Introduction
The Latin word animus (spirit, mind) is a fundamental concept in Roman thought and conversation. As a second declension masculine noun, it represents not just the thinking mind but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of human nature. In conversational Latin, this word appears frequently in discussions about feelings, intentions, courage, and mental states.
Definition: animus -ī m. refers to the rational soul, the mind as the seat of thought, feeling, and will. It encompasses consciousness, disposition, courage, spirit, and intention.
FAQ Schema
Question: What does animus mean in Latin?
Answer: Animus means "spirit" or "mind" in Latin. It refers to the seat of feeling and thought, encompassing both rational thinking and emotional states. The word can denote courage, intention, disposition, or the animating principle of life.
In this lesson, we'll explore how animus functions in conversational contexts, appearing in various positions within sentences to express mental states, emotions, and intentions. You'll encounter it in questions about feelings, statements about courage, and discussions of mental attitudes.
Educational Schema
Course: Conversational Latin for English Speakers
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Second Declension Nouns - Emotional and Mental Vocabulary
Focus: animus -ī m. (spirit, mind)
Skills: Reading, comprehension, conversational patterns
Key Takeaways:
animus is a 2nd declension masculine noun meaning "spirit/mind"
It expresses both rational thought and emotional states
Common in conversations about feelings, courage, and intentions
Often paired with adjectives describing mental states
Frequently appears in idiomatic expressions
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Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
40.1 Quālis what sort animus mind tibī to you hodiē today est is ?
40.2 Bonus good mihi to me animus spirit est is māne in the morning
40.3 Cūr why tam so trīstis sad animus mind tuus your vidētur seems ?
40.4 Nesciō I don't know quid what animum mind meum my turbat disturbs
40.5 Magnō with great animō spirit difficultātēs difficulties superat he overcomes
40.6 Num surely not animum courage perdidistī you have lost ?
40.7 Minimē not at all ! Fortis brave animus spirit mihi to me manet remains
40.8 Quandō when animus mind tuus your pācem peace invēnit finds ?
40.9 Cum when amīcīs with friends loquor I speak animus mind requiēscit rests
40.10 Aequō with calm animō mind omnia all things ferre to bear dēbēmus we ought
40.11 Animum mind advertis do you turn ad to haec these things ?
40.12 Certē certainly animum attention advertō I turn semper always
40.13 Quibus with what rēbus things animus spirit tuus your dēlectātur is delighted ?
40.14 Mūsicā by music et and poēsī poetry animus spirit meus my recreātur is refreshed
40.15 Bonō with good animō spirit es are you ergā towards mē me ?
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
40.1 Quālis animus tibī hodiē est? What sort of mood are you in today?
40.2 Bonus mihi animus est māne. I'm in good spirits in the morning.
40.3 Cūr tam trīstis animus tuus vidētur? Why does your mood seem so sad?
40.4 Nesciō quid animum meum turbat. I don't know what's troubling my mind.
40.5 Magnō animō difficultātēs superat. He overcomes difficulties with great courage.
40.6 Num animum perdidistī? Have you lost heart?
40.7 Minimē! Fortis animus mihi manet. Not at all! My brave spirit remains.
40.8 Quandō animus tuus pācem invēnit? When does your mind find peace?
40.9 Cum amīcīs loquor, animus requiēscit. When I speak with friends, my mind rests.
40.10 Aequō animō omnia ferre dēbēmus. We ought to bear all things with a calm mind.
40.11 Animum advertis ad haec? Are you paying attention to these things?
40.12 Certē animum advertō semper. Certainly I always pay attention.
40.13 Quibus rēbus animus tuus dēlectātur? What things delight your spirit?
40.14 Mūsicā et poēsī animus meus recreātur. My spirit is refreshed by music and poetry.
40.15 Bonō animō es ergā mē? Are you well-disposed towards me?
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
40.1 Quālis animus tibī hodiē est?
40.2 Bonus mihi animus est māne.
40.3 Cūr tam trīstis animus tuus vidētur?
40.4 Nesciō quid animum meum turbat.
40.5 Magnō animō difficultātēs superat.
40.6 Num animum perdidistī?
40.7 Minimē! Fortis animus mihi manet.
40.8 Quandō animus tuus pācem invēnit?
40.9 Cum amīcīs loquor, animus requiēscit.
40.10 Aequō animō omnia ferre dēbēmus.
40.11 Animum advertis ad haec?
40.12 Certē animum advertō semper.
40.13 Quibus rēbus animus tuus dēlectātur?
40.14 Mūsicā et poēsī animus meus recreātur.
40.15 Bonō animō es ergā mē?
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
Grammar Rules for animus -ī m.
animus follows the second declension pattern for masculine nouns ending in -us:
Declension of animus:
Nominative: animus (subject) - "the mind/spirit"
Genitive: animī (possession) - "of the mind/spirit"
Dative: animō (indirect object) - "to/for the mind/spirit"
Accusative: animum (direct object) - "the mind/spirit"
Ablative: animō (various uses) - "by/with/from the mind/spirit"
Vocative: anime (direct address) - "O mind/spirit!"
