Nuntius imperatori verbum novum dicit.

Because imperatori is in the dative case, which is commonly used for the indirect object in Latin.

In this sentence:

• verbum novum = the thing being said, so it is the direct object
• imperatori = the person to whom it is said, so it is the indirect object

With dico, Latin often uses:

• accusative for the thing said
• dative for the person spoken to

So Nuntius imperatori verbum novum dicit means: The messenger says a new word to the commander/emperor.

Here is the grammatical role of each word:

• Nuntius: nominative singular

  • subject
  • the messenger

• imperatori: dative singular

  • indirect object
  • to the commander/emperor

• verbum: accusative singular

  • direct object
  • word

• novum: accusative singular neuter

  • adjective modifying verbum

• dicit: verb

  • he/she/it says

So the basic structure is:

subject + indirect object + direct object + verb

Because novum has to agree with verbum.

In Latin, adjectives agree with the nouns they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• verbum is neuter
• singular
• accusative

So the adjective must also be:

• neuter
• singular
• accusative

That is why we get novum:
verbum novum = a new word

Yes, it could come before it.

Latin word order is much freer than English word order because the endings show the grammatical function. So both of these are possible:

• verbum novum
• novum verbum

Both mean a new word.

The choice can depend on style, emphasis, or author preference. A learner should not assume that adjective position changes the basic meaning in a simple sentence like this.

Because Latin often places the verb near or at the end of the sentence.

That is a very common Latin pattern, although not a strict rule. Latin can move words around more freely than English because case endings carry much of the grammar.

So:

• Nuntius imperatori verbum novum dicit
• Nuntius dicit verbum novum imperatori
• Imperatori nuntius verbum novum dicit

can all be grammatical, though they may differ slightly in emphasis.

Ending with the verb is especially common in straightforward prose.

We know because nuntius is in the nominative case, which is the usual case for the subject of a finite verb.

Also, the verb dicit is third person singular, so it matches a singular subject such as nuntius.

So nuntius is the one doing the action: the messenger says...

It can mean either, depending on context.

Originally, imperator means something like commander or general. In later Roman usage it can also mean emperor.

So imperatori could mean:

• to the commander
• to the general
• to the emperor

Without more context, more than one translation may be possible.

Because Latin does not have definite or indefinite articles like English.

English distinguishes:

• a messenger
• the messenger

Latin usually does not. So nuntius can mean:

• a messenger
• the messenger

The same is true for verbum novum:

• a new word
• the new word

Context tells you which is more natural.

Yes. That is very normal.

In this sentence:

• verbum novum is the direct object: the thing said
• imperatori is the indirect object: the person addressed

This is similar to English:

• The messenger says a new word to the commander

Latin often uses dico + accusative of thing + dative of person.

Dicit is:

• present tense
• active voice
• indicative mood
• third person singular

So it means:

• he says
• she says
• it says

Since the subject is nuntius, the natural translation is the messenger says.

It comes from the verb dico, dicere, meaning to say or to speak.

Yes. Latin often omits the subject pronoun or even the explicit subject when it is clear from context.

Since dicit already means he/she/it says, a sentence like:

Imperatori verbum novum dicit

could still mean: He/she says a new word to the commander

However, when nuntius is included, it makes the subject explicit: The messenger says a new word to the commander.