← Latin for Soldiers, Sailors and Military Strategists
The word "tuus -a -um" is a possessive adjective meaning "your" (belonging to one person - singular "you"). It is a 1st and 2nd declension adjective that agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, not with the possessor. This is a crucial distinction for English speakers, as English "your" never changes form.
Q: What does tuus -a -um mean in Latin? A: Tuus -a -um means "your" (singular) in Latin. It indicates possession by the person being addressed and changes its ending to agree with the thing possessed, not the possessor.
In this lesson, we will see tuus -a -um used in various military contexts - describing your weapons, your legion, your commander, your ship, and your duties. The word will appear in different positions within sentences to demonstrate the flexible word order of Latin prose.
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Course Title: Latin for Soldiers, Sailors and Military Strategists -
Lesson Number: 44 -
Topic: tuus -a -um (possessive adjective) -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Focus: Military vocabulary and contexts -
Learning Objective: Master the forms and uses of the possessive adjective tuus -a -um
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Tuus -a -um agrees with the possessed noun, not the possessor -
It follows 1st/2nd declension patterns (like bonus -a -um) -
It can appear anywhere in the sentence for emphasis -
It refers to singular "you" (one person's possessions) -
In military contexts, it often refers to equipment, duties, or units
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44.1 Tuus your gladius sword acūtus sharp est is.
44.2 Centuriō the centurion tuam your hastam spear īnspicit inspects.
44.3 Ubi where sunt are tua your arma weapons?
44.4 Mīlitēs the soldiers tuī your fortiter bravely pugnant fight.
44.5 Imperātor the emperor tuō your cōnsiliō by counsel ūtitur uses.
44.6 Nāvis the ship tua your in in portū the harbor manet remains.
44.7 Tuae your litterae letters ad to castra the camp pervēnērunt have arrived.
44.8 Legiō the legion tuum your nōmen name laudat praises.
44.9 Hostēs the enemies tuōs your comitēs companions cēpērunt have captured.
44.10 Dux the leader tuīs your verbīs words crēdit believes.
44.11 Tuārum your cohortium of the cohorts virtūs courage māgna great est is.
44.12 Equus the horse tuus your celeriter swiftly currit runs.
44.13 Castra the camp tua your bene well mūnīta fortified sunt are.
44.14 Scūtum the shield tuum your tē you prōtēgit protects.
44.15 Tuōrum your mīlitum of the soldiers disciplīna discipline optima best est is.
44.1 Tuus gladius acūtus est. Your sword is sharp.
44.2 Centuriō tuam hastam īnspicit. The centurion inspects your spear.
44.3 Ubi sunt tua arma? Where are your weapons?
44.4 Mīlitēs tuī fortiter pugnant. Your soldiers fight bravely.
44.5 Imperātor tuō cōnsiliō ūtitur. The general uses your advice.
44.6 Nāvis tua in portū manet. Your ship remains in the harbor.
44.7 Tuae litterae ad castra pervēnērunt. Your letters arrived at the camp.
44.8 Legiō tuum nōmen laudat. The legion praises your name.
44.9 Hostēs tuōs comitēs cēpērunt. The enemies captured your companions.
44.10 Dux tuīs verbīs crēdit. The leader believes your words.
44.11 Tuārum cohortium virtūs māgna est. The courage of your cohorts is great.
44.12 Equus tuus celeriter currit. Your horse runs quickly.
44.13 Castra tua bene mūnīta sunt. Your camp is well fortified.
44.14 Scūtum tuum tē prōtēgit. Your shield protects you.
44.15 Tuōrum mīlitum disciplīna optima est. The discipline of your soldiers is excellent.
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44.1 Tuus gladius acūtus est.
