Lesson 25: Conversational Latin
māgnus -a -um greatAdjective: 1st and 2nd Declension
Introduction
The Latin adjective māgnus -a -um means "great, large, big, important." This is one of the most fundamental adjectives in Latin, appearing frequently in both literary texts and everyday conversation. As a 1st/2nd declension adjective, it follows the standard pattern of bonus -a -um, with masculine forms following the 2nd declension, feminine forms following the 1st declension, and neuter forms following the 2nd declension neuter pattern.
FAQ Schema
Q: What does māgnus mean in Latin? A: Māgnus means "great, large, big, or important" in Latin. It's a regular 1st/2nd declension adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies in case, number, and gender.
How This Word Will Be Used
In this lesson, māgnus will appear in various conversational contexts, demonstrating its flexibility in describing physical size, importance, emotional states, and abstract concepts. You'll see it used with different cases, genders, and numbers, helping you understand how Latin adjectives work in natural dialogue.
Educational Schema
Subject: Latin Language Learning
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Focus: Conversational Latin with māgnus -a -um
Type: Self-study reading lesson for English speakers
Key Takeaways
Māgnus is a regular 1st/2nd declension adjective meaning "great"
It must agree with its noun in case, number, and gender
Common in both physical descriptions and abstract concepts
Frequently appears in idiomatic expressions
Essential for conversational Latin proficiency
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Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
