Introduction
The Latin adjective alius, alia, aliud means "other" or "another" and is one of the most frequently used words in Latin conversation. As a 1st and 2nd declension adjective with an irregular genitive singular (alīus), it follows mostly predictable patterns but has some unique features that make it particularly important for conversational Latin.
Definition: alius -a -ud is a pronominal adjective meaning "other, another, different." The adverb aliās means "at another time, otherwise."
FAQ Schema
Q: What does alius mean in Latin? A: Alius means "other" or "another" in Latin. It is an adjective that agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.
In this lesson, alius will appear in various conversational contexts showing its flexibility in everyday Latin dialogue. You'll see it used to express alternatives, make comparisons, and indicate different people or things in natural conversation.
Educational Schema
Subject: Latin Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: Pronominal Adjective - alius -a -ud Format: Self-study conversational Latin lesson with interleaved translation
Key Takeaways
Alius follows 1st/2nd declension patterns with irregular genitive alīus
It often appears in pairs (alius...alius = "one...another")
Essential for expressing alternatives and differences in conversation
Can be used substantively (as a noun) meaning "another person/thing"
The neuter form aliud is particularly common in philosophical texts
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Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
37.1 Quid what aliud other thing vīs do you want emere to buy?
37.2 Alium another librum book quaerō I seek, nōn not hunc this one.
37.3 Num surely not alia another via road ad to forum the forum dūcit leads?
37.4 Aliī some discipulī students cantant sing, aliī others saltant dance.
37.5 Ubī where est is alius the other magister teacher?
37.6 Aliud another thing tempus time melius better erit will be.
37.7 Dā give mihi to me aliam another sellam chair, haec this one fracta broken est is.
37.8 Aliōs other amīcōs friends invītāre to invite dēbēmus we ought.
37.9 Aliud one thing est is dīcere to say, aliud another facere to do.
37.10 Crās tomorrow aliās at another time rēs things agēmus we will do.
37.11 Nōnne surely aliī other servī slaves iam already labōrant are working?
37.12 Aliā by another viā way domum home redeāmus let us return.
37.13 Aliud another vīnum wine gustāre to taste volō I want.
37.14 Cūr why semper always dē about aliīs others rēbus matters loquitur does he speak?
37.15 Aliās at other times pluit it rains, hodiē today sōl the sun lūcet shines.
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
37.1 Quid aliud vīs emere? What else do you want to buy?
37.2 Alium librum quaerō, nōn hunc. I'm looking for another book, not this one.
37.3 Num alia via ad forum dūcit? Does another road lead to the forum?
37.4 Aliī discipulī cantant, aliī saltant. Some students sing, others dance.
37.5 Ubī est alius magister? Where is the other teacher?
37.6 Aliud tempus melius erit. Another time will be better.
37.7 Dā mihi aliam sellam, haec fracta est. Give me another chair, this one is broken.
37.8 Aliōs amīcōs invītāre dēbēmus. We ought to invite other friends.
37.9 Aliud est dīcere, aliud facere. It's one thing to say, another to do.
37.10 Crās aliās rēs agēmus. Tomorrow we'll do other things.
37.11 Nōnne aliī servī iam labōrant? Aren't other slaves already working?
37.12 Aliā viā domum redeāmus. Let's return home by another way.
37.13 Aliud vīnum gustāre volō. I want to taste another wine.
37.14 Cūr semper dē aliīs rēbus loquitur? Why does he always talk about other matters?
37.15 Aliās pluit, hodiē sōl lūcet. At other times it rains, today the sun shines.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