Plural forms:
Nominative: animī - "minds/spirits"
Genitive: animōrum - "of minds/spirits"
Dative: animīs - "to/for minds/spirits"
Accusative: animōs - "minds/spirits"
Ablative: animīs - "by/with/from minds/spirits"
Vocative: animī - "O minds/spirits!"
Common Mistakes:
Confusing animus with anima: While both relate to "soul," animus refers to the rational mind/spirit, while anima means "breath/life/soul" in a more physical sense.
Ablative usage: Students often forget that "animō" can mean both "with spirit/mind" (ablative of manner) and "in spirit/mind" (ablative of respect).
Idiomatic expressions: The phrase "animum advertere" (to pay attention) requires the accusative, not nominative.
Gender confusion: Despite ending in -us, some students mistakenly treat it as neuter because of its abstract meaning.
Comparison with English:
Unlike English, which uses separate words for "mind," "spirit," "mood," and "courage," Latin's animus encompasses all these meanings. Context determines the best English translation:
Mental faculty: "mind"
Emotional state: "mood/feelings"
Courage: "spirit/heart"
Intention: "purpose/will"
Step-by-Step Guide for Using animus:
Identify the case needed:
Subject of verb → Nominative (animus)
Direct object → Accusative (animum)
Showing manner/means → Ablative (animō)
Consider idiomatic uses:
aequō animō = "with equanimity"
magnō animō = "courageously"
bonō animō esse = "to be well-disposed"
Match with appropriate verbs:
With esse: describes state of mind
With habēre: to have a certain disposition
With advertere: to pay attention
Grammatical Summary:
animus -ī m. is a regular 2nd declension masculine noun. Key ablative uses include:
Manner: magnō animō (with great spirit)
Respect: animō aeger (sick in mind)
Description: vir fortī animō (a man of brave spirit)
The word frequently appears with adjectives describing mental/emotional states and in conversational exchanges about feelings and attitudes.
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For Romans, animus represented a crucial concept in their understanding of human nature and social interaction. Unlike modern Western distinctions between mind and emotion, Romans saw animus as an integrated faculty combining thought, will, and feeling.
In daily conversation, asking about someone's animus was equivalent to inquiring about their mood, health, and general well-being. The phrase "Quō animō es?" served as both a greeting and genuine concern for another's state of mind.
Roman philosophy, particularly Stoicism, emphasized maintaining an "aequus animus" (balanced mind) regardless of external circumstances. This ideal permeated everyday speech, with phrases like "aequō animō ferre" (to bear with equanimity) becoming conversational commonplaces.
The concept also had gendered associations. While both men and women possessed animus, masculine virtues like courage (fortis animus) and resolution (firmus animus) were particularly associated with this term. The related word anima, by contrast, often had more feminine associations.
In social contexts, displaying the right animus was crucial. Too much emotion showed lack of self-control, while too little suggested coldness or disinterest. Romans valued those who could maintain "bonus animus" (good spirits) even in adversity.
The military context gave animus special significance. Commanders needed to gauge their soldiers' animus before battle, and maintaining high animus was essential for victory. Phrases like "animum addere" (to give courage) and "animos confirmare" (to strengthen spirits) were common in military speeches.
Modern romance languages preserve this concept: Spanish "ánimo," Italian "animo," and French "état d'âme" all derive from Latin animus, showing how central this concept remains to Mediterranean emotional expression.
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Part F (Literary Citation)
From the Colloquia Scholica (Medieval School Dialogues), a conversational text used for teaching Latin:
"Quō animō hodiē surgis? Optimō quidem animō surgō, nam crās fēriae erunt. Sed magister noster īrātō animō esse vidētur. Nōlī animum dēmittere! Fortasse benignō animō erit sī studia nostra bene fēcerimus. Rēctē dīcis. Aequō animō labōrēmus."
