Lesson 19: Conversational Latin
nec (and not, nor)
Introduction
The conjunction nec is a fundamental connecting word in Latin that means "and not" or "nor." It functions similarly to its alternative form neque, and when doubled (nec...nec), it means "neither...nor." This versatile word appears frequently in conversational Latin, allowing speakers to express negative connections and alternatives naturally.
Definition for the Autodidact Student
Nec is a coordinating conjunction that combines the meanings of "and" (et) with "not" (nōn). It connects negative statements or elements, creating a smoother flow than using separate words. In conversation, nec helps speakers efficiently express what is not the case while maintaining the connection between ideas.
FAQ Schema
Q: What does nec mean in Latin? A: Nec means "and not" or "nor" in Latin. It is a conjunction that connects negative statements or elements. When used twice (nec...nec), it means "neither...nor."
How This Topic Word Will Be Used
In this lesson's examples, you'll encounter nec in various conversational contexts:
Simple negative connections between two elements
The nec...nec construction for "neither...nor"
Natural dialogue showing how Romans used nec in daily speech
Different word order patterns to demonstrate Latin's flexibility
Educational Schema
Subject: Latin Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Focus: Conversational Latin Patterns Topic: The conjunction nec (and not, nor) Learning Objectives:
Understand the meaning and usage of nec
Recognize nec...nec constructions
Apply nec in conversational contexts
Distinguish between nec and other negative constructions
Key Takeaways
Nec combines "and" + "not" into one efficient word
It can stand alone meaning "and not/nor" or be paired for "neither...nor"
Word order with nec is flexible, allowing for emphasis and style
In conversation, nec creates smoother negative connections than et nōn
The word appears frequently in both formal and informal Latin contexts
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Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
19.1 Mārcus: Marcus: Vīnumne wine? habēs? do you have? Ego: I: Minimē, not at all, vīnum wine nec nor cervīsiam beer habeō I have
19.2 Līvia: Livia: Hodiē today nec neither pluit it rains nec nor ningit it snows
19.3 Pater father fīliō to son dīcit: says: Nec not lūde play in in viā street nec nor currē run nimis too much celeriter quickly
19.4 Servus: Slave: Dominus master nec neither adest is present nec nor mox soon veniet will come
19.5 Amīcus friend quaerit: asks: Quid what vīs? do you want? Respondeō: I answer: Nec not cibum food volō I want nec nor pōtiōnem drink
19.6 Magister teacher discipulīs to students nūntiat: announces: Crās tomorrow nec not scholam school habēbimus we will have
19.7 Māter: Mother: Fīlius son meus my nec not bene well dormīvit slept hāc this nocte night
19.8 Medicus doctor aegrō to sick person dīcit: says: Nec neither labōrā work nec nor multum much ambulā walk hodiē today
19.9 Mercātor: Merchant: Pecūniam money nec neither nunc now habeō I have nec nor crās tomorrow habēbō I will have
19.10 Uxor wife marītō to husband querēns complaining dīcit: says: Tū you nec neither mē me audīs hear nec nor cūrās care
19.11 Coquus: Cook: Nec neither carnem meat nec nor piscēs fish in in forō market invēnī I found
19.12 Hospes guest caupōnī to innkeeper respondet: replies: Grātiās thanks agō, I give, sed but nec not cēnāre to dine volō I want
19.13 Puella: Girl: Frāter brother meus my nec neither cantat sings nec nor saltat dances
19.14 Senex old man adulēscentī to young person nārrat: tells: Ego I iam now nec neither bene well videō see nec nor clārē clearly audiō hear
19.15 Discipulus student magistrō to teacher fatētur: confesses: Pensum homework meum my nec not fēcī I did hodiē today
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Part B (Complete Latin sentence followed by natural English translation)
19.1 Mārcus: Vīnumne habēs? Ego: Minimē, vīnum nec cervīsiam habeō. Marcus: Do you have wine? I: Not at all, I have neither wine nor beer.
19.2 Līvia: Hodiē nec pluit nec ningit. Livia: Today it's neither raining nor snowing.
19.3 Pater fīliō dīcit: Nec lūde in viā nec currē nimis celeriter. The father says to his son: Don't play in the street or run too quickly.
19.4 Servus: Dominus nec adest nec mox veniet. Slave: The master is neither here nor will he come soon.
19.5 Amīcus quaerit: Quid vīs? Respondeō: Nec cibum volō nec pōtiōnem. My friend asks: What do you want? I answer: I want neither food nor drink.
