← Latin for Lawyers, Judges and Notaries Public
Today we study the personal pronoun "tū" (you singular) and its forms, essential for legal discourse and formal address. This pronoun is particularly important in legal texts for addressing parties directly.
9.1 Tū you iūdex judge iūstus just es are
9.2 Tuī of you testēs witnesses vēra true things dīcunt say
9.3 Tibi to you lēgem the law explicō I explain
9.4 Tē you senātus the senate rogat asks
9.5 Praetor the praetor tē you vocat calls
9.6 Causam case tuī of you agere to plead volō I wish
9.7 Tibi to you potestātem power dō I give
9.8 Cōnsul the consul tē you cōnsultum having been consulted laudat praises
9.9 Tū you testis witness vēritātem truth dīcis speak
9.10 Legātus the ambassador tuī of you meminit remembers
9.11 Iūstitia justice tibi to you cūrae of concern est is
9.12 Tē you iūdicem as judge creāmus we appoint
9.13 Tū you iūra the laws servās preserve
9.14 Tuī of you officī of duty memor mindful es are
9.15 Tibi to you causam the case committimus we entrust
9.1 Tū iūdex iūstus es. You are a just judge.
9.2 Testēs tuī vēra dīcunt. Your witnesses speak the truth.
9.3 Lēgem tibi explicō. I explain the law to you.
9.4 Tē senātus rogat. The senate questions you.
9.5 Praetor tē vocat. The praetor summons you.
9.6 Causam tuī agere volō. I wish to plead your case.
9.7 Tibi potestātem dō. I grant you authority.
9.8 Cōnsul tē cōnsultum laudat. The consul praises you, having been consulted.
9.9 Vēritātem tū testis dīcis. You, as witness, speak the truth.
9.10 Legātus tuī meminit. The ambassador remembers you.
9.11 Iūstitia tibi cūrae est. Justice is a matter of concern to you.
9.12 Iūdicem tē creāmus. We appoint you as judge.
9.13 Iūra tū servās. You preserve the laws.
9.14 Officī tuī memor es. You are mindful of your duty.
9.15 Causam tibi committimus. We entrust the case to you.
9.1 Tū iūdex iūstus es.
9.2 Testēs tuī vēra dīcunt.
9.3 Lēgem tibi explicō.
9.4 Tē senātus rogat.
9.5 Praetor tē vocat.
9.6 Causam tuī agere volō.
9.7 Tibi potestātem dō.
9.8 Cōnsul tē cōnsultum laudat.
9.9 Vēritātem tū testis dīcis.
9.10 Legātus tuī meminit.
9.11 Iūstitia tibi cūrae est.
9.12 Iūdicem tē creāmus.
9.13 Iūra tū servās.
9.14 Officī tuī memor es.
9.15 Causam tibi committimus.
The pronoun "tū" (you singular) has different forms depending on its function in the sentence: -
Nominative (subject): tū -
Used when "you" is performing the action -
Example: Tū iūdex es (You are a judge) -
Genitive (possession): tuī -
Shows possession or relationship -
Example: Testēs tuī (your witnesses) -
Dative (indirect object): tibi -
Shows recipient of action -
Example: Tibi explicō (I explain to you) -
Accusative (direct object): tē -
Shows direct recipient of action -
Example: Tē rogat (he asks you)
Key points for English speakers: -
Unlike English "you," Latin distinguishes between singular (tū) and plural (vōs) -
Word order is flexible; pronouns often appear early for emphasis -
No distinction between subject and object forms in English "you," but Latin maintains clear case distinctions
For English speakers learning legal Latin, understanding "tū" and its forms is crucial because: -
Roman Legal Formality -
Direct address was important in Roman legal proceedings -
Formal pronouns showed respect and authority -
Precise use of cases prevented ambiguity -
Modern Legal Usage -
Still used in formal legal documents -
Important in notarial formulas -
Essential for reading historical legal texts -
Cultural Differences -
Romans valued direct personal responsibility -
Legal proceedings were often face-to-face -
Personal pronouns emphasized individual accountability
From Cicero's "Pro Roscio Amerino" (39.112):
Tū you enim for quī who es are pietāte with duty praeditus endowed iūdicem as judge nōn not modo only vīs wish sed but etiam also dēbēs ought esse to be iūstus just
"For you, who are endowed with a sense of duty, not only wish to be, but also ought to be, a just judge."
Cicero uses "tū" emphatically to address the judge directly, emphasizing personal responsibility. The pronouns and cases create a formal but personal tone typical of Roman legal oratory.