44.2 Centuriō tuam hastam īnspicit.
44.3 Ubi sunt tua arma?
44.4 Mīlitēs tuī fortiter pugnant.
44.5 Imperātor tuō cōnsiliō ūtitur.
44.6 Nāvis tua in portū manet.
44.7 Tuae litterae ad castra pervēnērunt.
44.8 Legiō tuum nōmen laudat.
44.9 Hostēs tuōs comitēs cēpērunt.
44.10 Dux tuīs verbīs crēdit.
44.11 Tuārum cohortium virtūs māgna est.
44.12 Equus tuus celeriter currit.
44.13 Castra tua bene mūnīta sunt.
44.14 Scūtum tuum tē prōtēgit.
44.15 Tuōrum mīlitum disciplīna optima est.
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Tuus -a -um is a 1st and 2nd declension possessive adjective that follows the same pattern as bonus -a -um. Here are the complete forms:
Singular: -
Masculine: tuus (nom.), tuī (gen.), tuō (dat.), tuum (acc.), tuō (abl.) -
Feminine: tua (nom.), tuae (gen.), tuae (dat.), tuam (acc.), tuā (abl.) -
Neuter: tuum (nom.), tuī (gen.), tuō (dat.), tuum (acc.), tuō (abl.)
Plural: -
Masculine: tuī (nom.), tuōrum (gen.), tuīs (dat.), tuōs (acc.), tuīs (abl.) -
Feminine: tuae (nom.), tuārum (gen.), tuīs (dat.), tuās (acc.), tuīs (abl.) -
Neuter: tua (nom.), tuōrum (gen.), tuīs (dat.), tua (acc.), tuīs (abl.)
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Agreement Error: English speakers often forget that tuus must agree with the possessed object, not the possessor -
WRONG: tuus legiō (masculine with feminine noun) -
RIGHT: tua legiō (feminine adjective with feminine noun) -
Number Confusion: Using tuus for plural "you" instead of vester -
WRONG: tuī mīlitēs (when addressing multiple people) -
RIGHT: vestrī mīlitēs (for plural "you all's soldiers") -
Case Mismatch: Not matching the case of the noun -
WRONG: tuus mīlitem (nom. adj. with acc. noun) -
RIGHT: tuum mīlitem (both accusative)
Unlike English "your" which never changes, Latin tuus changes in three ways: -
Gender (masculine/feminine/neuter) -
Number (singular/plural) -
Case (nominative/genitive/dative/accusative/ablative)
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Identify the noun that is possessed -
Determine its gender, number, and case -
Match tuus to those three characteristics -
Place tuus near the noun (usually before, but position is flexible)
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Declension: 1st/2nd (like bonus -a -um) -
Type: Possessive adjective -
Meaning: "your" (singular possessor) -
Agreement: With the possessed noun in gender, number, and case -
Position: Flexible, often before the noun for neutral emphasis
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For Roman soldiers, the concept of "yours" (tuus) carried significant weight in military culture. Personal equipment was a soldier's responsibility - hence phrases like "tuus gladius" or "tua hasta" implied not just ownership but duty of maintenance. A Roman soldier who neglected "his" equipment faced severe punishment.
The distinction between tuus (your - singular) and vester (your - plural) was crucial in military hierarchy. A centurion addressing one soldier would say "tuī mīlitēs" (the soldiers under YOUR individual command), while addressing multiple officers would require "vestrī mīlitēs."
In Roman military correspondence, "tuae litterae" (your letter/dispatch) was a formal acknowledgment of received orders or reports. The possessive adjective emphasized personal responsibility for the content and its consequences.
Naval contexts show interesting usage - "tua nāvis" meant not just the ship you commanded, but the vessel for which you bore full responsibility. Loss of "your ship" meant disgrace, often leading to suicide rather than facing trial.
The phrase "tuārum cohortium virtūs" reflects how Roman military culture viewed units as extensions of their commanders. The courage of "your cohorts" directly reflected on your leadership and honor.
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From Caesar's De Bello Gallico 1.13:
44.16 Trībūnus the tribune clāmat: shouts "Parāte prepare tua your arma arms statim!" immediately!
44.17 "Tuus your gladius sword hebēs dull est, is, mīles; soldier; acue sharpen eum!" it!
44.18 Centuriō the centurion iubet: orders: "Dūc lead tuōs your equitēs cavalry ad to dextram the right ālam!" wing!
44.19 "Tuae your sagittae arrows paene almost cōnsūmptae consumed sunt; are; servā save eās!" them!
44.20 Imperātor the emperor dīcit: says: "Tuōrum of your explōrātōrum scouts nūntiī messengers mē me perturbant." disturb.
44.21 "Cūr why tua your cohors cohort nōn not parāta prepared est is ad for pugnam?" battle?
