← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
###
Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī numerōs prīmōs dīdicimus — ūnus, duo, trēs. Hodiē pergimus: quattuor, quīnque, sex, septem, octō, novem.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned the first numbers — one, two, three. Today we continue: four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.
Bonae nūntiae! Hī numerī nōn dēclīnantur! Quattuor semper est quattuor, sīve cum virīs sīve cum fēminīs sīve cum rēbus! Discāmus faciliter!
Good news! These numbers do not decline! Four is always four, whether with men or with women or with things! Let us learn easily!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Quattuor four ēvangelistae. evangelists. Quīnque five sēnsūs. senses. Sex six profestī working diēs. days. Septem seven petitiōnēs petitions in in Ōrātiōne the Prayer Dominicā. of the Lord. Octō eight diēs days sunt are septimāna. a week. Ter thrice tria three sunt are novem. nine.
Quattuor ēvangelistae — Four (quattuor) evangelists (ēvangelistae). Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — the writers of the Gospels.
Quīnque sēnsūs — Five (quīnque) senses (sēnsūs). Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.
Sex profestī diēs — Six (sex) working (profestī) days (diēs). The six days of work, as opposed to the Sabbath. Profestus means “not a holiday, working.”
Septem petitiōnēs in Ōrātiōne Dominicā — Seven (septem) petitions (petitiōnēs) in (in) the Lord’s (Dominicā) Prayer (Ōrātiōne). The seven requests in the Pater Noster.
Octō diēs sunt septimāna — Eight (octō) days (diēs) are (sunt) a week (septimāna). The Romans counted inclusively: from Sunday to Sunday = 8 days.
Ter tria sunt novem — Thrice (ter) three (tria) are (sunt) nine (novem). 3 × 3 = 9. A multiplication fact using the distributive numeral ter (three times).
Quattuor ēvangelistae. Four evangelists.
Quīnque sēnsūs. Five senses.
Sex profestī diēs. Six working days.
Septem petitiōnēs in Ōrātiōne Dominicā. Seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer.
Octō diēs sunt septimāna. Eight days are a week.
Ter tria sunt novem. Thrice three are nine.
Quattuor ēvangelistae. Quīnque sēnsūs. Sex profestī diēs. Septem petitiōnēs in Ōrātiōne Dominicā. Octō diēs sunt septimāna. Ter tria sunt novem.
Numerus Latīnē Nota 4 quattuor indeclinable 5 quīnque indeclinable 6 sex indeclinable 7 septem indeclinable 8 octō indeclinable 9 novem indeclinable
These numbers never change form, regardless of gender, case, or the noun they modify.
Cardīnāle Ōrdīnāle Anglicē quattuor quārtus, -a, -um fourth quīnque quīntus, -a, -um fifth sex sextus, -a, -um sixth septem septimus, -a, -um seventh octō octāvus, -a, -um eighth novem nōnus, -a, -um ninth
Ordinal numbers are regular first/second-declension adjectives.
Cardīnāle Distribūtīvum Adverbiāle ūnus singulī semel (once) duo bīnī bis (twice) trēs ternī / trīnī ter (thrice) quattuor quaternī quater (four times) quīnque quīnī quīnquiēs (five times) sex sēnī sexiēs (six times) septem septēnī septiēs (seven times) octō octōnī octiēs (eight times) novem novēnī noviēs (nine times)
The Romans counted inclusively: the first day AND the last day were both counted. Thus: -
“After 3 days” = our “after 2 days” -
A week = 8 days (Sunday to Sunday, inclusive)
This explains octō diēs sunt septimāna.
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō quattuor numerāle (indecl.) four ēvangelista, -ae (m.) nōmen evangelist quīnque numerāle (indecl.) five sēnsus, -ūs (m.) nōmen sense sex numerāle (indecl.) six profestus, -a, -um adiectīvum working (not holiday) septem numerāle (indecl.) seven petitiō, -ōnis (f.) nōmen petition, request ōrātiō, -ōnis (f.) nōmen prayer, speech Dominicus, -a, -um adiectīvum of the Lord octō numerāle (indecl.) eight septimāna, -ae (f.) nōmen week ter adverbium thrice, three times novem numerāle (indecl.) nine
In in prīncipiō the beginning Deus God caelum the heaven et and terram the earth creāvit. created.
