Thematic Latin Vocabulary

Latin vocabulary organized by topic: family, body parts, time, military, government, nature, food, numbers, Roman life — for targeted vocabulary building.

Thematic vocabulary helps learners build topic-specific word groups. All nouns include their genitive singular and grammatical gender. Verbs include their four principal parts. Adverbs and indeclinables are noted as such.


1. Family and Relationships (familia et cognātio)

Latin Gen. / Inf. Gender English Notes
pater patris m. father 3rd decl.
māter mātris f. mother 3rd decl.
fīlius fīliī m. son 2nd decl.; voc. fīlī
fīlia fīliae f. daughter 1st decl.
frāter frātris m. brother 3rd decl.
soror sorōris f. sister 3rd decl.
marītus marītī m. husband 2nd decl.
uxor uxōris f. wife 3rd decl.
vir virī m. man, husband 2nd decl. (irreg.)
mulier mulieris f. woman, wife 3rd decl.
līberī līberōrum m. pl. children (of a family) plural only in this sense
avus avī m. grandfather 2nd decl.
avia aviae f. grandmother 1st decl.
nepōs nepōtis m. grandson; nephew 3rd decl.
neptis neptis f. granddaughter; niece 3rd decl.
patruus patruī m. paternal uncle father's brother
amita amitae f. paternal aunt father's sister
avunculus avunculī m. maternal uncle mother's brother
mātertera māterterae f. maternal aunt mother's sister
cognātus cognātī m. blood relative related by birth
affīnis affīnis m./f. relative by marriage in-law
gēns gentis f. clan, people, race 3rd decl.
domus domūs f. household, home 4th/2nd decl. mixed
familia familiae f. family, household includes slaves
patrōnus patrōnī m. patron protector of clients
cliēns clientis m./f. client, dependent under patron's protection
amīcus amīcī m. friend (male) 2nd decl.
amīca amīcae f. friend (female) 1st decl.

2. The Human Body (corpus hūmānum)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
caput capitis n. head 3rd decl.
corpus corporis n. body 3rd decl.
manus manūs f. hand 4th decl.
pēs pedis m. foot 3rd decl.
oculus oculī m. eye 2nd decl.
auris auris f. ear 3rd decl. i-stem
nāsus nāsī m. nose 2nd decl.
ōs ōris n. mouth, face 3rd decl.
dēns dentis m. tooth 3rd decl.
lingua linguae f. tongue; language 1st decl.
collum collī n. neck 2nd decl.
pectus pectoris n. chest, breast 3rd decl.
venter ventris m. belly, stomach 3rd decl.
dorsum dorsī n. back 2nd decl.
brachium brachiī n. arm 2nd decl.
genū genūs n. knee 4th decl.
crūs crūris n. leg, shin 3rd decl.
digitus digitī m. finger, toe 2nd decl.
unguis unguis m. fingernail, claw 3rd decl. i-stem
carō carnis f. flesh, meat 3rd decl.
cutis cutis f. skin 3rd decl. i-stem
sanguis sanguinis m. blood 3rd decl.
cor cordis n. heart 3rd decl.
anima animae f. breath, soul, life 1st decl.
spīritus spīritūs m. breath, spirit 4th decl.
vōx vōcis f. voice 3rd decl.
nervus nervī m. sinew, nerve 2nd decl.
os ossis n. bone 3rd decl. (distinct from ōs = mouth)

3. Time and Calendar (tempus et calendarium)

Time Words

Latin Gen. / Type Gender English Notes
diēs diēī m./f. day 5th decl.; f. when a specific date
hōra hōrae f. hour 1st decl.
annus annī m. year 2nd decl.
mēnsis mēnsis m. month 3rd decl. i-stem
tempus temporis n. time, season 3rd decl.
aetās aetātis f. age, lifetime, era 3rd decl.
saeculum saeculī n. generation, century, age 2nd decl.
māne indecl. n. morning also used as adverb
merīdiēs merīdiēī m. midday, noon 5th decl.
vespera vesperae f. evening 1st decl.
nox noctis f. night 3rd decl.
nunc adverb now
tum / tunc adverb then, at that time
saepe adverb often
numquam adverb never
semper adverb always
mox adverb soon
antea adverb before, previously
posteā adverb afterward, later
diū adverb for a long time
iam adverb now, already, soon context-dependent
nocte diēque phrase night and day abl. of time