44.22 Navarchus the admiral imperat: commands: "Tuam your nāvem ship versus toward hostilem the enemy classem fleet dīrige!" direct!
44.23 "Mīlitēs soldiers tuī your nimis too lentē slowly prōcēdunt; are proceeding; urgē urge eōs!" them!
44.24 "Tuō at your signō signal omnēs all sagittāriī archers tēla missiles conicient." will hurl.
44.25 Dux the leader interrogat: asks: "Quot how many ex of tuīs your virīs men vulnerātī wounded sunt?" are?
44.26 "Castra the camp tua your male badly posita placed sunt; is; move move ea it ad to collem!" the hill!
44.27 "Tuārum of your nāvium ships rēmigēs oarsmen fatīgātī tired sunt; are; dā give eīs to them requiem." rest.
44.28 Lēgātus the legate monet: warns: "Tuus your exercitus army cibō food caret; lacks; prōvide!" provide!
44.29 "Scūtum the shield tuum your frāctum broken est; is; cape take alterum another ex from impedīmentīs!" the baggage!
44.30 "Tuōs your captīvōs captives bene well custōdī; guard; hostēs the enemy eōs them līberāre to free temptābunt." will try.
Sī veteris contumēliae oblīvīscī vellet, num etiam recentium iniūriārum, quod eō invītō iter per prōvinciam per vim temptāssent, quod Haeduōs, quod Ambarrōs, quod Allobrogēs vexāssent, memoriam dēpōnere posse?
If he should wish to forget the old insult, surely he could not also put aside the memory of recent injuries - that they had attempted to force their way through the province against his will, that they had harassed the Aedui, the Ambarri, and the Allobroges?
Caesar uses this rhetorical question to justify his military actions. The accumulation of "quod" clauses (because/that) builds a case against the Helvetii. Though this passage doesn't contain "tuus," it demonstrates the Roman concept of personal responsibility and memory in military affairs - themes central to understanding possessive relationships in Latin military texts.
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Conditional sentence with imperfect subjunctive (vellet) -
Rhetorical question introduced by "num" -
Multiple quod-clauses explaining the iniūriae -
Accusative + infinitive construction (memoriam dēpōnere posse) -
Ablative absolute (eō invītō)
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44.16 Trībūnus tribune clāmat shouts: "Parāte prepare tua your arma weapons statim!" immediately!
44.17 "Tuus your gladius sword hebēs dull est is, mīles soldier; acue sharpen eum!" it!
44.18 Centuriō centurion iubet orders: "Dūc lead tuōs your equitēs cavalry ad to dextram right ālam!" wing!
44.19 "Tuae your sagittae arrows paene almost cōnsūmptae used up sunt are; servā save eās!" them!
44.20 Imperātor general dīcit says: "Tuōrum your explōrātōrum of scouts nūntiī messages mē me perturbant." disturb.
44.21 "Cūr why tua your cohors cohort nōn not parāta ready est is ad for pugnam?" battle?
44.22 Navarchus admiral imperat commands: "Tuam your nāvem ship versus toward hostilem enemy classem fleet dīrige!" steer!
44.23 "Mīlitēs soldiers tuī your nimis too lentē slowly prōcēdunt advance; urgē urge eōs!" them!
44.24 "Tuō your signō at signal omnēs all sagittāriī archers tēla missiles conicient." will hurl.
44.25 Dux leader interrogat asks: "Quot how many ex from tuīs your virīs men vulnerātī wounded sunt?" are?
44.26 "Castra camp tua your male badly posita positioned sunt are; move move ea them ad to collem!" hill!
44.27 "Tuārum your nāvium of ships rēmigēs rowers fatīgātī tired sunt are; dā give eīs them requiem." rest.
44.28 Lēgātus legate monet warns: "Tuus your exercitus army cibō food caret lacks; prōvide!" provide!
44.29 "Scūtum shield tuum your frāctum broken est is; cape take alterum another ex from impedīmentīs!" baggage!
44.30 "Tuōs your captīvōs prisoners bene well custōdī guard; hostēs enemies eōs them līberāre to free temptābunt." will try.
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44.16 Trībūnus clāmat: "Parāte tua arma statim!" The tribune shouts: "Prepare your weapons immediately!"
