Iter longum est, et nos in oppidum festinamus.

to be

Breakdown of Iter longum est, et nos in oppidum festinamus.

• et: and
• oppidum: the town
• nos: we
• iter: the journey
• longus: long
• festinare: to hurry

Questions & Answers about Iter longum est, et nos in oppidum festinamus.

Why does the sentence use iter instead of another word for “travel” in Latin?

Iter is a common Latin noun meaning “journey” or “trip,” and it fits well when describing travel or a route. Other words like via (path/road) could appear in different contexts, but iter is frequently used when focusing on the actual journey itself.

What is the function of longum here?

Longum is an adjective meaning “long,” used in the nominative neuter singular to match iter, which is also neuter. Latin adjectives must agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case.

Is it necessary to include nos in the second clause?

Including nos is optional in classical Latin because the verb ending -mus on festinamus already shows that the subject is “we.” However, sometimes Latin authors use nos for emphasis or clarity, which is the case here.

Why do we say in oppidum instead of just ad oppidum?

Both in oppidum and ad oppidum can indicate heading toward or into a town. In oppidum more strongly suggests going or hurrying into the town (i.e., entering it), while ad oppidum would emphasize approaching to its vicinity. The nuance depends on the specific context the speaker intends.

Could you explain the ending of festinamus?

The verb festinare means “to hurry.” When conjugated in the first-person plural present active indicative, it becomes festinamus (we hurry). The -mus ending shows that “we” are performing the action in the present tense.

Why is there an et connecting the two parts of the sentence?

Et is the basic conjunction for “and” in Latin. It links the statement iter longum est with nos in oppidum festinamus to show these two ideas are happening together: the journey is long and we are hurrying to town.