Roman Calendar Terms

Term Explanation
Kalendae (Kalendarum, f. pl.) 1st day of the month
Nōnae (Nōnārum, f. pl.) 5th day (7th in March, May, July, October)
Īdūs (Īduum, f. pl.) 13th day (15th in March, May, July, October)
ante diem + acc. X days before a date (e.g. a.d. III Kal. Mart.)
pridie the day before
postrīdie the day after

Roman Months (mēnsēs Rōmānī)

Latin English Notes
Iānuārius January named for Janus
Februārius February month of purification (februa)
Mārtius March named for Mars; original 1st month
Aprīlis April etymology disputed
Maius May named for Maia
Iūnius June named for Juno
Iūlius July renamed for Julius Caesar
Augustus August renamed for Augustus
September September 7th in old calendar
Octōber October 8th in old calendar
November November 9th in old calendar
December December 10th in old calendar

4. Military (rēs mīlitāris)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
mīles mīlitis m. soldier 3rd decl.
dux ducis m. leader, general 3rd decl.
imperātor imperātōris m. commander, emperor 3rd decl.
exercitus exercitūs m. army 4th decl.
legiō legiōnis f. legion (~5,000 men) 3rd decl.
cohors cohortis f. cohort (1/10 of legion) 3rd decl.
centuria centuriae f. century (80 men) 1st decl.
centuriō centuriōnis m. centurion 3rd decl.
signum signī n. military standard, signal 2nd decl.
aquila aquilae f. eagle; legionary standard 1st decl.
castra castrōrum n. pl. military camp always plural
mūrus mūrī m. wall 2nd decl.
agger aggeris m. rampart, mound 3rd decl.
fossa fossae f. ditch, trench 1st decl.
porta portae f. gate 1st decl.
oppidum oppidī n. town (often fortified) 2nd decl.
arma armōrum n. pl. weapons, arms always plural
gladius gladiī m. sword 2nd decl.
pīlum pīlī n. javelin (heavy) 2nd decl.
scūtum scūtī n. shield (large, rectangular) 2nd decl.
galea galeae f. helmet 1st decl.
lōrīca lōrīcae f. body armor, cuirass 1st decl.
turris turris f. tower 3rd decl. i-stem
tēlum tēlī n. missile, weapon 2nd decl.
hasta hastae f. spear 1st decl.
arcus arcūs m. bow 4th decl.
proelium proeliī n. battle, engagement 2nd decl.
pugna pugnae f. fight, battle 1st decl.
victoria victōriae f. victory 1st decl.
cōpiae cōpiārum f. pl. troops, forces singular = abundance

