Latin Learning Resources
Complete guide to Latin learning resources: textbooks (LLPSI, Wheelock, CLC), apps, websites, dictionaries, YouTube channels, podcasts, reference grammars — organized by level and type.
A curated guide to the best Latin learning resources. Organized by type and annotated with level guidance.
Textbooks
For Beginners
LLPSI — Lingua Latina per se Illustrata (Hans Ørberg)
The gold standard. Written entirely in Latin — no English. Inductive grammar (you figure out the patterns from context). Two volumes: Familia Romana (35 chapters, novice–intermediate) and Roma Aeterna (30 chapters, intermediate–advanced).
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Approach | Natural/reading method; entirely in Latin |
| Level | Novice (ch. 1) through Advanced (Roma Aeterna) |
| Publisher | Focus Publishing / Hackett |
| Price | ~$30 per volume; annotated edition ~$45 |
| Supplements | Colloquia Personarum (conversations), Fabellae Latinae, Fabulae Syrae, Exercitia Latina |
| Audio | Latinum Institute recordings; Latinitium has free and premium audio |
| Verdict | Best choice for most learners; immersive; high retention |
Best supplements:
- Exercitia Latina I & II — grammar exercises keyed to each chapter
- Colloquia Personarum — spoken dialogue supplement for conversational practice
- Roma Aeterna — Pars II; bridges to authentic classical texts
Wheelock's Latin (Frederic M. Wheelock)
The dominant US university textbook for 70 years. Systematic grammar presentation (one chapter per topic) with readings from actual classical authors. 40 chapters cover all grammar.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Approach | Grammar-translation; deductive (rules explained, then applied) |
| Level | Novice through Intermediate |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Edition | 7th edition (2011) or 8th (latest) |
| Supplements | Workbook for Wheelock's Latin; 38 Latin Stories (graded readers keyed to Wheelock) |
| Verdict | Works well; less engaging than LLPSI but very thorough |
Cambridge Latin Course (CLC)
Story-driven approach following a Roman family in Pompeii and across the empire. Popular in UK schools. Strong cultural context. Less explicit grammar instruction than Wheelock.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Approach | Reading method; context-first with cultural emphasis |
| Level | Novice through Intermediate (5 units) |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Verdict | Engaging stories; weaker on explicit grammar — supplement with grammar reference |
Oxford Latin Course (OLC)
Similar to CLC but with more explicit grammar. Follows Marcus Tullius and family through Roman life. Common in schools.
Ecce Romani
School textbook series (6 books). Gradual progression. Less popular now but still used in some US schools.
Learn Latin the Natural Way (Miraglia/Balme)
Italian natural-method textbook, structured more explicitly than LLPSI but still largely in Latin.
For Intermediate Learners
Eutropius: Breviarium ab Urbe Condita (DCC Edition)
The standard bridge from adapted to authentic texts. Eutropius wrote in the 4th century AD in clear, simple Latin. Dickinson College Commentaries provides a free annotated edition online.
URL: dcc.dickinson.edu/eutropius/eutropius-introduction
Ritchie's Fabulae Facilae (Ritchie)
Stories from Greek mythology adapted into easy Latin. Good transition reader. Available free at Perseus.
Cornelius Nepos — Lives
Brief biographies of Greek and Roman commanders. Clear, straightforward prose. Good for building fluency before Caesar.
Bradley's Arnold: Latin Prose Composition
The classic composition manual. Systematic exercises covering every Latin construction. Start after completing LLPSI or Wheelock.
Reference Grammars
Allen & Greenough's New Latin Grammar (A&G)
The standard scholarly reference grammar. Exhaustive treatment of every construction with examples from classical authors. Available free online at Dickinson College Commentaries.
URL: dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/latin/introduction
Woodcock's A New Latin Syntax (E.C. Woodcock)
Superb treatment of Latin syntax from a semantic/functional perspective rather than just listing rules. For advanced learners.
Bennett's New Latin Grammar
Shorter than A&G; useful quick reference.
Gildersleeve and Lodge Latin Grammar
Another thorough reference grammar; less commonly used now.
