LLPSI 2.

1
Welcome to Lingua Latina Conversations: Chapter 2, Lesson 1. In this conversation,
you will learn the basic vocabulary and grammar of Chapter 2, Capitulum Secundum,
Lesson 1, Lectiō Prīma, in Hans Oerberg’s Familia Romana text. Listen to the following
conversation between the servants Delia and Syra. Delia is a new Greek servant in a
Roman household and is learning about the members of the family.

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.
Delia: Quis est pater?
Syra: Iūlius est pater.

In that conversation you heard the question “Are there children in the family?”
(‘suntne līberī in familiā?’) and the answer “there are three children” (‘trēs līberī
sunt’.) You also heard that “Julius is the father” (‘Iūlius est pater’). Listen again:

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.
Delia: Quis est pater?
Syra: Iūlius est pater.

Don’t worry if you understood very little of that conversation. By the end of this
lesson, you’ll not only understand the whole conversation, but you’ll be able to
participate in it yourself.

a Here is the Latin noun, found only in the plural, meaning “children”:
līberī
Repeat:
-ī
lī- x2
lī-be-rī
līberī
What is the Latin noun meaning “children”?
līberī x2
If you look up the noun ‘līberī’ in the Lingua Latīna ‘Index Vocābulōrum’, that is, in the
index of words found in the back of your book, you will find the entry ‘līberī līberōrum
masculine’. You’ll also find the chapter and line where this word is first used. For the
rest of our conversations, we will learn new vocabulary words with the information
contained in the vocabulary entries at the back of the book. We’ll call that the ‘lexical
form’ or ‘dictionary form’ of the word.
Let’s learn the lexical form of ‘līberī’.
The full lexical form of ‘līberī’ is ‘līberī līberōrum masculine’.
The first form, ‘līberī’, is the nominative form, like ‘fluviī’. It is used for subjects and
predicate nominatives. The second form, ‘līberōrum’, is the genitive form. It is used to
show possession. The term ‘masculine’ is used to denote the gender of the noun (all
nouns are masculine, feminine, or neuter in gender.) Don’t worry about what all this
 means, yet, because you’ll be learning about all of these things in this chapter. For now,
just know that when you learn a new noun, like ‘līberī’, you need to learn all three
parts: the nominative form, the genitive form, and the gender.
Repeat:
līber-ī – the children
līber-ōrum – of the children
līberī, līberōrum x2
līberī, līberōrum masculine x2
What is the lexical form of “children”?
līberī līberōrum, masculine
b Here is the lexical form of the Latin noun meaning “family”:
familia, familiae feminine
Repeat:
-a
fa-mi-li-a
familia
familia – the family
-ae
fa-mi-li-ae
familiae
familiae – of the family
familia, familiae feminine x2
What is the lexical form of the Latin noun meaning “family”?
familia familiae, feminine
a What is the lexical form of the Latin noun meaning “children”?
līberī līberōrum, masculine
Say “the children are”:
līberī sunt
Now say “of the children”:
līberōrum
b What is the lexical form of the Latin noun meaning “family”?
familia familiae, feminine
Do you remember how to say “in Italy”?
in Italiā x2
Following that same pattern, can you say “in the family”?
in familiā x2
c Here is the Latin noun meaning “son” as in “Julius has two sons and one daughter”:
fīlius fīliī masculine
Repeat:
-us
fī-li-
fī-li-us
fīlius x2
fīlius est – the son is
-ī
fī-li-ī
fīliī
fīliī – of the son
 fīlius – the son, fīliī – of the son
fīlius fīliī, masculine x2
Remember, the first form is the nominative, the second form is the genitive, and the
third item is the gender.
What is the Latin noun meaning “son”?
fīlius fīliī, masculine
a What is the lexical form of “children”?
līberī līberōrum, masculine
Say “the children are”:
līberī sunt
Now say “of the children”:
līberōrum
Now try to ask “Are there children?”
Suntne līberī? x2