Prīmō on the first diē, day, lūcem light fēcit. he made. “Ūna “one lūx!” light!” dīxit. he said. “Bona “good est.” it is.”
Secundō on the second diē, day, firmāmentum the firmament fēcit. he made. “Duo “two opera works iam!” already!”
Tertiō on the third diē, day, terram the earth et and mare the sea et and plantās plants fēcit. he made. “Tria “three opera!” works!”
Quārtō on the fourth diē, day, sōlem the sun et and lūnam the moon et and stēllās the stars fēcit. he made. “Quattuor “four opera!” works!”
Quīntō on the fifth diē, day, piscēs the fish et and avēs the birds fēcit. he made. “Quīnque “five opera!” works!”
Sextō on the sixth diē, day, animālia the animals et and hominem man fēcit. he made. “Sex “six opera!” works!” Et and vīdit he saw quod that omnia all things bona good erant. were.
Septimō on the seventh diē, day, requiēvit. he rested. “Septem “seven diēs. days. Opus the work perfectum finished est!” is!”
Ita so Deus God septimānam the week īnstituit: established: sex six diēs days ad for labōrandum, working, ūnus one diēs day ad for requiēscendum. resting.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Labor work bonus good est, is, sed but etiam also requiēs rest necessāria! necessary! Sex six diēs days labōrā; work; septimō on the seventh requiēsce! rest!
In prīncipiō Deus caelum et terram creāvit. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Prīmō diē, lūcem fēcit. “Ūna lūx!” dīxit. “Bona est.” On the first day, he made light. “One light!” he said. “It is good.”
Secundō diē, firmāmentum fēcit. “Duo opera iam!” On the second day, he made the firmament. “Two works already!”
Tertiō diē, terram et mare et plantās fēcit. “Tria opera!” On the third day, he made the earth and the sea and plants. “Three works!”
Quārtō diē, sōlem et lūnam et stēllās fēcit. “Quattuor opera!” On the fourth day, he made the sun and moon and stars. “Four works!”
Quīntō diē, piscēs et avēs fēcit. “Quīnque opera!” On the fifth day, he made fish and birds. “Five works!”
Sextō diē, animālia et hominem fēcit. “Sex opera!” On the sixth day, he made animals and man. “Six works!”
Et vīdit quod omnia bona erant. And he saw that all things were good.
Septimō diē, requiēvit. “Septem diēs. Opus perfectum est!” On the seventh day, he rested. “Seven days. The work is finished!”
Ita Deus septimānam īnstituit: sex diēs ad labōrandum, ūnus diēs ad requiēscendum. So God established the week: six days for working, one day for resting.
Haec fābula docet: Labor bonus est, sed etiam requiēs necessāria! This fable teaches: Work is good, but rest also is necessary!
Sex diēs labōrā; septimō requiēsce! Work six days; rest on the seventh!
In prīncipiō Deus caelum et terram creāvit.
Prīmō diē, lūcem fēcit. “Ūna lūx!” dīxit. “Bona est.”
Secundō diē, firmāmentum fēcit. “Duo opera iam!”
Tertiō diē, terram et mare et plantās fēcit. “Tria opera!”
Quārtō diē, sōlem et lūnam et stēllās fēcit. “Quattuor opera!”
Quīntō diē, piscēs et avēs fēcit. “Quīnque opera!”
Sextō diē, animālia et hominem fēcit. “Sex opera!” Et vīdit quod omnia bona erant.
Septimō diē, requiēvit. “Septem diēs. Opus perfectum est!”
Ita Deus septimānam īnstituit: sex diēs ad labōrandum, ūnus diēs ad requiēscendum.
Haec fābula docet: Labor bonus est, sed etiam requiēs necessāria! Sex diēs labōrā; septimō requiēsce!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable retells the Genesis creation narrative, counting through the seven days and using both cardinal and ordinal numbers. The moral reinforces the divine pattern of work and rest.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ablative of time: prīmō diē, secundō diē, etc. — “on the first day,” etc. -
Ordinal adjectives: prīmus, secundus, tertius, quārtus, quīntus, sextus, septimus -
Gerund with ad: ad labōrandum, ad requiēscendum — “for working,” “for resting”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō prīncipium, -ī (n.) nōmen beginning creō, creāre verbum to create firmāmentum, -ī (n.) nōmen firmament, sky planta, -ae (f.) nōmen plant stēlla, -ae (f.) nōmen star avis, avis (f.) nōmen bird requiēscō, requiēscere, requiēvī verbum to rest perfectus, -a, -um participium finished, perfect īnstituō, īnstituere verbum to establish
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, numerī the numbers post after trēs three dēclīnantur? decline?