5. Government and Law (imperium et iūs)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
rēx rēgis m. king 3rd decl.
rēgīna rēgīnae f. queen 1st decl.
cōnsul cōnsulis m. consul (highest magistrate) 3rd decl.
senātor senātōris m. senator 3rd decl.
praetor praetōris m. praetor (judicial magistrate) 3rd decl.
cēnsor cēnsōris m. censor (morals + census) 3rd decl.
tribūnus tribūnī m. tribune 2nd decl.
aedīlis aedīlis m. aedile (public works) 3rd decl.
dictātor dictātōris m. dictator (emergency ruler) 3rd decl.
cīvitās cīvitātis f. citizenship; city-state 3rd decl.
rēs pūblica reī pūblicae f. republic, public affairs compound noun
lēx lēgis f. law, statute 3rd decl.
iūs iūris n. right, law, justice 3rd decl.
iūdex iūdicis m. judge, juror 3rd decl.
iūdicium iūdiciī n. trial, judgment, court 2nd decl.
crīmen crīminis n. charge, crime 3rd decl.
poena poenae f. punishment, penalty 1st decl.
reus reī m. defendant, accused 2nd decl.
advocātus advocātī m. advocate, lawyer 2nd decl.
testis testis m./f. witness 3rd decl. i-stem
suffrāgium suffrāgiī n. vote, voting tablet 2nd decl.
comitia comitōrum n. pl. assembly (for voting) always plural
senātus senātūs m. senate 4th decl.
imperium imperiī n. power of command, empire 2nd decl.
prōvincia prōvinciae f. province 1st decl.
cīvis cīvis m./f. citizen 3rd decl. i-stem
populus populī m. people, nation 2nd decl.

6. Nature and Geography (nātūra et geōgraphia)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
terra terrae f. earth, land, ground 1st decl.
mare maris n. sea 3rd decl. i-stem
flūmen flūminis n. river (flowing) 3rd decl.
fluvius fluviī m. river, stream 2nd decl.
mōns montis m. mountain 3rd decl.
silva silvae f. forest, wood 1st decl.
campus campī m. plain, open field 2nd decl.
via viae f. road, way, path 1st decl.
vallis vallis f. valley 3rd decl. i-stem
īnsula īnsulae f. island; apartment block 1st decl.
lītus lītoris n. shore, coast, beach 3rd decl.
caelum caelī n. sky, heaven 2nd decl.
sōl sōlis m. sun 3rd decl.
lūna lūnae f. moon 1st decl.
stella stellae f. star 1st decl.
nubes nubis f. cloud 3rd decl. i-stem
pluvia pluviae f. rain 1st decl.
ventus ventī m. wind 2nd decl.
āēr āeris m. air 3rd decl. (Greek loan)
ignis ignis m. fire 3rd decl. i-stem
aqua aquae f. water 1st decl.
lūx lūcis f. light 3rd decl.
herba herbae f. grass, herb, plant 1st decl.
arbor arboris f. tree 3rd decl.
flōs flōris m. flower 3rd decl.
fructus fructūs m. fruit; profit, enjoyment 4th decl.
rīpa rīpae f. riverbank 1st decl.
saxum saxī n. rock, stone 2nd decl.
lapis lapidis m. stone, pebble 3rd decl.
fossa fossae f. ditch, pit 1st decl.

7. Food and Daily Life (cibus et vīta cottīdiāna)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
cibus cibī m. food 2nd decl.
aqua aquae f. water 1st decl.
vīnum vīnī n. wine 2nd decl.
pānis pānis m. bread 3rd decl. i-stem
carō carnis f. meat, flesh 3rd decl.
piscis piscis m. fish 3rd decl. i-stem
mēnsa mēnsae f. table; also "course" (meal) 1st decl.
domus domūs f. house, home 4th/2nd decl. mixed
villa villae f. country house, estate 1st decl.
ātrium ātriī n. atrium, main hall 2nd decl.
triclīnium triclīniī n. dining room 2nd decl.
culīna culīnae f. kitchen 1st decl.
lectus lectī m. bed; dining couch 2nd decl.
vestīmentum vestīmentī n. clothing, garment 2nd decl.
toga togae f. toga (Roman citizen's garment) 1st decl.
stola stolae f. stola (women's long robe) 1st decl.
calceī calceōrum m. pl. shoes 2nd decl. pl.
balneum balneī n. bath, bathing room 2nd decl.
forum forī n. forum, marketplace, public square 2nd decl.
mercātor mercātōris m. merchant, trader 3rd decl.
pretium pretiī n. price, value 2nd decl.
pecūnia pecūniae f. money 1st decl.
argentum argentī n. silver; money 2nd decl.
aurum aurī n. gold 2nd decl.
lūdus lūdī m. game, school, play 2nd decl.
thermae thermārum f. pl. public baths always plural
oleum oleī n. oil (esp. olive oil) 2nd decl.
sal salis m./n. salt; wit 3rd decl.