25.1 Quid what dē about māgnā great urbe city Rōmā Rome scīs do you know?
25.2 Māgnum great gaudium joy mihi to me est is tē you vidēre to see.
25.3 Habēsne do you have māgnum big canem dog domī at home?
25.4 Certē certainly, sed but nōn not tam so māgnus big est is quam as tuus yours.
25.5 Māgnō with great cum with studiō enthusiasm Latīnē in Latin loquī to speak discō I learn.
25.6 Māgna great mē me cēpit seized cupīdō desire Italiam Italy vīsendī of visiting.
25.7 Quantī for how much māgnum large illud that vīnum wine ēmistī did you buy?
25.8 Māgnī at a great price quidem indeed, sed but optimum excellent est it is!
25.9 Māgnae great rēs matters hodiē today in in forō forum aguntur are being conducted.
25.10 Audīvistīne have you heard dē about māgnīs great mūtātiōnibus changes in in cīvitāte state?
25.11 Māgnum great opus work perfēcistī you have completed, mī my amīce friend!
25.12 Grātiās thanks tibī to you māgnās great agō I give prō for auxiliō help tuō your.
25.13 Estne is māgna great differentia difference inter between hās these duās two sententiās opinions?
25.14 Māgnā in great ex from parte part tēcum with you cōnsentiō I agree, sed but nōn not omnīnō entirely.
25.15 Māgnus great numerus number hominum of people ad to spectāculum show convēnit gathered.
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
25.1 Quid dē māgnā urbe Rōmā scīs? What do you know about the great city of Rome?
25.2 Māgnum gaudium mihi est tē vidēre. It's a great joy for me to see you.
25.3 Habēsne māgnum canem domī? Do you have a big dog at home?
25.4 Certē, sed nōn tam māgnus est quam tuus. Certainly, but he's not as big as yours.
25.5 Māgnō cum studiō Latīnē loquī discō. I'm learning to speak Latin with great enthusiasm.
25.6 Māgna mē cēpit cupīdō Italiam vīsendī. A great desire to visit Italy has seized me.
25.7 Quantī māgnum illud vīnum ēmistī? How much did you pay for that large wine jar?
25.8 Māgnī quidem, sed optimum est! Quite a lot indeed, but it's excellent!
25.9 Māgnae rēs hodiē in forō aguntur. Important matters are being conducted in the forum today.
25.10 Audīvistīne dē māgnīs mūtātiōnibus in cīvitāte? Have you heard about the great changes in the state?
25.11 Māgnum opus perfēcistī, mī amīce! You've completed a great work, my friend!
25.12 Grātiās tibī māgnās agō prō auxiliō tuō. I give you great thanks for your help.
25.13 Estne māgna differentia inter hās duās sententiās? Is there a great difference between these two opinions?
25.14 Māgnā ex parte tēcum cōnsentiō, sed nōn omnīnō. I agree with you to a great extent, but not entirely.
25.15 Māgnus numerus hominum ad spectāculum convēnit. A great number of people gathered for the show.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
25.1 Quid dē māgnā urbe Rōmā scīs?
25.2 Māgnum gaudium mihi est tē vidēre.
25.3 Habēsne māgnum canem domī?
25.4 Certē, sed nōn tam māgnus est quam tuus.
25.5 Māgnō cum studiō Latīnē loquī discō.
25.6 Māgna mē cēpit cupīdō Italiam vīsendī.
25.7 Quantī māgnum illud vīnum ēmistī?
25.8 Māgnī quidem, sed optimum est!
25.9 Māgnae rēs hodiē in forō aguntur.
25.10 Audīvistīne dē māgnīs mūtātiōnibus in cīvitāte?
25.11 Māgnum opus perfēcistī, mī amīce!
25.12 Grātiās tibī māgnās agō prō auxiliō tuō.
25.13 Estne māgna differentia inter hās duās sententiās?
25.14 Māgnā ex parte tēcum cōnsentiō, sed nōn omnīnō.
25.15 Māgnus numerus hominum ad spectāculum convēnit.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
Grammar Rules for māgnus -a -um
Declension Pattern: Māgnus follows the regular 1st/2nd declension adjective pattern:
Masculine (2nd declension):
Nominative: māgnus
Genitive: māgnī
Dative: māgnō
Accusative: māgnum
Ablative: māgnō
Vocative: māgne
Feminine (1st declension):
Nominative: māgna
Genitive: māgnae
Dative: māgnae
Accusative: māgnam
Ablative: māgnā
Vocative: māgna
Neuter (2nd declension neuter):
Nominative: māgnum
Genitive: māgnī
Dative: māgnō
Accusative: māgnum
Ablative: māgnō
Vocative: māgnum
Common Mistakes
Agreement Errors: English speakers often forget that adjectives must agree with their nouns in case, number, AND gender. For example, "māgnum urbem" is wrong - it should be "māgnam urbem" (feminine accusative).
Position Confusion: While Latin word order is flexible, beginners often place adjectives awkwardly. Remember that emphasis affects placement - important adjectives often come first or are separated from their nouns.
Gender Assignment: Students frequently use masculine forms as default. Always check the gender of the noun: "māgnus cupīdō" is wrong because cupīdō is feminine.
Idiomatic Uses: The genitive māgnī in price expressions (meaning "at a high price") confuses many learners who expect an ablative.
Comparison with English
Unlike English, where "great" never changes form, Latin māgnus must change to match its noun. English says "great city," "great cities," "of the great city" using the same adjective form. Latin requires māgna urbs, māgnae urbēs, māgnae urbis.
Step-by-Step Guide for Using māgnus
Identify the noun māgnus modifies
Determine the noun's gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter)
Identify the noun's case (nominative, genitive, etc.)
Check if singular or plural
Select the matching form of māgnus
Place appropriately for emphasis or style
Special Uses
Māgnī facere = to value highly (genitive of price)
Māgnō opere = greatly, very much (ablative of manner)
Māgnus with genitive = great in respect to something
Comparative: maior, maius (greater)
Superlative: maximus -a -um (greatest)
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers learning conversational Latin, understanding māgnus requires grasping Roman concepts of greatness. Romans used māgnus not just for physical size but for social importance, moral weight, and emotional intensity.
In Roman society, māgnus often implied respect and dignity. A "māgnus vir" wasn't just a tall man but a person of importance. "Māgnae rēs" meant significant political or social matters, not just big things. This cultural loading affects conversational use - calling someone's accomplishment "māgnum" conveys genuine respect.