Dictionaries
For Learners
Lewis's Elementary Latin Dictionary (Charlton T. Lewis)
Best learner's dictionary. Abridged from L&S for student use. Available free online at Perseus and Logeion. Print edition available (~$30).
Cassell's Latin Dictionary
Reliable, compact, affordable. Good for beginners. Contains English–Latin and Latin–English sections (useful for composition).
For Advanced Learners
Lewis and Short: A Latin Dictionary (L&S)
The standard English-language Latin dictionary. 50,000+ entries with classical citations. Available free at Perseus. Very large print edition.
URL: perseus.tufts.edu → Latin texts → lexicon tools
Oxford Latin Dictionary (OLD)
The most authoritative Latin dictionary in English. Based on primary sources. 10 volumes (now in one). Institutional library access typically required for print; available on Oxford Reference Online.
For serious advanced study: The OLD is preferred by scholars over L&S as it doesn't include post-classical Latin and is more precise.
Georges Handwörterbuch (German)
The standard dictionary for German-speaking Latinists. Ausführliches Handwörterbuch Lateinisch-Deutsch. Very thorough.
Websites and Online Tools
Essential
| Site | What It Does | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Perseus Digital Library | All Latin texts + click-to-parse morphology + L&S / Lewis dictionary | perseus.tufts.edu |
| Logeion | Best online Latin/Greek dictionary (L&S, OLD, Lewis, and more) | logeion.uchicago.edu |
| Whitaker's Words | Free online Latin parser/dictionary (type any form, get parse + meaning) | latin-words.com or archives.nd.edu/words.html |
| DCC (Dickinson College Commentaries) | Free annotated texts (Caesar, Tacitus, Eutropius), DCC Core Vocabulary, A&G Grammar | dcc.dickinson.edu |
| Latdict | Latin–English dictionary with frequency data | latin-dictionary.net |
For Reading Practice
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| The Latin Library | Plain-text Latin texts of nearly every classical author; no parsing support |
| PHI Latin Texts | Scholarly full-text corpus of all Latin through 200 AD; used for research |
| IntraText | Searchable, frequency-annotated Latin texts |
| Interlinear Latin | Latin texts with interlinear translations; useful for early reading |
For Grammar and Vocabulary
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| Allen & Greenough (DCC) | Full text of A&G New Latin Grammar with index |
| DCC Core Vocabulary | The 1,000-word core list; text + practice exercises |
| milagathos.com DCC Exercises | Online flashcard-style exercises for DCC Core |
| Conjugator.net | Complete Latin conjugation tables for any verb |
| Verbix | Latin verb conjugation tool |
Apps
Tier 1 — Essential
| App | Platform | What It Does | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anki | iOS / Android / Desktop | Spaced repetition flashcards; use with DCC Core deck | Free (desktop), $25 (iOS) |
| Pleco (Latin) | iOS / Android | If configured with Lewis dictionary; better for Greek but usable | Free |
Tier 2 — Useful
| App | Platform | What It Does | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo Latin | iOS / Android | Basic Latin; very limited (only ~5 units); good for absolute beginners week 1 | Free |
| Babbel Latin | iOS / Android | More grammar-focused than Duolingo; limited coverage | Subscription |
| Latin Flashcards (various) | iOS / Android | Various vocabulary apps; quality varies | Varies |
| Wheelock's Latin (official app) | iOS | Chapter-by-chapter exercises keyed to Wheelock | Paid |
Anki Decks
Download from ankiweb.net:
- DCC Latin Core Vocabulary — the essential 1,000 words
- Wheelock's Latin Vocabulary — keyed to Wheelock's chapters
- LLPSI Vocabulary — keyed to LLPSI chapters
- Latin phrases — common phrases, idioms, and quotations
YouTube Channels
For All Levels
| Channel | Level | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| ScorpioMartianus (Luke Ranieri) | All | Spoken Latin videos, Lingua Latina Comprehensibilis series (graded input), pronunciation guides, author readings, scansion |
| Latinitium (Daniel Pettersson) | Beginner–Intermediate | Latin explained in Latin; LLPSI video series; vocabulary videos |