37.1 Quid aliud vīs emere?
37.2 Alium librum quaerō, nōn hunc.
37.3 Num alia via ad forum dūcit?
37.4 Aliī discipulī cantant, aliī saltant.
37.5 Ubī est alius magister?
37.6 Aliud tempus melius erit.
37.7 Dā mihi aliam sellam, haec fracta est.
37.8 Aliōs amīcōs invītāre dēbēmus.
37.9 Aliud est dīcere, aliud facere.
37.10 Crās aliās rēs agēmus.
37.11 Nōnne aliī servī iam labōrant?
37.12 Aliā viā domum redeāmus.
37.13 Aliud vīnum gustāre volō.
37.14 Cūr semper dē aliīs rēbus loquitur?
37.15 Aliās pluit, hodiē sōl lūcet.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
Grammar Rules for alius -a -ud
The adjective alius -a -ud is a pronominal adjective, meaning it behaves somewhat like a pronoun while functioning as an adjective. Here are its key grammatical features:
Declension Pattern:
Nominative: alius, alia, aliud
Genitive: alīus (irregular for all genders), rarely aliī/aliae/aliī
Dative: aliī, aliae, aliī
Accusative: alium, aliam, aliud
Ablative: aliō, aliā, aliō
Plural Forms (regular):
Nominative: aliī, aliae, alia
Genitive: aliōrum, aliārum, aliōrum
Dative: aliīs, aliīs, aliīs
Accusative: aliōs, aliās, alia
Ablative: aliīs, aliīs, aliīs
Common Mistakes
Confusing alius with alter: Alius means "another" (of many), while alter means "the other" (of two).
Using wrong genitive: The genitive singular is alīus for all genders, not *aliī or *aliae.
Forgetting neuter form: The neuter nominative/accusative is aliud, not *alium.
Misusing aliās: This adverb means "at another time," not "other things."
Comparison with English
Unlike English, which uses one word "other" for all situations, Latin distinguishes between:
alius: another (of many)
alter: the other (of two)
cēterī: the others, the rest
Step-by-Step Usage Guide
Identify what you're modifying: Is it masculine, feminine, or neuter?
Determine the case needed: What grammatical function does it serve?
Check for special constructions:
alius...alius = "one...another"
aliud...aliud = "one thing...another thing"
Remember the irregular genitive: Always alīus in singular
Common Expressions
aliī...aliī: some...others
aliud ex aliō: one thing after another
inter alia: among other things
aliā ex parte: from another point of view
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers learning conversational Latin, understanding alius requires appreciating Roman concepts of otherness and alternatives. Romans frequently used this word in philosophical discussions about identity and difference, legal contexts distinguishing between parties, and everyday conversation about choices and alternatives.
In Roman society, the distinction between "us" and "others" (aliī) was fundamental to their worldview. The phrase aliī...aliī appears constantly in historical texts describing different groups' actions, reflecting the Roman tendency to categorize and distinguish between different peoples, social classes, and opinions.
The expression aliud est dīcere, aliud facere (it's one thing to say, another to do) reveals Roman pragmatism and their awareness of the gap between words and actions. This remains a useful phrase for modern Latin conversation, especially in academic or philosophical discussions.
Romans also used alius in polite conversation to offer alternatives without being direct. Asking num aliud vīs? (do you want anything else?) was a standard hospitality phrase, showing consideration for guests' unstated needs.
The adverb aliās (at another time) reflects Roman temporal thinking, where postponement was often diplomatic. This word appears frequently in letters and informal conversation, allowing speakers to defer commitments gracefully.
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Part F (Literary Citation)
Source: Erasmus, Colloquia Familiaria, "De Rebus Ac Vocabulis" (adapted)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quid what igitur then aliud else restat remains nisi except ut that aliās at another time dē about hīs these things rēbus matters colloquāmur we may converse? Nam for aliud one thing est is nōsse to know vocābula words, aliud another rēctē correctly ūtī to use illīs them. Aliī some enim indeed multa many things sciunt know, sed but loquī to speak nōn not possunt are able.
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Quid igitur aliud restat nisi ut aliās dē hīs rēbus colloquāmur? Nam aliud est nōsse vocābula, aliud rēctē ūtī illīs. Aliī enim multa sciunt, sed loquī nōn possunt.
What else remains then except that we converse about these matters at another time? For it's one thing to know words, another to use them correctly. Some indeed know many things, but cannot speak.
Part F-C (Latin Text Only)
Quid igitur aliud restat nisi ut aliās dē hīs rēbus colloquāmur? Nam aliud est nōsse vocābula, aliud rēctē ūtī illīs. Aliī enim multa sciunt, sed loquī nōn possunt.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
This passage demonstrates three different uses of alius:
aliud (neuter accusative) - "what else"
aliās (adverb) - "at another time"
aliud...aliud - parallel construction "one thing...another"
aliī (masculine nominative plural) - "some people"
The passage uses aliud est...aliud to create a philosophical distinction between theoretical knowledge and practical application, a common theme in humanist education. The subjunctive colloquāmur follows ut in a result clause after quid aliud restat nisi.