c What is the Latin noun meaning “son”?
fīlius fīliī, masculine
b
Give the lexical form of “family”?
familia familiae, feminine
Now say “in the family”?
in familiā x2
d Here is the Latin noun meaning “daughter”:
fīlia fīliae feminine
Repeat:
-a
fī-li-
fī-li-a
fīlia x2
fīlia est – the daughter is
-ae
fī-li-ae
fīliae
fīliae – of the daughter
fīlia – the daughter, fīliae – of the daughter
fīlia fīliae, feminine x2
Remember, the first form is the nominative, the second form is the genitive, and the
third is the gender.
What is the Latin noun meaning “daughter”?
fīlia fīliae, feminine
c Give the Latin noun meaning “son”:
fīlius fīliī, masculine
d Try to compare “there is a river” and “there are rivers”:
fluvius est/fluviī sunt
Now try to compare “there is a son” and “there are sons”:
fīlius est/fīliī sunt x2
What is the Latin noun meaning “daughter”?
fīlia fīliae, feminine
Try to compare “there is an island” and “there are islands”:
 īnsula est/īnsulae sunt
Now try to compare “there is a daughter” and “there are daughters”:
fīlia est/fīliae sunt x2
a Give the lexical form of “children”:
līberī līberōrum, masculine
Ask “Are there children?”
Suntne līberī? x2
Say “There are three rivers”:
trēs fluviī sunt
trēs fluviī
Now try to say “There are three children”:
trēs līberī sunt
trēs līberī
b Give the lexical form of “family”?
familia familiae, feminine
Now say “in the family”?
in familiā x2
Try to ask “Are there children in the family?”
Suntne līberī in familiā? x2
d Give the Latin noun meaning “daughter”:
fīlia fīliae, feminine
Compare “there is a daughter” and “there are daughters”:
fīlia est/fīliae sunt x2
e Here is the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis
Repeat:
quis x2
What is the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis? x2
Try to ask “Who is it?”
Quis est? x2
c Give the Latin noun meaning “son”:
fīlius fīliī, masculine
Compare “there is a son” and “there are sons”:
fīlius est/fīliī sunt x2
Try to say “there is one son”:
ūnus fīlius est x2
Can you say “there are two sons”?
duo fīliī sunt x2
e What is the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis? x2
Ask “Who is it?”
Quis est? x2
d Give the Latin noun meaning “daughter”:
fīlia fīliae, feminine
Compare “there is a daughter” and “there are daughters”:
fīlia est/fīliae sunt x2
Try to say “There is one daughter”:
 ūna fīlia est
ūna fīlia
e Give the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis? x2
Ask “Who is it?”
Quis est? x2
a Give the lexical form of “children”:
līberī līberōrum, masculine
Ask “Are there children?”
Suntne līberī? x2
b Give the lexical form of “family”?
familia familiae, feminine
Ask “Are there children in the family?”
Suntne līberī in familiā? x2
Answer “There are three children in the family”:
trēs līberī in familiā sunt
trēs līberī
e Give the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis?
You hear someone entering the house. Ask “Who is it?”
Quis est?
c Give the Latin noun meaning “son”:
fīlius fīliī, masculine
Try to say “there are two sons in the family”:
duo fīliī in familiā sunt.
duo fīliī sunt
d Give the Latin noun meaning “daughter”:
fīlia fīliae, feminine
Say “There is one daughter”:
ūna fīlia est
Now try to say “There is one daughter in the family”:
ūna fīlia in familiā est
Now say “There are two sons and one daughter in the family.”
duo fīliī et ūna fīlia in familiā sunt
e Give the interrogative pronoun meaning “who?”
quis?
You see a man entering the house. Ask “Who is he?”
Quis est?
‘Quis est?’ can be used for “Who is it?”, “Who is he?”, and “Who is she?”
Again, ask “Who is he?”
Quis est?
a Ask “Are there children?”
Suntne līberī?
b Ask “Are there children in the family?”
Suntne līberī in familiā?
c Answer “There are three children in the family.”
Trēs līberī in familiā sunt.
d Add “There are two sons and one daughter.”
 duo fīliī et ūna fīlia sunt.
e You see a man enter the house.
Ask “Who is he?”
Quis est?