MAGISTER: Minimē! not at all! Hoc this optimum excellent nūntium news est! is! Quattuor, four, quīnque, five, sex, six, septem, seven, octō, eight, novem nine — omnia — all indēclīnābilia indeclinable sunt! are! “Quattuor “four virī, men, quattuor four fēminae, women, quattuor four verba” words” — semper — always quattuor! four!
DISCIPULUS: Sed but ōrdīnālia the ordinals dēclīnantur? decline?
MAGISTER: Ita yes vērō! indeed! Ōrdīnālia ordinals sunt are adiectīva adjectives normālia! normal! Quārtus, fourth, quīntus, fifth, sextus, sixth, septimus, seventh, octāvus, eighth, nōnus ninth — omnia — all dēclīnantur decline sīcut like bonus, good, -a, -a, -um! -um! “Quārta “the fourth diē” on day” — fēminīnum — feminine quia because diēs day hīc here fēminīnum feminine est! is!
DISCIPULUS: Quid what est is ter? thrice?
MAGISTER: Ter thrice est is adverbium an adverb numerāle! numeral! Significat it signifies “tribus “three vicibus” times” — id — that est, is, “three “three times”! times”! Semel, once, bis, twice, ter, thrice, quater... four times... Haec these adverbia adverbs multiplicātiōnem multiplication indicant. indicate. “Ter “thrice tria” three” significat signifies “3 “3 × × 3” 3” = novem! = nine!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr why “octō “eight diēs days sunt are septimāna”? a week”? Nōnne isn’t septimāna a week septem seven diēs days habet? has?
MAGISTER: Rōmānī the Romans inclūsīvē inclusively numerābant! counted! Ā from diē day Sōlis of the Sun ad to diem day Sōlis of the Sun proximum next — prīmum — the first et and ultimum the last diem day computābant! they counted! Ita thus Sōlis Sunday + Lūnae + Monday + Mārtis + Tuesday + Mercuriī + Wednesday + Iovis + Thursday + Veneris + Friday + Sāturnī + Saturday + Sōlis + Sunday = octō! = eight! Nōs we hodiē today exclūsīvē exclusively numerāmus count — septem! — seven!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, numerī post trēs dēclīnantur? Master, do numbers after three decline?
MAGISTER: Minimē! Hoc optimum nūntium est! Not at all! This is excellent news!
Quattuor, quīnque, sex, septem, octō, novem — omnia indēclīnābilia sunt! “Four,” “five,” “six,” “seven,” “eight,” “nine” — all are indeclinable!
“Quattuor virī, quattuor fēminae, quattuor verba” — semper quattuor! “Four men, four women, four words” — always “quattuor”!
DISCIPULUS: Sed ōrdīnālia dēclīnantur? But do ordinals decline?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Ōrdīnālia sunt adiectīva normālia! Yes indeed! Ordinals are normal adjectives!
Quārtus, quīntus, sextus, septimus, octāvus, nōnus — omnia dēclīnantur sīcut bonus, -a, -um! “Fourth,” “fifth,” “sixth,” “seventh,” “eighth,” “ninth” — all decline like “good, -a, -um”!
“Quārtā diē” — fēminīnum quia diēs hīc fēminīnum est! “On the fourth day” — feminine because “day” here is feminine!
DISCIPULUS: Quid est ter? What is “thrice”?
MAGISTER: Ter est adverbium numerāle! Significat “tribus vicibus” — id est, “three times”! “Thrice” is a numeral adverb! It signifies “three times” — that is, “three times”!
Semel, bis, ter, quater... Haec adverbia multiplicātiōnem indicant. Once, twice, thrice, four times... These adverbs indicate multiplication.