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Genre Section: Scholastic Dialogue
Part A (Interleaved Text)
37.16 Discipulus Student: Magister teacher, cūr why aliī some hominēs people fēlīcēs happy sunt are, aliī others miserī miserable?
37.17 Magister Teacher: Alia different fortūna fortune cuique to each datur is given, mī my discipule student.
37.18 Discipulus Student: Sed but nōnne surely aliud another iter path ad to fēlīcitātem happiness est is?
37.19 Magister Teacher: Certē certainly, nam for aliī some per through virtūtem virtue eam it petunt seek, aliī others per through voluptātem pleasure.
37.20 Discipulus Student: Quod which aliud other cōnsilium advice mihī to me dās do you give?
37.21 Magister Teacher: Aliēnās others' rēs affairs nōlī do not cūrāre care for, tuās your own cūrā care for.
37.22 Discipulus Student: Aliī other magistrī teachers alia different things docent teach. Quem whom crēdam should I believe?
37.23 Magister Teacher: Omnēs all audī hear, sed but aliud one thing audīre to hear est is, aliud another intellegere to understand.
37.24 Discipulus Student: Aliās sometimes mē me paenitet it grieves quod that parum little studeō I study.
37.25 Magister Teacher: Aliud another tempus time studiīs for studies aptius more suitable nōn not inveniēs you will find.
37.26 Discipulus Student: Quid what sī if aliōs other librōs books legere to read mālim I should prefer?
37.27 Magister Teacher: Prīmum first hōs these perfice complete, deinde then aliōs others quaere seek.
37.28 Discipulus Student: Aliī other discipulī students iam already multum much prōfēcērunt have advanced.
37.29 Magister Teacher: Nōlī do not tē yourself cum with aliīs others comparāre compare, sed but tēcum with yourself ipsō self.
37.30 Discipulus Student: Grātiās thanks tibi to you agō I give. Aliud another colloquium conversation crās tomorrow habēbimus we will have?
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
37.16 Discipulus: Magister, cūr aliī hominēs fēlīcēs sunt, aliī miserī? Student: Teacher, why are some people happy, others miserable?
37.17 Magister: Alia fortūna cuique datur, mī discipule. Teacher: A different fortune is given to each person, my student.
37.18 Discipulus: Sed nōnne aliud iter ad fēlīcitātem est? Student: But surely there's another path to happiness?
37.19 Magister: Certē, nam aliī per virtūtem eam petunt, aliī per voluptātem. Teacher: Certainly, for some seek it through virtue, others through pleasure.
37.20 Discipulus: Quod aliud cōnsilium mihī dās? Student: What other advice do you give me?
37.21 Magister: Aliēnās rēs nōlī cūrāre, tuās cūrā. Teacher: Don't concern yourself with others' affairs, take care of your own.
37.22 Discipulus: Aliī magistrī alia docent. Quem crēdam? Student: Other teachers teach different things. Whom should I believe?
37.23 Magister: Omnēs audī, sed aliud audīre est, aliud intellegere. Teacher: Listen to all, but it's one thing to hear, another to understand.
37.24 Discipulus: Aliās mē paenitet quod parum studeō. Student: Sometimes I regret that I study too little.
37.25 Magister: Aliud tempus studiīs aptius nōn inveniēs. Teacher: You won't find another time more suitable for studies.
37.26 Discipulus: Quid sī aliōs librōs legere mālim? Student: What if I should prefer to read other books?
37.27 Magister: Prīmum hōs perfice, deinde aliōs quaere. Teacher: First complete these, then seek others.
37.28 Discipulus: Aliī discipulī iam multum prōfēcērunt. Student: Other students have already made much progress.
37.29 Magister: Nōlī tē cum aliīs comparāre, sed tēcum ipsō. Teacher: Don't compare yourself with others, but with yourself.
37.30 Discipulus: Grātiās tibi agō. Aliud colloquium crās habēbimus? Student: I thank you. Will we have another conversation tomorrow?