19.6 Magister discipulīs nūntiat: Crās nec scholam habēbimus. The teacher announces to the students: Tomorrow we won't have school.
19.7 Māter: Fīlius meus nec bene dormīvit hāc nocte. Mother: My son didn't sleep well last night.
19.8 Medicus aegrō dīcit: Nec labōrā nec multum ambulā hodiē. The doctor tells the sick person: Neither work nor walk much today.
19.9 Mercātor: Pecūniam nec nunc habeō nec crās habēbō. Merchant: I have no money now, nor will I have any tomorrow.
19.10 Uxor marītō querēns dīcit: Tū nec mē audīs nec cūrās. The wife says to her husband, complaining: You neither listen to me nor care.
19.11 Coquus: Nec carnem nec piscēs in forō invēnī. Cook: I found neither meat nor fish in the market.
19.12 Hospes caupōnī respondet: Grātiās agō, sed nec cēnāre volō. The guest replies to the innkeeper: Thank you, but I don't want to dine.
19.13 Puella: Frāter meus nec cantat nec saltat. Girl: My brother neither sings nor dances.
19.14 Senex adulēscentī nārrat: Ego iam nec bene videō nec clārē audiō. The old man tells the young person: I can no longer see well or hear clearly.
19.15 Discipulus magistrō fatētur: Pensum meum nec fēcī hodiē. The student confesses to the teacher: I didn't do my homework today.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
19.1 Mārcus: Vīnumne habēs? Ego: Minimē, vīnum nec cervīsiam habeō.
19.2 Līvia: Hodiē nec pluit nec ningit.
19.3 Pater fīliō dīcit: Nec lūde in viā nec currē nimis celeriter.
19.4 Servus: Dominus nec adest nec mox veniet.
19.5 Amīcus quaerit: Quid vīs? Respondeō: Nec cibum volō nec pōtiōnem.
19.6 Magister discipulīs nūntiat: Crās nec scholam habēbimus.
19.7 Māter: Fīlius meus nec bene dormīvit hāc nocte.
19.8 Medicus aegrō dīcit: Nec labōrā nec multum ambulā hodiē.
19.9 Mercātor: Pecūniam nec nunc habeō nec crās habēbō.
19.10 Uxor marītō querēns dīcit: Tū nec mē audīs nec cūrās.
19.11 Coquus: Nec carnem nec piscēs in forō invēnī.
19.12 Hospes caupōnī respondet: Grātiās agō, sed nec cēnāre volō.
19.13 Puella: Frāter meus nec cantat nec saltat.
19.14 Senex adulēscentī nārrat: Ego iam nec bene videō nec clārē audiō.
19.15 Discipulus magistrō fatētur: Pensum meum nec fēcī hodiē.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation for English Speakers Learning Latin)
Grammar Rules for nec
Nec is a coordinating conjunction that serves multiple functions in Latin:
Basic Meaning: "and not" or "nor"
Functions as et + nōn compressed into one word
More elegant than saying et nōn in most contexts
Position and Word Order:
Can begin a sentence for emphasis
Often follows the word it negates
In nec...nec constructions, each nec precedes its negated element
Single nec Usage:
Connects a negative statement to a previous clause
Example: "Grātiās agō, sed nec cēnāre volō" (Thank you, but I don't want to dine)
Double nec (nec...nec):
Means "neither...nor"
Each nec directly precedes what it negates
Creates balanced, parallel structures
Common Mistakes
Confusing nec with non:
WRONG: "Nōn vīnum nōn cervīsiam habeō"
RIGHT: "Nec vīnum nec cervīsiam habeō"
Using et nōn instead of nec:
AWKWARD: "Et nōn dormīvit"
BETTER: "Nec dormīvit"
Forgetting the second nec:
INCOMPLETE: "Nec videō audiō"
CORRECT: "Nec videō nec audiō"
Word order errors:
UNNATURAL: "Videō nec"
NATURAL: "Nec videō"
Comparison Between English and Latin
English: Uses separate words "and not" or "nor"
"I have wine and not beer" → "I have wine but not beer"
"I have neither wine nor beer"
Latin: Combines into single word nec
More concise and elegant
Creates smoother sentence flow
Allows for flexible word placement
Step-by-Step Guide for Using nec
Identify what you're negating:
Single item? Use one nec
Multiple items? Use nec...nec
Place nec before the negated element:
"nec dormīvit" (and didn't sleep)
"nec bene dormīvit" (and didn't sleep well)
For neither...nor constructions:
First nec before first element
Second nec before second element
"nec carnem nec piscēs" (neither meat nor fish)
Check parallelism:
Both negated elements should be same type
Both nouns, both verbs, both phrases
Grammatical Summary
Form: Indeclinable conjunction Meaning: and not, nor; neither...nor (when doubled) Alternative form: neque (same meaning, used interchangeably) Position: Before the word or phrase it negates Combinations:
nec...nec (neither...nor)
nec ūllus (and no one)
nec umquam (and never)
nec tamen (and yet not)
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Part E (Cultural Context)
Nec in Roman Conversation
For English speakers learning conversational Latin, understanding how Romans used nec provides insight into their communication style. Romans valued brevity and elegance in speech, and nec exemplifies this preference perfectly.