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quō with what animō spirit hodiē today surgis do you rise ? Optimō with best quidem indeed animō spirit surgō I rise , nam for crās tomorrow fēriae holidays erunt will be . Sed but magister teacher noster our īrātō with angry animō spirit esse to be vidētur seems . Nōlī do not animum spirit dēmittere let fall ! Fortasse perhaps benignō with kind animō spirit erit he will be sī if studia studies nostra our bene well fēcerimus we have done . Rēctē rightly dīcis you speak . Aequō with calm animō spirit labōrēmus let us work .
Part F-B (Complete Text with Translation)
Quō animō hodiē surgis? Optimō quidem animō surgō, nam crās fēriae erunt. Sed magister noster īrātō animō esse vidētur. Nōlī animum dēmittere! Fortasse benignō animō erit sī studia nostra bene fēcerimus. Rēctē dīcis. Aequō animō labōrēmus.
In what mood do you rise today? I rise in excellent spirits indeed, for tomorrow will be holidays. But our teacher seems to be in an angry mood. Don't lose heart! Perhaps he'll be in a kind mood if we've done our studies well. You speak correctly. Let us work with calm spirits.
Part F-C (Latin Text Only)
Quō animō hodiē surgis? Optimō quidem animō surgō, nam crās fēriae erunt. Sed magister noster īrātō animō esse vidētur. Nōlī animum dēmittere! Fortasse benignō animō erit sī studia nostra bene fēcerimus. Rēctē dīcis. Aequō animō labōrēmus.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
This dialogue showcases multiple uses of animus:
Ablative of manner: "quō animō" (in what mood), "optimō animō" (in best spirits), "īrātō animō" (in angry mood), "benignō animō" (in kind mood), "aequō animō" (with calm mind)
Accusative with verb: "animum dēmittere" (to lose heart/let spirits fall) - idiomatic expression
Question formation: "Quō animō...?" demonstrates interrogative adjective with ablative
Indirect statement: "īrātō animō esse vidētur" (seems to be in an angry mood) shows infinitive with vidētur
Future more vivid condition: "benignō animō erit sī...fēcerimus" (he will be kind if we have done...)
Hortatory subjunctive: "labōrēmus" (let us work) encouraging joint action
The passage illustrates natural conversational flow with varied ablative uses of animus expressing different emotional states, typical of school dialogues where students discuss their daily experiences and concerns.
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Genre Section: Philosophical Dialogue on the Nature of Mind
Part A (Interleaved Text)
40.16 Quid what est is animus mind secundum according to tē you , amīce friend ?
40.17 Animus mind est is facultās faculty quā by which cōgitāmus we think et and sentīmus feel
40.18 Sed but ubī where animus mind noster our habitat dwells ?
40.19 Aliī some dīcunt say in in corde heart animum mind esse to be , aliī others in in capite head
40.20 Possuntne can animī minds nostrī our sine without corpore body vīvere live ?
40.21 Philosophī philosophers dē about hāc this rē matter disputant debate iam already multōs many annōs years
40.22 Crēdō I believe animum mind immortālem immortal esse to be et and post after mortem death permanēre to remain
40.23 Quōmodo how animus mind tuus your cum with animō mind meō my commūnicat communicates ?
40.24 Per through verba words et and gestūs gestures animī minds nostrī our sē themselves intellegunt understand
40.25 Estne is there differentia difference inter between animum mind et and animam soul ?
40.26 Quīdam certain people putant think animam soul vītam life dare to give , animum mind autem however ratiōnem reason
40.27 Cūr why interdum sometimes animus mind corpori body resistit resists ?
40.28 Quia because animus mind sapientiā with wisdom quod what bonum good est is videt sees , corpus body voluptātem pleasure sequitur follows
40.29 Potestne can animus mind sē itself ipsum itself cognōscere know ?
40.30 Haec this est is difficillima most difficult quaestiō question :: quōmodo how animus mind dē about animō mind cōgitat thinks ?
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
40.16 Quid est animus secundum tē, amīce? What is the mind according to you, friend?
40.17 Animus est facultās quā cōgitāmus et sentīmus. The mind is the faculty by which we think and feel.
40.18 Sed ubī animus noster habitat? But where does our mind dwell?
40.19 Aliī dīcunt in corde animum esse, aliī in capite. Some say the mind is in the heart, others in the head.
40.20 Possuntne animī nostrī sine corpore vīvere? Can our minds live without the body?
40.21 Philosophī dē hāc rē disputant iam multōs annōs. Philosophers have been debating this matter for many years already.
