Codex Magnus Linguae Latinae - Resources to learn Latin
Codex Magnus Linguae Latinae - Resources to learn Latin
WARNING! This Guide is not finished yet! the ultimate goal is for a fully comprehensive guide for latin, and we're far from that, currently!
If you have any recommendations and suggestions, comment them, please.
Salvete Omnes!
I want to share some sources for learning Latin, because in Anno Domini, there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing at least "Roma in Italia est" >:(
Tips
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When reading a word, don't think of the equivalent of it in your language; either imagine an image of it, or compose it out of smaller Latin words. So when you hear pluvia in latin, imagine rain, not the word itself.
pluvia -> rain -> 🌧️? non!
pluvia -> 🌧️ <- rain? sic!
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Patience. Latin takes a long time to learn, and for some it is easy if they are speaking a romance language, and harder for some if not. Take your time digesting information, even if it takes days to analyze a single page.
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Don't feel afraid to use Latin. Language proficiency requires reading and writing; write about your day in Latin, or translate something that you enjoy. If you can't find good Latin vocab to refer to modern concepts, it's fine to borrow something on the spot, or reuse some old word.
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You'll hear horror stories that say that "three is death", about the third declension and third conjugation. Don't pay too much attention to those stories; instead make sure that you have a good grasp on how nouns and verbs work, before hitting those two, then it's all about memorisation of a bunch of patterns.
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A very small tip, but might help: V in latin = U, they are the same. If you read PLVVIA or PLUUIA, it means Pluvia. However, the canonical pronounciation would be "plu-wia"
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A great list of tips: https://www.latin.org/resources/documents/latinspeakinghints.php
Text Books
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LLPSI: Familia Romana: By Hans Ørberg. the most famous textbook for Latin, and for good reason. This is the best book for a beginner to start with. Some other books that should be used in conjunction:
- LLPSI: Colloquia Personarum: Short stories to help you practice your learned latin.
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LLPSI: Roma Aeterna: ONLY READ THIS AFTER FAMILIA ROMANA!
- LLPSI: Roma Aeterna, Exercitia Latina Exercises for the book.
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Wheelock's Latin: Another good textbook, by Frederic Wheelock.
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A&G's New Latin Grammar: Very in depth, great book.
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Fabula Faciles: I highly recommend you donate/buy this.
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Guide to Latin Conversation: Has many useful words for basic conversation.
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Latim Basico: Textbook in Portuguese.
Practice Texts
- Winnie Ille Pu: Winnie the Poo, translated to Latin!
- Vulgate The bible in Latin
- Cicero's works (advanced): It may take you awhile to get to the verb.
- Perseus digital Library: A free digital library, composed of Latin AND greek works!
- Dickinson's Library: Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres!!!
Latin and English Dictionaries
Latin to English Dictionaries
- Whittaker's words: Warning, this is unsuitable for learning the meanings of words, due to the lack of context!
- Logeion
Media [optional]
Youtube
Mastodon
Misc
- Ephemeris Nuntii: A news site in Latin
- Quomodo Dicitur: A podcast in Latin
If you'd like a bigger list of resources, at courtesy of r/latin and the LLPSI discord, Here is the Thesaurus Anbrutalis!
Good luck with your studies!
This comment will be updated along with the guide, as a changelog.
Thanks to @lvxferre@mander.xyz, i've added the vulgate and a textbook in portuguese.
Portuguese speakers: here's a great free Latin 101 textbook.
Other tips for people starting out:
- Even if you aren't Christian (I'm not), the Vulgate is a good starting point to read stuff written in Latin, since it's written in a clear and streamlined language. Past that, I'd recommend Caesar.
- Cicero is messy, avoid it at the start. Catullus is fun but be aware that poetry has its own quirks.
- Don't feel afraid to use Latin. Language proficiency requires reading and writing; write about your day in Latin, or translate something that you enjoy. If you can't find good Latin vocab to refer to modern concepts, it's fine to borrow something on the spot, or reuse some old word.
- You'll hear horror stories that say that "three is death", about the third declension and third conjugation. Don't pay too much attention to those stories; instead make sure that you have a good grasp on how nouns and verbs work, before hitting those two, then it's all about memorisation of a bunch of patterns.
Added, thanks!
Hos canales de YouTube volo commendare (I want to recommend these YouTube channels)
-https://www.youtube.com/@SaturaLanx
Added, thanks!
Also check out this Mastodon account: https://archaeo.social/@Minimus
Thanks, i added it.
Consider taking up witchcraft and joining a coven. From what I've learned through movies, magic is done entirely in Latin.
Double-plus, you can teach your cleaning tools to levitate, so better for the environment than riding a car to work
Salve! Optimus index librorum de educatione tuus est, gratias tibi ago. Has commendationes dem:
Libri grammatici
Libri in lingua Latina
Dicere in lingua Latina
- Colloquia Familiara
- Quomodo Dicitur
- Stephen Wilby - Guide to Latin Conversation
- Hints/suggestions for beginning to speak Latin
Index verborum
Historia et libri scholastici
- Mary Beard Gifford Lecture
- Mary Beard - Risk and the Humanities
- Adrian Goldsworthy YouTube
- AWOL - Ancient World Online
- Sententiae Antiquae
Nuntii
Thanks, i've added most of these, these are all great resources! (the ones i didn't were mainly the scholars, since they were about rome, not latin :( )
Where is Wheelock
And Winnie Ille Pu