In daily Roman conversation, nec appeared constantly. At the market, a shopper might say "Nec hoc nec illud placet" (Neither this nor that pleases me). In the home, parents used nec...nec constructions to give clear prohibitions to children, as we saw in example 19.3.
The word reflects Roman pragmatism. Rather than elaborate circumlocutions, Romans preferred direct negative connections. This efficiency extended from casual street conversations to formal oratory in the Senate.
Social contexts particularly favored nec. When declining invitations politely, Romans often used nec to soften refusals. "Grātiās agō, sed nec possum venīre" (Thank you, but I cannot come) maintained courtesy while being clear.
Medical and legal contexts used nec for precise instructions. Doctors gave prohibitions with nec...nec to ensure patients understood multiple restrictions clearly. Legal documents employed nec to eliminate ambiguity in negative provisions.
The flexibility of nec also allowed for rhetorical emphasis. Placing nec at the beginning of a statement created dramatic effect, while embedding it mid-sentence maintained conversational flow. This versatility made it indispensable in Roman dialogue.
For modern Latin conversation, nec remains essential. It creates natural-sounding negative connections that et nōn cannot match. Understanding its cultural usage helps learners sound authentically Roman rather than mechanically translating from English.
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Part F (Literary Citation)
From the Colloquia Scholica (Medieval School Dialogues), specifically from a dialogue about daily activities:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Magister The teacher discipulum the student interrogat: questions: "Quid "What herī yesterday fēcistī?" did you do?" Discipulus The student respondet: responds: "Nec "Neither lēgī did I read nec nor scrīpsī, did I write, sed but cum with amīcīs friends lūsī." I played." Magister The teacher īrātus angry dīcit: says: "Malē "Badly fēcistī! you have done! Nam For discipulī students bonī good nec neither diem day nec nor noctem night sine without studiō study tērunt." waste."
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Magister discipulum interrogat: "Quid herī fēcistī?" Discipulus respondet: "Nec lēgī nec scrīpsī, sed cum amīcīs lūsī." Magister īrātus dīcit: "Malē fēcistī! Nam discipulī bonī nec diem nec noctem sine studiō tērunt."
The teacher questions the student: "What did you do yesterday?" The student responds: "I neither read nor wrote, but I played with friends." The teacher says angrily: "You have done badly! For good students waste neither day nor night without study."
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This passage from the Colloquia Scholica demonstrates nec in authentic conversational context. The student uses nec...nec to admit his failure to study, creating a clear contrast with his actual activity (playing). The teacher's response also employs nec...nec, but prescriptively, establishing what good students should not do. The parallel structure in both uses creates rhetorical balance typical of scholastic dialogues.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
First nec...nec: "Nec lēgī nec scrīpsī" - parallel perfect tense verbs
Contrast with sed: The student uses sed to pivot from negative to positive
Second nec...nec: "nec diem nec noctem" - parallel accusative nouns
Word order: Note how sine studiō follows the nec...nec construction for emphasis
The verb tērunt (waste) governs both accusatives in the teacher's statement
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Genre Section: Market Dialogue
Part A (Interleaved Text)
19.16 Emptor: Buyer: Habēsne Do you have māla apples dulcia? sweet? Venditor: Seller: Nec Neither māla apples nec nor pira pears hodiē today vendō I sell
19.17 Emptor: Buyer: Quid What ergō then habēs? do you have? Venditor: Seller: Persica Peaches habēmus, we have, sed but nec not multa many nec nor valdē very bona good
19.18 Emptor: Buyer: Ostende Show mihi to me persica peaches tua! your! Venditor: Seller: Ecce, Behold, sed but nec not tangere to touch licet it is permitted ante before ēmptiōnem purchase
19.19 Emptor Buyer persica peaches īnspiciēns: inspecting: Haec These nec neither mātūra ripe nec nor firma firm sunt are
19.20 Venditor Seller īrātē: angrily: Sī If nec neither tibi to you placent they please nec nor emere to buy vīs, you wish, abī! go away!
