Can you translate this sentence? Click on each word to reveal its meaning.
Starter Sentence:
bellumterretpuerum
Breaking it down:
bellum→war (nominative - but looks like accusative!)
terret→frightens (verb)
puerum→the boy (accusative)
A Quick Recap
♀
Feminine
puella
1st declension
♂
Masculine
dominus
2nd declension
Click to reveal... 🤔
⚲
Neuter
bellum
2nd declension
💡 What does neuter mean?
🤷
The word neuter comes from Latin ne-uter which literally means not either or neither.
Neuter nouns are neither masculine nor feminine!
🎉
The Good News
Neuter endings are almost identical to masculine endings!
Only 3 differences
Everything else you already know from dominus!
Here is bellum (war) in full. The three places where neuter endings differ from masculine are highlighted in yellow.
Case
Singular
Plural
Nom
bell-um
bell-a
Acc
bell-um
bell-a
Gen
bell-i
bell-orum
Dat
bell-o
bell-is
Abl
bell-o
bell-is
Click to reveal Rule 1 →
Rule 1: Nominative = Accusative
The nominative is ALWAYS the same as the accusative in both singular and plural. This is true for all neuter nouns.
Click to reveal Rule 2 →
Rule 2: Plural ends in -a
The neuter nominative and accusative plural ALWAYS end in -a. This is true for all neuter nouns.
Click to reveal Rule 3 →
Rule 3: Everything else is the same
The genitive, dative and ablative endings are exactly the same as masculine nouns like dominus. Nothing new to learn!
Here are some common second declension neuter nouns. They all follow the pattern of bellum.
bellum
war
auxilium
help
donum
gift
periculum
danger
templum
temple
verbum
word
vinum
wine
arma
weapons (plural only)
Click to see English derivatives →
Can you spot the English words that come from these Latin nouns?
vinum → wine, vine, vinegar, vintage
donum → donate, donor
auxilium → auxiliary
arma → arms, army, armour
verbum → verb, verbal, verbose
templum → temple
Be careful! It is easy to confuse neuter plural forms with first declension singular forms.
First Declension (Feminine)
ancilla
nom or abl singular
the slave-girl / by the slave-girl
Second Declension (Neuter)
verba
nom or acc plural
words / words (object)
Click to reveal how to avoid this trap →
The Solution
You need to learn each noun's declension and gender. When you see a word ending in -a, ask yourself: is this a first declension feminine noun, or a second declension neuter plural?
Quick Check: Which is which?
templa - What declension and what case/number?
2nd declension neuter, nominative or accusative plural (temples)
puella - What declension and what case/number?
1st declension feminine, nominative or ablative singular (the girl / by the girl)
dona - What declension and what case/number?
2nd declension neuter, nominative or accusative plural (gifts)
Translation Practice
Click each sentence to reveal the translation.
1. vinum in horto est.
The wine is in the garden.
2. viri arma in villam portant.
The men are carrying weapons into the house.
3. semper sunt bella in insula.
There are always wars on the island.
4. amici dominum e periculo portant.
The friends are carrying the master out of danger.
5. dona deis damus, sed dei auxilium non dant.
We give gifts to the gods, but the gods do not give help.
Latin Translation Practice
Click each sentence to reveal the Latin.
1. I am walking to the temple of the goddess.
ad templum deae ambulo.
2. The slaves are preparing the wine in the garden.
servi vinum in horto parant.
3. The messenger is always giving gifts to the slave-girl.
nuntius semper dona ancillae dat.
4. We like the woman's words.
(Hint: we like = amamus)
verba feminae amamus.
5. The boys are fighting with the weapons.
(Hint: no word for with needed - just use ablative)