8. Emotions and Mind (adfectūs et mēns)

Latin Gen. Gender English Notes
amor amōris m. love 3rd decl.
ōdium ōdiī n. hatred 2nd decl.
timor timōris m. fear 3rd decl.
spēs speī f. hope 5th decl.
gaudium gaudiī n. joy, delight 2nd decl.
trīstitia trīstitiae f. sadness, grief 1st decl.
īra īrae f. anger, wrath 1st decl.
dolor dolōris m. pain, grief, sorrow 3rd decl.
pāx pācis f. peace 3rd decl.
bellum bellī n. war 2nd decl.
mēns mentis f. mind, intellect 3rd decl.
animus animī m. mind, spirit, courage 2nd decl.
cōnsilium cōnsiliī n. plan, advice, counsel 2nd decl.
ratiō ratiōnis f. reason, method, account 3rd decl.
prūdentia prūdentiae f. prudence, practical wisdom 1st decl.
virtūs virtūtis f. virtue, excellence, courage 3rd decl.
fidēs fideī f. faith, trust, loyalty 5th decl.
glōria glōriae f. glory, fame, renown 1st decl.
honor honōris m. honor, respect, office 3rd decl.
īnfāmia īnfāmiae f. disgrace, infamy 1st decl.
superbia superbiae f. pride, arrogance 1st decl.
modestia modestiae f. modesty, restraint 1st decl.

9. Numbers (numerī)

Cardinal Numbers 1–20 and Beyond

Number Cardinal Ordinal Notes
1 ūnus, ūna, ūnum prīmus, -a, -um declines like adj.
2 duo, duae, duo secundus / alter irregular declension
3 trēs, tria tertius, -a, -um 3rd decl. adj.
4 quattuor quārtus, -a, -um indeclinable
5 quīnque quīntus, -a, -um indeclinable
6 sex sextus, -a, -um indeclinable
7 septem septimus, -a, -um indeclinable
8 octō octāvus, -a, -um indeclinable
9 novem nōnus, -a, -um indeclinable
10 decem decimus, -a, -um indeclinable
11 ūndecim ūndecimus, -a, -um indeclinable
12 duodecim duodecimus, -a, -um indeclinable
13 tredecim tertius decimus indeclinable
14 quattuordecim quārtus decimus indeclinable
15 quīndecim quīntus decimus indeclinable
16 sēdecim sextus decimus indeclinable
17 septendecim septimus decimus indeclinable
18 duodēvīgintī duodēvīcēsimus "two from twenty"
19 ūndēvīgintī ūndēvīcēsimus "one from twenty"
20 vīgintī vīcēsimus, -a, -um indeclinable
100 centum centēsimus, -a, -um indeclinable
1000 mīlle mīllēsimus, -a, -um pl. mīlia (neut. noun)

Distributive Numbers (one each, two each…)

Latin English
singulī, -ae, -a one each, one at a time
bīnī, -ae, -a two each, in pairs
ternī / trīnī three each
quaternī four each
quīnī five each
dēnī ten each
vīcēnī twenty each

Numerical Adverbs

Latin English
semel once
bis twice
ter three times
quater four times
quīnquiēs five times
deciēs ten times
centies a hundred times

10. Common Verbs by Function

All verbs given with four principal parts: 1st sg. pres. ind. act. / inf. / perfect / supine (or perf. pass. part.).

