Latin Plural
Learning the Latin Plural is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Latin language. But first we need to know what the role of Plural is in the structure of the grammar in Latin.
Latin Plurals are grammatical numbers, typically referring to more than one of the referent in the real world. In the English language, singular and plural are the only grammatical numbers.
Grammar Tips:
While
in English, the plural is formed by adding an ending to the singular form that
is determined by the declension of the noun. In 1st
declension Latin, to form the plural of
nouns and adjectives in the nominative (subject case) we add (-ae). Here
are some examples:
For
porta (gate)
|
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
|
Nominative (Subject)
|
porta
|
portae
|
|
Genitive (Possessive)
|
portae
|
portārum
|
|
Dative (Indirect Object)
|
portae
|
portīs
|
|
Accusative (Direct Object)
|
portam
|
portās
|
|
Ablative (Adverbial)
|
portā
|
portīs
|
Use
mnemonic devices whenever possible to help you remember endings. For instance,
the 1st declension noun/adjective endings fit to the song Jingle Bells: A, AE,
AE, A…M, Long A, AE. Long ARUM, Long IS, Long AS, Long I… S! Tip: say
each letter.
porta (a gate)
becomes: portae (gates)
Haec
puella (this girl) becomes: hae puellae (these girls)
Haec
bella puella (this pretty girl) becomes: hae bellae puellae (these
pretty girls)
Here are some examples:
| English Plural | Latin Plural |
| Plural | pluralia |
| my book | meus liber |
| my books | mei libri |
| our daughter | nostra filia |
| our daughters | nostrae filiae |
| I'm cold | gravedine tentor |
| we're cold | gravedine tentamur |
| his chickens | sui pulli |
| their chicken | suus pullus |
As you can see from the example above, the structure of the Plural in Latin has a logical pattern. Locate the Plural above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Latin.
List of Plurals in Latin
Below is a list of the Plurals and Singulars in Latin placed in a table. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Latin vocabulary.
| English Plural | Latin Plural |
| alligator | crocodilus |
| alligators | crocodili |
| bear | ursus |
| bears | ursi |
| bird | avis |
| birds | aves |
| bull | bos |
| bulls | boves |
| cat | feles |
| cats | feles |
| cow | vacca |
| cows | vaccae |
| deer | cervus |
| many deer | multi cervi |
| dog | canis |
| dogs | canes |
| donkey | mulus |
| donkeys | muli |
| eagle | aquila |
| eagles | aquilae |
| elephant | elephantus |
| elephants | elephanti |
| giraffe | camelopardalis |
| giraffes | camelopardales |
| goat | capra |
| goats | caprae |
| horse | equus |
| horses | equi |
| lion | Leo |
| lions | leones |
| monkey | simia |
| monkeys | simiae |
| mouse | mus |
| mice | mures |
| rabbit | cuniculus |
| rabbits | cuniculi |
| snake | serpens |
| snakes | serpentes |
| tiger | tigris |
| tigers | tigres |
| wolf | lupus |
| wolves | lupi |
Plural and Singular have a very important role in Latin, therefore they need very special attention. Once you're done with Latin Plural, you might want to check the rest of our Latin lessons here: Learn Latin. Don't forget to bookmark this page.