Now you’ll play the role of the old handmaiden Syra. Delia will ask you a
question about the family. I’ll help you answer it.

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Answer “There are three children in the family, two sons and one daughter.”
Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.

This is the end of Chapter 2, Lesson 1, Part 1. Please continue with Part 2
tomorrow.

f Welcome to Chapter 2, Lesson 1, Part 2. Listen to the following conversation

between Delia and Syra:

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.
Delia: Quis est pater?
Syra: Iūlius est pater.
Delia: Quae est māter?
Syra: Aemilia est māter.
Delia: Quī sunt fīliī?
Syra: Fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
Delia: Quae est fīlia?
Syra: Fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.
Delia: Magna est familia!

In that conversation you learned the names and relationships of several

members of a Roman family: Amelia is the mother (‘Aemilia est māter’), the
sons are Marcus and Quintus (‘fīliī sunt Mārcus et Quīntus’) and Julia is the
daughter (‘Iūlia est fīlia’). Don’t worry if you understood only part of that
conversation. By the end of this lesson, you’ll not only understand the whole
conversation, but you’ll be able to participate in it yourself.

Here is the Latin noun meaning “father”:

pater patris, masculine
Repeat:
pa-ter
pater
pater est – the father is
-is
pa-tris
patris
 patris – of the father
pater patris, masculine x2
What is the Latin noun meaning “father”?
pater patris masculine x2
g Do you remember how to ask “Who is he?”?
Quis est? x2
As mentioned earlier, ‘Quis est?’ works for “Who is he?”, “Who is she?”, and “Who is
it?”
Here is the same question which only works for “Who is she?”
Quae est?
Repeat:
quae
q-u-a-e
quae x2
quae est?
Ask “Who is she?”
Quae est? x2
f What is the Latin noun meaning “father”?
pater patris masculine x2
Here is the Latin name “Julius”:
Iūlius
Repeat:
-us
Iū- x2
Iū-li-us
Iūlius x2
Try to say “Julius is the father.”
Iūlius est pater
If you said ‘Iūlius pater est’, that is perfectly fine. Word order in Latin is more fluid
than in English. What really matters is the endings. However, if you give a Latin
sentence in a certain way but hear me say it in a different way, always try to match my
word order when you repeat. That will help you develop better Latin variety and style.
Again, say “Julius is the father”:
Iūlius est pater
g Ask “Who is she?”
Quae est? x2
Using the feminine form ‘quae’ for “who”, ask “Who is the daughter?”
Quae est fīlia?
Quae est?
h Here is the Latin noun meaning “mother”:
mātris mātris, feminine
Repeat:
mā-ter
māter
māter est – the mother is
-is
mā-tris
mātris
 mātris – of the mother
mātris mātris, feminine x2
What is the Latin noun meaning “mother”?
mātris mātris, feminine x2
f Give the Latin noun for “father”:
pater patris masculine x2
Now say “Julius is the father”:
Iūlius est pater x2
h What is the Latin noun meaning “mother”?
māter mātris, feminine
g Here is the Latin name “Amelia” (like ‘Amelia Bedelia’ if you have read those
children’s books’):
Aemilia
Repeat:
-a
mi-li-a x2
Ae-
Ae-milia x2
Aemilia
Try to say “Aemilia is the mother.”
Aemilia est māter
If you said ‘Aemilia māter est’, that is perfectly fine. Remember that word order in
Latin is more fluid than in English. Just remember to match my word order when you
repeat. That will help you develop better Latin variety and style.
Again, say “Aemilia is the mother”:
Aemilia est māter x2

Ask “Who is she?”

Quae est? x2
Ask “Who is the daughter?”
Quae est fīlia?
i Here is the Latin question “Who are they?”
Quī sunt?
Repeat:
quī
q-u-long i
quī x2
quī sunt? x2
Try to ask “Who are they?”
quī sunt? x2
h Give the Latin noun meaning “mother”:
māter mātris, feminine
i Say “Aemilia is the mother”:
Aemilia est māter x2

Do you remember how to ask “Who are they?”