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
37.16 Discipulus: Magister, cūr aliī hominēs fēlīcēs sunt, aliī miserī?
37.17 Magister: Alia fortūna cuique datur, mī discipule.
37.18 Discipulus: Sed nōnne aliud iter ad fēlīcitātem est?
37.19 Magister: Certē, nam aliī per virtūtem eam petunt, aliī per voluptātem.
37.20 Discipulus: Quod aliud cōnsilium mihī dās?
37.21 Magister: Aliēnās rēs nōlī cūrāre, tuās cūrā.
37.22 Discipulus: Aliī magistrī alia docent. Quem crēdam?
37.23 Magister: Omnēs audī, sed aliud audīre est, aliud intellegere.
37.24 Discipulus: Aliās mē paenitet quod parum studeō.
37.25 Magister: Aliud tempus studiīs aptius nōn inveniēs.
37.26 Discipulus: Quid sī aliōs librōs legere mālim?
37.27 Magister: Prīmum hōs perfice, deinde aliōs quaere.
37.28 Discipulus: Aliī discipulī iam multum prōfēcērunt.
37.29 Magister: Nōlī tē cum aliīs comparāre, sed tēcum ipsō.
37.30 Discipulus: Grātiās tibi agō. Aliud colloquium crās habēbimus?
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Part D (Grammar Explanation for Scholastic Dialogue)
Special Uses of alius in Academic Discourse
1. Distributive Construction (aliī...aliī) Examples from dialogue:
37.16: "aliī hominēs fēlīcēs sunt, aliī miserī" (some people are happy, others miserable)
37.19: "aliī per virtūtem eam petunt, aliī per voluptātem" (some seek it through virtue, others through pleasure)
This construction divides a group into different categories, essential for philosophical distinctions.
2. Philosophical Contrast (aliud est...aliud) Example from 37.23: "aliud audīre est, aliud intellegere" (it's one thing to hear, another to understand)
This structure creates sharp conceptual distinctions, common in scholastic reasoning.
3. The Derivative aliēnus -a -um Example from 37.21: "Aliēnās rēs nōlī cūrāre" (Don't concern yourself with others' affairs)
Aliēnus (belonging to another) derives from alius and appears frequently in moral maxims.
4. Temporal Use of aliās Example from 37.24: "Aliās mē paenitet" (Sometimes I regret)
The adverb aliās can mean "at other times" or "sometimes," useful for expressing occasional states.
5. Questions with aliud Examples:
37.20: "Quod aliud cōnsilium mihī dās?" (What other advice do you give me?)
37.26: "Quid sī aliōs librōs legere mālim?" (What if I should prefer to read other books?)
Aliud in questions seeks alternatives or additional options.
Common Academic Phrases:
aliī alia sentiunt (different people think different things)
inter alia (among other things)
aliud agere (to do something else, be distracted)
aliō modō (in another way)
Subtle Distinctions:
alius = another (of many) - open-ended
alter = the other (of two) - binary choice
aliēnus = belonging to another - possession/relationship
aliās = at another time - temporal
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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. These lessons, curated by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), represent over 18 years of online language teaching innovation since 2006.
Each lesson in this series follows a carefully structured format:
Interleaved translation (Part A) provides word-by-word glossing for complete transparency
Natural Latin sentences (Parts B & C) demonstrate authentic word order and expression
Comprehensive grammar explanations (Part D) address common English-speaker challenges
Cultural context (Part E) illuminates Roman thought patterns and usage
Authentic literary examples (Part F) connect learners with real Latin texts
The method emphasizes:
Conversational patterns over abstract grammar rules
Variable word order reflecting actual Latin usage
Practical vocabulary for active communication
Cultural understanding essential for meaningful expression
These lessons particularly benefit:
Self-directed learners without access to traditional classes
Those seeking to activate passive Latin knowledge
Educators looking for conversation-focused materials
Anyone interested in Latin as a living language
The Latinum Institute has garnered positive reviews for its innovative approach to Latin pedagogy. For testimonials and reviews, see: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For additional resources and the complete methodology, visit:
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Through consistent engagement with these lessons, autodidacts can develop genuine conversational ability in Latin, joining a growing community of active Latin speakers worldwide.
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