40.22 Crēdō animum immortālem esse et post mortem permanēre. I believe the mind is immortal and remains after death.
40.23 Quōmodo animus tuus cum animō meō commūnicat? How does your mind communicate with my mind?
40.24 Per verba et gestūs animī nostrī sē intellegunt. Through words and gestures our minds understand each other.
40.25 Estne differentia inter animum et animam? Is there a difference between mind and soul?
40.26 Quīdam putant animam vītam dare, animum autem ratiōnem. Some think the soul gives life, but the mind gives reason.
40.27 Cūr interdum animus corpori resistit? Why does the mind sometimes resist the body?
40.28 Quia animus sapientiā quod bonum est videt, corpus voluptātem sequitur. Because the mind sees with wisdom what is good, while the body follows pleasure.
40.29 Potestne animus sē ipsum cognōscere? Can the mind know itself?
40.30 Haec est difficillima quaestiō: quōmodo animus dē animō cōgitat? This is the most difficult question: how does mind think about mind?
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
40.16 Quid est animus secundum tē, amīce?
40.17 Animus est facultās quā cōgitāmus et sentīmus.
40.18 Sed ubī animus noster habitat?
40.19 Aliī dīcunt in corde animum esse, aliī in capite.
40.20 Possuntne animī nostrī sine corpore vīvere?
40.21 Philosophī dē hāc rē disputant iam multōs annōs.
40.22 Crēdō animum immortālem esse et post mortem permanēre.
40.23 Quōmodo animus tuus cum animō meō commūnicat?
40.24 Per verba et gestūs animī nostrī sē intellegunt.
40.25 Estne differentia inter animum et animam?
40.26 Quīdam putant animam vītam dare, animum autem ratiōnem.
40.27 Cūr interdum animus corpori resistit?
40.28 Quia animus sapientiā quod bonum est videt, corpus voluptātem sequitur.
40.29 Potestne animus sē ipsum cognōscere?
40.30 Haec est difficillima quaestiō: quōmodo animus dē animō cōgitat?
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Part D (Grammar Explanation for Philosophical Dialogue)
Special Constructions in Philosophical Latin:
Indirect Questions:
"ubī animus noster habitat" (where our mind dwells)
"quōmodo animus dē animō cōgitat" (how mind thinks about mind) These use indicative mood in conversational style, though classical Latin might prefer subjunctive.
Philosophical Infinitives:
"animum immortālem esse" (that the mind is immortal) - accusative + infinitive in indirect statement
"animam vītam dare" (that the soul gives life) - subject accusative with infinitive after putant
Instrumental Ablative:
"quā cōgitāmus" (by which we think) - ablative of means with relative pronoun
"sapientiā videt" (sees with wisdom) - ablative of manner/means
Reflexive Constructions:
"sē intellegunt" (understand each other/themselves)
"sē ipsum cognōscere" (to know itself) - intensive reflexive with ipsum
Comparative Structures:
"inter animum et animam" (between mind and soul) - inter + accusative for comparison
"aliī...aliī" (some...others) - distributive use of alius
Common Philosophical Terms:
facultās - ability, faculty (1st declension feminine)
differentia - difference (1st declension feminine)
quaestiō - question, inquiry (3rd declension feminine)
ratiō - reason, method (3rd declension feminine)
Sentence Patterns for Abstract Discussion:
Definition: "X est Y" (X is Y)
Location: "ubī X habitat/est" (where X dwells/is)
Possibility: "potestne X..." (can X...)
Causation: "quia/quod..." (because...)
Comparison: "inter X et Y" (between X and Y)
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About This Course
The Latinum Institute's Conversational Latin course represents a unique approach to learning Latin as a living language. These lessons, curated by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), combine traditional philological rigor with modern communicative methods.
Since 2006, Evan der Millner has been pioneering online Latin education, creating materials that help autodidacts master Latin through natural, conversational patterns rather than mere grammatical analysis. The course draws from authentic Latin sources including medieval colloquia, Renaissance dialogues, and classical texts adapted for conversational use.
Each lesson follows a structured approach:
Interleaved translation (Part A) allows beginners to see exact word correspondences
Natural sentences (Parts B & C) present Latin as Romans actually used it
Grammar explanations (Part D) clarify usage for English speakers
Cultural context (Part E) illuminates the Roman worldview
Authentic texts (Part F) connect learners with real Latin literature
The method emphasizes:
High-frequency vocabulary in natural contexts
Varied word order reflecting actual Latin usage
Conversational patterns for active use
Cultural understanding alongside linguistic competence
Students report that this approach helps them read Latin texts more naturally and even think in Latin, rather than constantly translating. The course has received positive reviews on Trustpilot: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For more information about the method and additional resources, visit:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/method
https://latinum.org.uk
The Latinum Institute continues to expand its offerings, making Latin accessible to learners worldwide through innovative digital approaches while maintaining the highest standards of classical scholarship.
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