Commands in Latin: Amā, Audī and Nōlī Timēre
How to give orders in Latin, the singular and plural imperatives, the irregular ones like dīc and fac, and how to say 'don't'.
Commands are one of the simplest parts of Latin grammar. The singular is the bare stem, and the plural adds -te.
Regular imperatives
| Conjugation | Singular | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | amā | amāte | love! |
| 2nd | vidē | vidēte | see! |
| 3rd | rege | regite | rule! |
| 4th | audī | audīte | hear! |
The singular is the present stem, and the plural adds -te (with a vowel change in the 3rd conjugation).
Common commands
- Venī! — Come! (plural venīte)
- Ī! — Go! (plural īte)
- Stā! — Stand! (plural stāte)
- Audī! — Listen!
- Tacē! — Be quiet! (plural tacēte)
Irregular imperatives
Four common verbs drop their final vowel:
| Verb | Command | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| dīcō | dīc | say! |
| dūcō | dūc | lead! |
| faciō | fac | do! make! |
| ferō | fer | bring! |
Example: Fac quod dēbēs. — Do what you ought.
Negative commands: nōlī
To say "don't", use nōlī (singular) or nōlīte (plural) with the infinitive:
- Nōlī timēre. — Don't be afraid.
- Nōlīte discēdere. — Don't leave. (plural)
The word nōlī literally means "be unwilling".
Famous commands
- Cavē canem. — Beware of the dog. (a warning found on Roman houses)
- Carpe diem. — Seize the day.
- Fīat lūx. — Let there be light. (a wish, in the subjunctive)
Polite requests
Latin uses quaesō or amābō tē for "please":
- Aperī, quaesō, iānuam. — Open the door, please.
Tips
- Remember: singular = stem, plural = -te.
- Learn dīc, dūc, fac, fer.
- Use nōlī with an infinitive for "don't".
English Latin Dictionary
Offline English–Latin dictionary for students, classics and word-origin lookups
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