quī sunt? x2
Now try to ask “Who are the sons?”
 Quī sunt fīliī
fīliī
Quī sunt fīliī
f Give the Latin noun for “father”:
pater patris masculine x2
You see Julius enter the door. Ask “Who is he?”
Quis est? x2
Try to ask “Who is the father?”
Now ask “Who is the father?”
Quis est pater?
Answer “Julius is the father”:
Iūlius est pater x2
g Ask “Who is she?”
Quae est? x2
Ask “Who is the daughter?”
Quae est fīlia?
Here is the Latin name “Julia”:
Iūlia
Repeat:
-a
Iū-li-a
Iūlia
Try to say “Julia is the daughter”:
Iūlia est fīlia x2
i Ask “Who are they?”
quī sunt? x2
Now ask “Who are the sons?”
Quī sunt fīliī?
Repeat the Latin name for “Marcus”:
Mār-cus
Mārcus
Try to say “Marcus is a son”:
Mārcus est fīlius x2
j Do you remember the lexical form of the Latin noun meaning “son”?
fīlius fīliī masculine
The name ‘Iūlius’ follows that same pattern.
Try to say “Julius is”:
Iūlius est
Now say “of Julius”:
Iūliī
Remember, the first form of the lexical entry is the nominative case, used for subjects,
and the the second form of the lexical entry is genitive, used for possessive nouns.
Again, say “of Julius”:
Iūliī
Try to say “Marcus is the son of Julius”:
Mārcus est fīlius Iūliī
fīlius Iūliī
h Give the Latin noun meaning “mother”:
 māter mātris, feminine
Using the feminine form ‘quae’ for “who”, ask “Who is the mother?”
Quae est māter?
Quae est?
Say “Aemilia is the mother”:
Aemilia est māter x2
Compare “Who is the mother?” with “Who is the father?”
Quae est māter?/Quis est pater? x2
j Do you remember how to say “of Julius”?
Iūliī
Compare “Julius is” with “of Julius”:
Iūlius est/Iūliī
Say “Marcus is the son of Julius”:
Mārcus est fīlius Iūliī
fīlius Iūliī
Do you remember the lexical entry for the Latin noun meaning “daughter”?
fīlia fīliae, feminine x2
Say “the daughter is”:
fīlia est
Now say “it is of the daughter”:
fīliae est
The name ‘Aemilia’ follows that same pattern.
Try to say “Aemilia is”:
Aemilia est
Now say “it is of Aemilia”:
Aemiliae est x2
Now say “Marcus is the son of Aemilia”:
Mārcus est fīlius Aemiliae
fīlius Aemiliae
i Ask “Who are they?”
quī sunt? x2
Now ask “Who are the sons?”
Quī sunt fīliī?
Say “Marcus is a son”:
Mārcus est fīlius x2
Repeat the Latin name for “Quintus”:
Quīn-tis
Quīntus x2
Try to say “Quintus is a son”:
Quīntus est fīlius x2
Say “the sons are”:
fīliī sunt
Now say “the sons are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī sunt Mārcus et Quīntus
Mārcus et Quīntus
fīliī sunt Mārcus et Quīntus
j Do you remember how to say “of Aemilia”?
Aemiliae
 Compare “Aemilia is” with “it is of Aemilia”:
Aemilia est/Aemiliae est
Now compare “of Julius” with “of Aemilia”:
Iūliī/Aemiliae
Say “the sons of Julius and Aemilia are”:
fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt
Iūliī et Aemilia
Now say “the sons of Julius and Aemilia are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
f Give the Latin noun for “father”:
pater patris masculine x2
Ask “Who is the father?”
Quis est pater?
Answer “Julius is the father”:
Iūlius est pater
g Ask “Who is she?”
Quae est? x2
Ask “Who is the daughter?”
Quae est fīlia?
Say “Julia is the daughter”:
Iūlia est fīlia
Iūlia est
j Say “the sons of Julius and Aemilia are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
Now say “the daughter of Julius and Aemilia is Julia”:
fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.
h Give the Latin noun meaning “mother”:
māter mātris, feminine
Compare “Who is the mother?” with “Who is the father?”
Quae est māter?/Quis est pater? x2
Ask again “Who is the mother?”
Quae est māter?
Answer “Aemilia is the mother”:
Aemilia est māter x2
i Ask “Who are the sons?”
Quī sunt fīliī?
Answer “the sons are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī sunt Mārcus et Quīntus x2
j Say “the sons of Julius and Aemilia are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
Now say “the daughter of Julius and Aemilia is Julia”:
fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.
f Ask “Who is the father?”
Quis est pater?
Answer “Julius is the father”:
Iūlius est pater
g n/a
h Ask “Who is the mother?”
 Quae est māter?
Answer “Aemilia is the mother”:
Aemilia est māter
i Ask “Who are the sons?”
Quī sunt fīliī?
Answer “the sons of Julius and Aemilia are Marcus and Quintus”:
fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus x2
j Ask “Who is the daughter?”
Quae est fīlia?
Answer “the daughter of Julius and Aemilia is Julia”:
fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.

Now for a conversation. You’ll play the role of the old handmaiden, Syra. A young
handmaiden who is new to the family will ask you some questions about the names
and relationships of members of the family. At first, I’ll help you with your
responses.

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Answer “there are three children in the family, two sons and one daughter.”
Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.
Delia: Quis est pater?
Respond “Julius is the father.”
Syra: Iūlius est pater.
Delia: Quae est māter?
Reply “Amelia is the mother.”
Syra: Aemilia est māter.
Delia: Quī sunt fīliī?
Say “The sons of Julius and Amelia are Marcus and Quintus.”
Syra: Fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
Delia: Quae est fīlia?
Answer “The daughter of Julius and Amelia is Julia.”
Syra: Fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.
Delia: Magna est familia!

Let’s try that conversation one more time. This time you’ll respond without any
prompting from me.

Delia: Suntne līberī in familiā?

Syra: Trēs līberī in familiā sunt, duo fīliī et ūna fīlia.
Delia: Quis est pater?
Syra: Iūlius est pater.
Delia: Quae est māter?
Syra: Aemilia est māter.
Delia: Quī sunt fīliī?
Syra: Fīliī Iūliī et Aemiliae sunt Mārcus et Quīntus.
Delia: Quae est fīlia?
Syra: Fīlia Iūliī et Aemiliae est Iūlia.
Delia: Magna est familia!

This is the end of Chapter 2, Lesson 1. This is the end of today’s conversation. Bene
valē!