Motion Verbs (verba movendī)

Latin (PP1) Principal Parts English Conj.
eō, īre, iī, itum go irreg.
vādō vādō, vādere, vāsī, — go, stride 3rd
currō currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum run 3rd
ambulō ambulō, ambulāre, ambulāvī, ambulātum walk 1st
veniō veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum come 4th
redeō redeō, redīre, rediī, reditum go back, return irreg. (compound of )
fugiō fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitum flee, escape 3rd/4th
ascendō ascendō, ascendere, ascendī, ascēnsum climb, ascend 3rd
dēscendō dēscendō, dēscendere, dēscendī, dēscēnsum descend 3rd
mittō mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum send 3rd
portō portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum carry 1st
ferō ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum carry, bear irreg.

Speaking Verbs (verba dīcendī)

Latin (PP1) Principal Parts English Conj.
dīcō dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum say, tell 3rd
loquor loquor, loquī, locūtus sum speak, talk 3rd dep.
narrō narrō, narrāre, narrāvī, narrātum narrate, tell 1st
respondēo respondēo, respondēre, respondī, respōnsum answer, reply 2nd
rogō rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum ask 1st
clāmō clāmō, clāmāre, clāmāvī, clāmātum shout, cry out 1st
scrībō scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum write 3rd
legō legō, legere, lēgī, lēctum read; choose 3rd
vocō vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum call, summon 1st
nuntiō nuntiō, nuntiāre, nuntiāvī, nuntiātum announce, report 1st
laudō laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum praise 1st
vituperō vituperō, vituperāre, vituperāvī, vituperātum blame, criticize 1st

Cognitive Verbs (verba cogitandī)

Latin (PP1) Principal Parts English Conj.
sciō sciō, scīre, scīvī, scītum know 4th
nesciō nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī, nescītum not know, be ignorant 4th
cogitō cogitō, cogitāre, cogitāvī, cogitātum think, ponder 1st
putō putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum think, consider 1st
spērō spērō, spērāre, spērāvī, spērātum hope (for) 1st
timeō timeō, timēre, timuī, — fear, be afraid 2nd
cupiō cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum desire, want 3rd/4th
volō volō, velle, voluī, — want, wish irreg.
nōlō nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — not want, refuse irreg.
mālō mālō, mālle, māluī, — prefer irreg.
intellegō intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī, intellēctum understand 3rd
crēdō crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum believe, trust 3rd
dubitō dubitō, dubitāre, dubitāvī, dubitātum doubt, hesitate 1st

Action Verbs (verba agendī)

Latin (PP1) Principal Parts English Conj.
faciō faciō, facere, fēcī, factum make, do 3rd/4th
agō agō, agere, ēgī, āctum do, drive, act 3rd
pōnō pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum put, place 3rd
capiō capiō, capere, cēpī, captum take, capture 3rd/4th
teneō teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum hold, keep 2nd
servō servō, servāre, servāvī, servātum save, guard, keep 1st
relinquō relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum leave behind, abandon 3rd
vincō vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum conquer, win 3rd
pugnō pugnō, pugnāre, pugnāvī, pugnātum fight 1st
dō, dare, dedī, datum give 1st (irreg. short a)
accipiō accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum receive, accept 3rd/4th
moveō moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtum move 2nd
videō videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum see 2nd
audiō audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum hear, listen 4th
inveniō inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum find, discover 4th
iubeō iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum order, command 2nd
vetō vetō, vetāre, vetuī, vetitum forbid 1st
habeō habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum have, hold, consider 2nd
sum sum, esse, fuī, futūrum be, exist irreg. (most important verb)
possum possum, posse, potuī, — be able, can irreg. (compound of sum)

Quick-Reference Summary

Category Words covered
Family & Relationships 28
Body Parts 28
Time & Calendar 21 + 12 months + 3 calendar terms
Military 30
Government & Law 27
Nature & Geography 30
Food & Daily Life 28
Emotions & Mind 22
Numbers 20 cardinals + ordinals + distributives + adverbs
Verbs (all categories) 56
Total ~300+ dictionary entries

Tip: For declension practice, pick one word from each gender in each section and decline it fully. For verb practice, conjugate each verb through all six tenses in the active voice before moving to the passive.