The phrase "māgnō opere" (literally "with great work") became an intensifier meaning "greatly" or "very much," showing how physical metaphors evolved into conversational expressions. Similarly, "māgnī aestimāre" (to value at a great price) uses the genitive of price metaphorically for emotional or social value.
Romans distinguished between māgnus (objectively great) and grandis (impressive in size or manner). In conversation, māgnus suggests inherent importance while grandis might imply mere appearance. This distinction helps modern Latin speakers choose appropriate vocabulary for different contexts.
Common conversational phrases like "māgnās grātiās agō" (I give great thanks) show how māgnus intensifies social expressions. Understanding these patterns helps learners sound more natural and culturally appropriate in Latin conversation.
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Part F (Literary Citation)
From Erasmus, Colloquia Familiaria: "De Captandis Sacerdotiis"
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Pamphilus: Pamphilus: Māgna great rēs thing est is sacerdōtium priesthood. Gaspar: Gaspar: Fateor I confess, sed but nōn not māgnum great omnibus for all. Quibusdam for some enim indeed māgnum great onus burden est it is, aliīs for others māgnus great honor honor. Pamphilus: Pamphilus: Vērum true dīcis you say. Sed but quī who māgnō with great animō spirit suscipere to undertake volunt wish, iī they māgnam great laudem praise merentur deserve.
Part F-B (Complete Original Text with Translation)
Pamphilus: Māgna rēs est sacerdōtium. Gaspar: Fateor, sed nōn māgnum omnibus. Quibusdam enim māgnum onus est, aliīs māgnus honor. Pamphilus: Vērum dīcis. Sed quī māgnō animō suscipere volunt, iī māgnam laudem merentur.
Pamphilus: The priesthood is a great thing. Gaspar: I admit it, but it's not great for everyone. For some it's indeed a great burden, for others a great honor. Pamphilus: You speak truly. But those who wish to undertake it with a great spirit deserve great praise.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This dialogue from Erasmus demonstrates the conversational use of māgnus in Renaissance Latin. Notice how the speakers play with different meanings of "great" - importance, burden, honor, and spiritual magnitude. The repetition of māgnus forms creates rhetorical emphasis while showing various grammatical constructions: nominative predicate (māgna rēs), accusative object (māgnum onus), and ablative of manner (māgnō animō).
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
māgna rēs: feminine nominative singular, predicate nominative
māgnum: neuter accusative, agreeing with implied "id"
māgnum onus: neuter nominative, showing agreement
māgnus honor: masculine nominative
māgnō animō: ablative of manner (with great spirit)
māgnam laudem: feminine accusative direct object
The passage shows typical conversational patterns: short exchanges, philosophical wordplay, and varied placement of māgnus for rhetorical effect.
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Genre Section: Theatrical Dialogue - At the Market
Part A (Interleaved Text)
25.16 Mercātor: Merchant: Venīte come, cīvēs citizens! Māgnās great mercēs goods hodiē today vēndō I sell!
25.17 Ēmptor: Buyer: Quam how māgnās great dīcis do you say? Ostende show mihi to me aliquid something pretiōsum valuable.
25.18 Mercātor: Merchant: Ecce behold māgnum large speculumm mirror ex from Alexandrīā Alexandria allātum brought!
25.19 Ēmptor: Buyer: Māgnum large quidem indeed est it is, sed but quantum how much petīs do you ask prō for eō it?
25.20 Mercātor: Merchant: Nōn not māgnī for much! Sōlum only centum hundred dēnāriōs denarii petō I ask.
25.21 Ēmptrīx: Female buyer: Centum hundred? Māgna great pecūnia money est is prō for speculō mirror!
25.22 Mercātor: Merchant: At but cōnsīderā consider māgnam great eius its pulchritūdinem beauty et and rāritātem rarity!
25.23 Senex: Old man: Māgnā with great vōce voice clāmās you shout, sed but mercēs goods tuae your parvae small sunt are!