“Ter tria” significat “3 × 3” = novem! “Thrice three” signifies “3 × 3” = nine!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr “octō diēs sunt septimāna”? Nōnne septimāna septem diēs habet? Why “eight days are a week”? Doesn’t a week have seven days?
MAGISTER: Rōmānī inclūsīvē numerābant! The Romans counted inclusively!
Ā diē Sōlis ad diem Sōlis proximum — prīmum et ultimum diem computābant! From Sunday to the next Sunday — they counted the first and last day!
Ita Sōlis + Lūnae + Mārtis + Mercuriī + Iovis + Veneris + Sāturnī + Sōlis = octō! Thus Sunday + Monday + Tuesday + Wednesday + Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday = eight!
Nōs hodiē exclūsīvē numerāmus — septem! We today count exclusively — seven!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, numerī post trēs dēclīnantur?
MAGISTER: Minimē! Hoc optimum nūntium est! Quattuor, quīnque, sex, septem, octō, novem — omnia indēclīnābilia sunt! “Quattuor virī, quattuor fēminae, quattuor verba” — semper quattuor!
DISCIPULUS: Sed ōrdīnālia dēclīnantur?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Ōrdīnālia sunt adiectīva normālia! Quārtus, quīntus, sextus, septimus, octāvus, nōnus — omnia dēclīnantur sīcut bonus, -a, -um! “Quārtā diē” — fēminīnum quia diēs hīc fēminīnum est!
DISCIPULUS: Quid est ter?
MAGISTER: Ter est adverbium numerāle! Significat “tribus vicibus” — id est, “three times”! Semel, bis, ter, quater... Haec adverbia multiplicātiōnem indicant. “Ter tria” significat “3 × 3” = novem!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr “octō diēs sunt septimāna”? Nōnne septimāna septem diēs habet?
MAGISTER: Rōmānī inclūsīvē numerābant! Ā diē Sōlis ad diem Sōlis proximum — prīmum et ultimum diem computābant! Ita Sōlis + Lūnae + Mārtis + Mercuriī + Iovis + Veneris + Sāturnī + Sōlis = octō! Nōs hodiē exclūsīvē numerāmus — septem!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains that cardinals 4-9 are indeclinable (while ordinals decline normally), introduces the numeral adverbs (semel, bis, ter, etc.), and explains the Roman inclusive counting method that made a week “eight days.”
Fill in:
Numerus Latīnē 4 __________ 5 __________ 6 __________ 7 __________ 8 __________ 9 __________
Match:
Cardīnāle Ōrdīnāle 1. quattuor a. sextus 2. quīnque b. nōnus 3. sex c. quārtus 4. novem d. quīntus
-
Four evangelists. -
Five senses. -
Six working days. -
Seven petitions. -
Thrice three are nine.
-
Quattuor ēvangelistae. -
Septem petitiōnēs in Ōrātiōne Dominicā. -
Octō diēs sunt septimāna. -
Ter tria sunt novem.
-
Quattuor, quīnque, sex, septem, octō, novem — 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (indeclinable) -
Quārtus, quīntus, sextus, septimus, octāvus, nōnus — 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th -
Semel, bis, ter, quater — once, twice, thrice, four times -
Ter tria = novem — 3 × 3 = 9
Numerus Latīnē 4 quattuor 5 quīnque 6 sex 7 septem 8 octō 9 novem
-
c (quattuor → quārtus) -
d (quīnque → quīntus) -
a (sex → sextus) -
b (novem → nōnus)
-
Quattuor ēvangelistae. -
Quīnque sēnsūs. -
Sex profestī diēs. -
Septem petitiōnēs. -
Ter tria sunt novem.
-
Four evangelists. -
Seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer. -
Eight days are a week. -
Thrice three are nine.
In proximā lectiōne numerōs māiōrēs discēmus! Decem praecepta Deī. Ūndecim apostolī, dēmptō Iūdā. Duodecim fideī articulī. Trīgintā diēs sunt mēnsis. Centum annī sunt saeculum. Sātanās est mīlle fraudum artifex. Pergāmus numerāre!
In the next lesson we shall learn larger numbers! Ten commandments of God. Eleven apostles, Judas being excepted. Twelve articles of the faith. Thirty days are a month. A hundred years are an age. Satan is the forger of a thousand deceits. Let us continue counting!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
---