44.17 "Tuus gladius hebēs est, mīles; acue eum!" "Your sword is dull, soldier; sharpen it!"
44.18 Centuriō iubet: "Dūc tuōs equitēs ad dextram ālam!" The centurion orders: "Lead your cavalry to the right wing!"
44.19 "Tuae sagittae paene cōnsūmptae sunt; servā eās!" "Your arrows are almost used up; save them!"
44.20 Imperātor dīcit: "Tuōrum explōrātōrum nūntiī mē perturbant." The general says: "The messages from your scouts disturb me."
44.21 "Cūr tua cohors nōn parāta est ad pugnam?" "Why is your cohort not ready for battle?"
44.22 Navarchus imperat: "Tuam nāvem versus hostilem classem dīrige!" The admiral commands: "Steer your ship toward the enemy fleet!"
44.23 "Mīlitēs tuī nimis lentē prōcēdunt; urgē eōs!" "Your soldiers are advancing too slowly; urge them on!"
44.24 "Tuō signō omnēs sagittāriī tēla conicient." "At your signal all the archers will hurl their missiles."
44.25 Dux interrogat: "Quot ex tuīs virīs vulnerātī sunt?" The leader asks: "How many of your men are wounded?"
44.26 "Castra tua male posita sunt; move ea ad collem!" "Your camp is badly positioned; move it to the hill!"
44.27 "Tuārum nāvium rēmigēs fatīgātī sunt; dā eīs requiem." "The rowers of your ships are tired; give them rest."
44.28 Lēgātus monet: "Tuus exercitus cibō caret; prōvide!" The legate warns: "Your army lacks food; provide it!"
44.29 "Scūtum tuum frāctum est; cape alterum ex impedīmentīs!" "Your shield is broken; take another from the baggage!"
44.30 "Tuōs captīvōs bene custōdī; hostēs eōs līberāre temptābunt." "Guard your prisoners well; the enemies will try to free them."
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44.16 Trībūnus clāmat: "Parāte tua arma statim!"
44.17 "Tuus gladius hebēs est, mīles; acue eum!"
44.18 Centuriō iubet: "Dūc tuōs equitēs ad dextram ālam!"
44.19 "Tuae sagittae paene cōnsūmptae sunt; servā eās!"
44.20 Imperātor dīcit: "Tuōrum explōrātōrum nūntiī mē perturbant."
44.21 "Cūr tua cohors nōn parāta est ad pugnam?"
44.22 Navarchus imperat: "Tuam nāvem versus hostilem classem dīrige!"
44.23 "Mīlitēs tuī nimis lentē prōcēdunt; urgē eōs!"
44.24 "Tuō signō omnēs sagittāriī tēla conicient."
44.25 Dux interrogat: "Quot ex tuīs virīs vulnerātī sunt?"
44.26 "Castra tua male posita sunt; move ea ad collem!"
44.27 "Tuārum nāvium rēmigēs fatīgātī sunt; dā eīs requiem."
44.28 Lēgātus monet: "Tuus exercitus cibō caret; prōvide!"
44.29 "Scūtum tuum frāctum est; cape alterum ex impedīmentīs!"
44.30 "Tuōs captīvōs bene custōdī; hostēs eōs līberāre temptābunt."
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In military commands, tuus -a -um appears frequently to specify personal responsibility. Note these patterns:
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The imperative verb often comes first or last for emphasis -
Tuus agrees with the object being commanded about -
Example: "Parāte tua arma!" (Prepare your weapons!)
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Statements about "your" troops/equipment often express problems -
Perfect passive participles are common (parāta, frāctum, vulnerātī) -
Example: "Tuus gladius hebēs est" (Your sword is dull)
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Ablative of means/instrument: "Tuō signō" (at your signal) -
Partitive genitive: "Tuōrum explōrātōrum" (of your scouts) -
Example: "Quot ex tuīs virīs" (How many of your men)
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Special vocabulary for ships and naval warfare -
Same agreement rules apply to nautical terms -
Example: "Tuam nāvem...dīrige!" (Steer your ship!)
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tua arma (your weapons) - neuter plural -
tuī mīlitēs (your soldiers) - masculine plural -
tua cohors (your cohort) - feminine singular -
tuum scūtum (your shield) - neuter singular
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