| Latintutorial (Justin Slocum Bailey) | Beginner–Intermediate | Systematic grammar videos, parsing exercises |
| Magister Craft | Beginner | Latin in Minecraft; comprehensible input for absolute beginners |
| Latin Per Diem | Intermediate–Advanced | Short daily readings from classical authors with discussion |
| Ranieri Crisci | Advanced | Advanced classical reading and interpretation |
Specific Series
- ScorpioMartianus Lingua Latina Comprehensibilis playlist — 100+ graded spoken Latin videos
- Latinitium Familia Romana Explained — guides through LLPSI chapter by chapter
- Latintutorial Grammar series — 100+ videos covering every Latin grammar topic
Podcasts
| Podcast | Language | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latinitium Podcast | Latin | Intermediate+ | Topics from Roman history and culture, spoken in Latin; full transcripts |
| Quomodo Dicitur? | Latin | Advanced | Natural conversational Latin between fluent speakers; wide-ranging topics |
| Nuntii Latini (Radio Bremen) | Latin | Intermediate | Weekly news summary in Latin; ~5 minutes; transcript on website |
| Nuntii Latini (Yle Finland) | Latin | Intermediate | Finnish public radio weekly Latin news; excellent model Latin |
| The Endless Knot Podcast | English | Any | Word history including Latin roots; fun for vocabulary building |
| Sermones Raedarii | Latin | Advanced | Informal Latin conversation; natural register |
Active Latin Programs
| Program | Location | Duration | Level | Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paideia Living Latin in Rome | Rome, Italy | 1–2 weeks (summer) | Intermediate+ | ~$2,500 (tuition) |
| SALVI Biduum (Society for Ancient Languages and Vivant Immersion) | USA (various) | Weekend | Beginner+ | ~$300 |
| SALVI Rusticatio | USA (various) | Week | Intermediate+ | ~$1,000 |
| Accademia Vivarium Novum | Frascati, Italy | Semester / year | Advanced | €3,000–€5,000/semester |
| Conventiculum Latinum | University of Kentucky | Week | Advanced | ~$500 + travel |
| Conventiculum Dickinsoniense | Dickinson College | Week | Intermediate+ | ~$400 + travel |
Reference Works for Advanced Learners
| Work | Authors | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Latin Grammar (A&G) | Allen & Greenough | Complete reference grammar; every construction |
| A New Latin Syntax | Woodcock | Functional syntax analysis; excellent treatment of subordinate clauses |
| The Latin Language | Palmer | Historical and comparative introduction to Latin |
| A Latin Verse Inscription (Fortson) | Fortson | Historical Latin metrics in context |
| Handbooks of Latin Literature | various | Genre-by-genre guides to classical Latin authors |
| Latin Prose Composition | Bradley & Arnold | Classic composition manual with exercises |
| North and Hillard | North & Hillard | Alternative composition manual; passage-based |
| An Introduction to Latin Elegiac Verse Composition | Lee | Composition in elegiac meter |
Latin Novellas (Reading Material)
An explosion of new novella writing has occurred since 2015. These are short books written in controlled vocabulary specifically for Latin learners:
| Title | Author | Unique Words | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Familia Mala: Saturnus et Iuppiter | Andrew Olimpi | ~40 | Absolute beginner | CI-based; heavy repetition |
| Pluto: Fabula Amoris | Andrew Olimpi | ~45 | Absolute beginner | |
| Pisonem Ulmum Petit | Rachel Ash | ~35 | Absolute beginner | |
| Miles Romanus | Perry Donaldson | ~100 | Novice | Roman soldier story |
| Iter Mirabile | Rachel Ash | ~80 | Novice | |
| De Amicitia Vera | Magister P | ~120 | Novice | |
| Puer Romanus | Magister P | ~100 | Novice | Daily life in Rome |
| Duo Fratres | Miriam Patrick | ~150 | Novice–Intermediate | |
| Hercules: Vita Ante Mortem | Andrew Olimpi | ~200 | Intermediate | |
| Sub Vesuvio | Andrew Olimpi | ~300 | Intermediate | Pompeii; excellent |
| Medusa Periculo | Rachel Ash | ~200 | Intermediate |
Where to find novellas: Comprehensible Antiquity (comprehensibleantiquity.com), TPRS Books, individual author websites.