19.21 Alter Another emptor buyer appropinquat: approaches: Quid What dē about oleīs? olives? Nec Not nigrās black volō I want sed but viridēs green
19.22 Venditor: Seller: Viridēs Green quidem indeed habeō, I have, sed but nec not parvō at small pretiō price venduntur they are sold
19.23 Secundus Second emptor: buyer: Quantum How much petīs? do you ask? Venditor: Seller: Duōs Two dēnāriōs, denarii, nec and not minus less accipiam I will accept
19.24 Emptor Buyer rīdēns: laughing: Nec Neither ego I stultus stupid sum am nec nor tū you mē me decipere to deceive poteris will be able
19.25 Venditor: Seller: Nec Not decipere to deceive volō, I want, sed but iūstum fair pretium price petō I seek
19.26 Prīmus First emptor buyer redit: returns: Dā Give mihi to me decem ten persica peaches prō for ūnō one dēnāriō, denarius, nec and not plūs more solvam I will pay
19.27 Venditor Seller cōgitāns: thinking: Nec Neither hodiē today multōs many ēmptōrēs buyers vīdī I have seen nec nor crās tomorrow meliōrēs better ones spērō I hope for
19.28 Tandem Finally venditor: seller: Bene, Well, accipe take persica, peaches, sed but nec neither querēre complain nec nor revertere return sī if nōn not placent! they please!
19.29 Emptor Buyer abiēns: leaving: Nec Neither queror I complain nec nor umquam ever ad to tē you revertar! I will return!
19.30 Venditor Seller sōlus: alone: Heu! Alas! Nec Neither bonōs good frūctūs fruits nec nor bonōs good ēmptōrēs buyers habeō I have hodiē! today!
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
19.16 Emptor: Habēsne māla dulcia? Venditor: Nec māla nec pira hodiē vendō. Buyer: Do you have sweet apples? Seller: I'm selling neither apples nor pears today.
19.17 Emptor: Quid ergō habēs? Venditor: Persica habēmus, sed nec multa nec valdē bona. Buyer: What do you have then? Seller: We have peaches, but neither many nor very good ones.
19.18 Emptor: Ostende mihi persica tua! Venditor: Ecce, sed nec tangere licet ante ēmptiōnem. Buyer: Show me your peaches! Seller: Here they are, but you can't touch them before purchase.
19.19 Emptor persica īnspiciēns: Haec nec mātūra nec firma sunt. The buyer, inspecting the peaches: These are neither ripe nor firm.
19.20 Venditor īrātē: Sī nec tibi placent nec emere vīs, abī! The seller angrily: If they neither please you nor do you want to buy them, go away!
19.21 Alter emptor appropinquat: Quid dē oleīs? Nec nigrās volō sed viridēs. Another buyer approaches: What about olives? I don't want black ones but green.
19.22 Venditor: Viridēs quidem habeō, sed nec parvō pretiō venduntur. Seller: I do have green ones, but they're not sold at a low price.
19.23 Secundus emptor: Quantum petīs? Venditor: Duōs dēnāriōs, nec minus accipiam. Second buyer: How much are you asking? Seller: Two denarii, and I won't accept less.
19.24 Emptor rīdēns: Nec ego stultus sum nec tū mē decipere poteris. The buyer laughing: I'm neither stupid nor will you be able to deceive me.
19.25 Venditor: Nec decipere volō, sed iūstum pretium petō. Seller: I don't want to deceive you, but I'm asking a fair price.
19.26 Prīmus emptor redit: Dā mihi decem persica prō ūnō dēnāriō, nec plūs solvam. The first buyer returns: Give me ten peaches for one denarius, and I won't pay more.
19.27 Venditor cōgitāns: Nec hodiē multōs ēmptōrēs vīdī nec crās meliōrēs spērō. The seller thinking: I've neither seen many buyers today nor do I hope for better ones tomorrow.
19.28 Tandem venditor: Bene, accipe persica, sed nec querēre nec revertere sī nōn placent! Finally the seller: Fine, take the peaches, but neither complain nor come back if you don't like them!
19.29 Emptor abiēns: Nec queror nec umquam ad tē revertar! The buyer leaving: I neither complain nor will I ever return to you!
19.30 Venditor sōlus: Heu! Nec bonōs frūctūs nec bonōs ēmptōrēs habeō hodiē! The seller alone: Alas! I have neither good fruits nor good buyers today!