-
"Tū" nominative emphasizes the subject -
"pietāte" ablative of specification -
"esse" complementary infinitive -
Parallel structure with "vīs" and "dēbēs"
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9.16 Tū you praetor praetor lēgem the law hanc this prōmulgās proclaim
9.17 Tibi to you senātus the senate auctōritātem authority mandāvit has entrusted
9.18 Testēs witnesses tuī your testimonium testimony sub under iūreiūrandō oath dant give
9.19 Tē you populus the people Rōmānus Roman iūdicem as judge constituit appoints
9.20 Tū you scelera crimes manīfesta evident pūnīs punish
9.21 Tibi to you rēs matter pūblica public committenda to be entrusted est is
9.22 Tuī your iūdicī judgment aequitātem fairness laudāmus we praise
9.23 Tē you cōnsulēs the consuls dē about rē matter pūblicā public cōnsulunt consult
9.24 Tū you prō for lēgibus laws pugnās fight
9.25 Tibi to you iūs right dīcendī of speaking damus we give
9.26 Potestās power tuī your magistrātūs office sacra sacred est is
9.27 Tē you respūblica the state ad to iūstitiam justice vocat calls
9.28 Tū you prō on behalf of cīvibus citizens lēgēs laws interpretāris interpret
9.29 Tibi to you iūra rights populī of the people dēfendenda to be defended sunt are
9.30 Auctōritātem authority tuī of your imperī command exercēs you exercise
9.16 Tū praetor lēgem hanc prōmulgās. You, praetor, proclaim this law.
9.17 Tibi senātus auctōritātem mandāvit. The senate has entrusted authority to you.
9.18 Testēs tuī testimonium sub iūreiūrandō dant. Your witnesses give testimony under oath.
9.19 Tē populus Rōmānus iūdicem constituit. The Roman people appoint you as judge.
9.20 Scelera manīfesta tū pūnīs. You punish evident crimes.
9.21 Tibi rēs pūblica committenda est. The state must be entrusted to you.
9.22 Iūdicī tuī aequitātem laudāmus. We praise the fairness of your judgment.
9.23 Tē cōnsulēs dē rē pūblicā cōnsulunt. The consuls consult you about state affairs.
9.24 Prō lēgibus tū pugnās. You fight for the laws.
9.25 Tibi iūs dīcendī damus. We give you the right of speaking.
9.26 Potestās tuī magistrātūs sacra est. The power of your magistracy is sacred.
9.27 Tē respūblica ad iūstitiam vocat. The state calls you to justice.
9.28 Tū prō cīvibus lēgēs interpretāris. You interpret the laws on behalf of the citizens.
9.29 Tibi iūra populī dēfendenda sunt. The rights of the people must be defended by you.
9.30 Auctōritātem tuī imperī exercēs. You exercise the authority of your command.
9.16 Tū praetor lēgem hanc prōmulgās.
9.17 Tibi senātus auctōritātem mandāvit.
9.18 Testēs tuī testimonium sub iūreiūrandō dant.
9.19 Tē populus Rōmānus iūdicem constituit.
9.20 Scelera manīfesta tū pūnīs.
9.21 Tibi rēs pūblica committenda est.
9.22 Iūdicī tuī aequitātem laudāmus.
9.23 Tē cōnsulēs dē rē pūblicā cōnsulunt.
9.24 Prō lēgibus tū pugnās.
9.25 Tibi iūs dīcendī damus.
9.26 Potestās tuī magistrātūs sacra est.
9.27 Tē respūblica ad iūstitiam vocat.
9.28 Tū prō cīvibus lēgēs interpretāris.
9.29 Tibi iūra populī dēfendenda sunt.
9.30 Auctōritātem tuī imperī exercēs.
In legal proclamations, the pronoun "tū" and its forms serve several specific functions: -
Direct Address -
Used to formally address magistrates and officials -
Often appears with official titles -
Creates binding legal language -
Case Usage in Legal Context -
Nominative (tū) for official declarations -
Dative (tibi) for granting powers -
Genitive (tuī) for official capacity -
Accusative (tē) for appointments -
Special Legal Constructions -
Gerundives with tibi (e.g., "tibi dēfendenda sunt") -
Official formulae -
Formal pronouncements -
Word Order in Proclamations -
Pronouns often front-loaded for emphasis -
Formal structures maintain clarity -
Legal terminology positioned for maximum effect
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