25.24 Mercātor: Merchant: Errās you err, senex old man! Māgnō with great labōre labor hās these rēs things comparāvī I obtained.
25.25 Iuvenis: Young man: Habēsne do you have māgnōs large librōs books dē about philosophiā philosophy?
25.26 Mercātor: Merchant: Certē certainly! Māgna great volūmina volumes Platōnis of Plato et and Aristotelis Aristotle habeō I have.
25.27 Iuvenis: Young man: Māgnī greatly mē me interest they interest! Quantum how much prō for ūnō one petīs do you ask?
25.28 Mercātor: Merchant: Prō for tē you, iuvenis young man studiōse studious, nōn not māgnō for great pretiō price vēndam I will sell.
25.29 Mātrōna: Matron: Māgnam great grātiam favor ā from tē you petō I ask - servā save mihi for me illud that māgnum large vās vessel!
25.30 Mercātor: Merchant: Māgnō with great cum with gaudiō joy servābō I will save, domina lady! Crās tomorrow revenī return!
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
25.16 Mercātor: Venīte, cīvēs! Māgnās mercēs hodiē vēndō! Merchant: Come, citizens! I'm selling great goods today!
25.17 Ēmptor: Quam māgnās dīcis? Ostende mihi aliquid pretiōsum. Buyer: How great do you say? Show me something valuable.
25.18 Mercātor: Ecce māgnum speculum ex Alexandrīā allātum! Merchant: Behold this large mirror brought from Alexandria!
25.19 Ēmptor: Māgnum quidem est, sed quantum petīs prō eō? Buyer: It is indeed large, but how much are you asking for it?
25.20 Mercātor: Nōn māgnī! Sōlum centum dēnāriōs petō. Merchant: Not for much! I'm only asking a hundred denarii.
25.21 Ēmptrīx: Centum? Māgna pecūnia est prō speculō! Female buyer: A hundred? That's a lot of money for a mirror!
25.22 Mercātor: At cōnsīderā māgnam eius pulchritūdinem et rāritātem! Merchant: But consider its great beauty and rarity!
25.23 Senex: Māgnā vōce clāmās, sed mercēs tuae parvae sunt! Old man: You shout with a loud voice, but your goods are small!
25.24 Mercātor: Errās, senex! Māgnō labōre hās rēs comparāvī. Merchant: You're wrong, old man! I obtained these things with great effort.
25.25 Iuvenis: Habēsne māgnōs librōs dē philosophiā? Young man: Do you have large books about philosophy?
25.26 Mercātor: Certē! Māgna volūmina Platōnis et Aristotelis habeō. Merchant: Certainly! I have great volumes of Plato and Aristotle.
25.27 Iuvenis: Māgnī mē interest! Quantum prō ūnō petīs? Young man: They interest me greatly! How much are you asking for one?
25.28 Mercātor: Prō tē, iuvenis studiōse, nōn māgnō pretiō vēndam. Merchant: For you, studious young man, I'll sell at no great price.
25.29 Mātrōna: Māgnam grātiam ā tē petō - servā mihi illud māgnum vās! Matron: I ask a great favor from you - save that large vessel for me!
25.30 Mercātor: Māgnō cum gaudiō servābō, domina! Crās revenī! Merchant: I'll save it with great joy, lady! Come back tomorrow!
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
25.16 Mercātor: Venīte, cīvēs! Māgnās mercēs hodiē vēndō!
25.17 Ēmptor: Quam māgnās dīcis? Ostende mihi aliquid pretiōsum.
25.18 Mercātor: Ecce māgnum speculum ex Alexandrīā allātum!
25.19 Ēmptor: Māgnum quidem est, sed quantum petīs prō eō?
25.20 Mercātor: Nōn māgnī! Sōlum centum dēnāriōs petō.
25.21 Ēmptrīx: Centum? Māgna pecūnia est prō speculō!
