat “cum gaudiō,” “voluntāriē.”
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium teaches the practical vocabulary of greetings, farewells, and expressions of thanks — essential for any Latin conversation.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Imperatives from defective verbs: salvē, avē, valē -
Idiom grātiās agō: literally “I do thanks” -
Adverb bene: formed from bonus → bene
Match:
Latīnē Anglicē 1. Salvē! a. Farewell! 2. Valē! b. Thanks! 3. Grātiās agō! c. Hello!
Translate these questions: -
Quis vocat mē? = __________ -
Tūne es? = __________ -
Quis est illīc? = __________
Give the meaning: -
hīc = __________ -
illīc = __________ -
ubī = __________
-
Who calls me? -
Is it you? -
Let us wait until he comes. -
Hello! I give thanks.
-
Quis est igitur illīc? Paulus. -
Exspectēmus dōnec veniat. -
Salvē, amīce! Quō vadis?
-
Salvē! / Salvēte! Hello! (singular / plural) -
Valē! / Valēte! Farewell! (singular / plural) -
Grātiās agō! I give thanks! / Thank you! -
Exspectēmus dōnec veniat. Let us wait until he comes.
-
c (Salvē! = Hello!) -
a (Valē! = Farewell!) -
b (Grātiās agō! = Thanks!)
-
Quis vocat mē? = Who calls me? -
Tūne es? = Is it you? -
Quis est illīc? = Who is there?
-
hīc = here -
illīc = there (far) -
ubī = where?
-
Quis vocat mē? -
Tūne es? -
Exspectēmus dōnec veniat. -
Salvē! Grātiās agō.
-
Who is there then? Paul. -
Let us wait until he comes. -
Hello, friend! Where are you going?
In proximā lectiōne plūra adverbia discēmus — adverbia locī et temporis! Ut valēs? Sīc, mediocriter. Ubī fuistī? Unde redīs? Quandō in hortō fuistī? Herī, hodiē, modo, nūper, dūdum. Discēmus quōmodo dē locīs et temporibus interrogēmus!
In the next lesson we shall learn more adverbs — adverbs of place and time! How are you? So-so. Where were you? Whence do you return? When were you in the garden? Yesterday, today, just now, recently, long ago. We shall learn how to ask about places and times!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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