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
19.16 Emptor: Habēsne māla dulcia? Venditor: Nec māla nec pira hodiē vendō.
19.17 Emptor: Quid ergō habēs? Venditor: Persica habēmus, sed nec multa nec valdē bona.
19.18 Emptor: Ostende mihi persica tua! Venditor: Ecce, sed nec tangere licet ante ēmptiōnem.
19.19 Emptor persica īnspiciēns: Haec nec mātūra nec firma sunt.
19.20 Venditor īrātē: Sī nec tibi placent nec emere vīs, abī!
19.21 Alter emptor appropinquat: Quid dē oleīs? Nec nigrās volō sed viridēs.
19.22 Venditor: Viridēs quidem habeō, sed nec parvō pretiō venduntur.
19.23 Secundus emptor: Quantum petīs? Venditor: Duōs dēnāriōs, nec minus accipiam.
19.24 Emptor rīdēns: Nec ego stultus sum nec tū mē decipere poteris.
19.25 Venditor: Nec decipere volō, sed iūstum pretium petō.
19.26 Prīmus emptor redit: Dā mihi decem persica prō ūnō dēnāriō, nec plūs solvam.
19.27 Venditor cōgitāns: Nec hodiē multōs ēmptōrēs vīdī nec crās meliōrēs spērō.
19.28 Tandem venditor: Bene, accipe persica, sed nec querēre nec revertere sī nōn placent!
19.29 Emptor abiēns: Nec queror nec umquam ad tē revertar!
19.30 Venditor sōlus: Heu! Nec bonōs frūctūs nec bonōs ēmptōrēs habeō hodiē!
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
Market Dialogue: Advanced Uses of nec
This market scene demonstrates sophisticated applications of nec in rapid conversational exchange:
Nec with Various Parts of Speech:
With nouns: "nec māla nec pira" (19.16)
With adjectives: "nec multa nec valdē bona" (19.17)
With verbs: "nec querēre nec revertere" (19.28)
With pronouns: "nec ego...nec tū" (19.24)
Contrasting Constructions:
nec...sed: "Nec nigrās volō sed viridēs" (19.21)
Shows preference through negation and contrast
More nuanced than simple nec...nec
Conditional Contexts:
"Sī nec tibi placent nec emere vīs" (19.20)
nec functions within conditional clauses
Maintains negative force throughout condition
Emphatic Positioning:
Sentence-initial for emphasis: "Nec decipere volō" (19.25)
After main verb for softer tone: "nec plūs solvam" (19.26)
Future and Modal Constructions:
With future: "nec revertar" (19.29)
With potential: "nec poteris" (19.24)
Shows nec works with all tenses and moods
Compound Thoughts:
"Nec hodiē multōs ēmptōrēs vīdī nec crās meliōrēs spērō" (19.27)
Complex time relationships (today/tomorrow)
Different verbs in each clause
Conversational Particles:
Combined with quidem, ergō, tandem
Creates natural dialogue flow
Shows integration with other discourse markers
Common Market Phrases with nec:
"nec minus accipiam" - I won't accept less (firm negotiation)
"nec queror" - I'm not complaining (defensive response)
"nec...licet" - it's not permitted (prohibition)
"nec plūs solvam" - I won't pay more (bargaining limit)
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About This Course
The Latinum Institute's conversational Latin lessons are designed specifically for autodidacts seeking to develop practical Latin communication skills. Created by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), who has been developing online language learning materials since 2006, these lessons bridge the gap between traditional grammar-based instruction and living Latin usage.
Each lesson follows a carefully structured progression:
Introduction with key vocabulary presented in context
Interleaved text (Part A) allowing word-by-word comprehension
Natural Latin sentences (Parts B & C) demonstrating authentic word order
Comprehensive grammar explanations (Part D) tailored for English speakers
Cultural context (Part E) connecting language to Roman life
Authentic literary excerpts (Part F) from classical and medieval sources
Genre sections exploring different text types and registers
The method emphasizes:
Immediate practical application
Natural Latin word order variations
Common conversational patterns
Cultural and historical context
Progressive skill building
These materials complement the extensive resources available at:
latinum.substack.com (method explanations and additional lessons)
latinum.org.uk (comprehensive course materials)
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This conversational approach enables autodidacts to develop genuine communicative competence in Latin, moving beyond passive reading to active language use. By combining traditional philological rigor with modern pedagogical insights, these lessons make Latin accessible as a living language for contemporary learners.
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