25.22 Mercātor: At cōnsīderā māgnam eius pulchritūdinem et rāritātem!
25.23 Senex: Māgnā vōce clāmās, sed mercēs tuae parvae sunt!
25.24 Mercātor: Errās, senex! Māgnō labōre hās rēs comparāvī.
25.25 Iuvenis: Habēsne māgnōs librōs dē philosophiā?
25.26 Mercātor: Certē! Māgna volūmina Platōnis et Aristotelis habeō.
25.27 Iuvenis: Māgnī mē interest! Quantum prō ūnō petīs?
25.28 Mercātor: Prō tē, iuvenis studiōse, nōn māgnō pretiō vēndam.
25.29 Mātrōna: Māgnam grātiam ā tē petō - servā mihi illud māgnum vās!
25.30 Mercātor: Māgnō cum gaudiō servābō, domina! Crās revenī!
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Part D (Grammar Explanation for the Genre Section)
Market Dialogue Grammar Features
This theatrical dialogue showcases māgnus in authentic conversational contexts:
1. Vocative Appeals:
"cīvēs" (citizens) - merchant addressing crowd
"senex" (old man) - direct address
"domina" (lady) - polite address to matron
2. Commercial Language with māgnus:
"nōn māgnī" (not for much) - genitive of price
"māgnō pretiō" (at a great price) - ablative of price
"māgnās mercēs" - advertising language
3. Idiomatic Expressions:
"māgnī interest" (they greatly interest) - genitive with interest
"māgnam grātiam petō" (I ask a great favor) - polite request formula
"māgnō cum gaudiō" (with great joy) - ablative of manner
4. Question Patterns:
"Quam māgnās?" (How great?) - interrogative with adjective
"Quantum petīs?" (How much do you ask?) - price inquiries
"Habēsne...?" (Do you have...?) - yes/no questions
5. Demonstrative Usage:
"illud māgnum vās" (that large vessel) - demonstrative + adjective + noun
"hās rēs" (these things) - near demonstrative
6. Character-Specific Speech:
Merchant: promotional language, superlatives
Buyers: skeptical questions, price negotiations
Old man: critical commentary
Young man: intellectual interests
7. Agreement Patterns Shown:
māgnās mercēs (fem. acc. plural)
māgnum speculum (neut. acc. sing.)
māgnō labōre (masc. abl. sing.)
māgna volūmina (neut. acc. plural)
This dialogue demonstrates how māgnus functions in rapid conversational exchange, commercial contexts, and social interactions typical of Roman market scenes.
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About this Course
The Latinum Institute's Latin Reading Course represents a unique approach to Latin language acquisition, developed by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), who has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006. These lessons follow the principles outlined at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk.
This course is specifically designed for autodidacts - self-directed learners who want to master Latin through extensive reading and contextual learning. Rather than focusing on abstract grammar rules, the method immerses students in authentic Latin texts with careful scaffolding that makes even complex passages accessible to beginners.
The lesson structure moves progressively from highly granular interleaved translations (Part A) through complete sentences (Part B), pure Latin text (Part C), detailed grammar explanations tailored for English speakers (Part D), cultural context (Part E), and authentic literary passages (Part F). The genre sections provide additional exposure to different registers and styles of Latin.
Each lesson builds vocabulary and grammatical understanding through repetition in varied contexts, following the natural language acquisition process. The conversational focus ensures that students learn Latin as a living language, not merely as a code to decipher.
The Latinum Institute has received recognition for its innovative approach to classical language education. For reviews and testimonials, see: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
This method has proven particularly effective for:
Adult learners returning to Latin after years away
Complete beginners seeking a natural approach
Students preparing for examinations who need rapid progress
Anyone interested in reading Latin literature with genuine comprehension
The course philosophy emphasizes that Latin was once a spoken language used for every purpose - from buying vegetables in the market to composing sublime poetry. By presenting Latin in its full range of uses, these lessons help students develop true fluency and appreciation for this magnificent language.
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