Multi dicunt nomen meum altum esse, sed ego sum discipulus laetus.

(Many say my name is lofty, but I am a happy student.)

Breakdown of Multi dicunt nomen meum altum esse, sed ego sum discipulus laetus.

• ego: I
• esse: to be
• laetus: happy
• discipulus: the student
• sed: but
• multus: many
• nomen: the name
• dicere: to say
• meus: my
• altus: lofty

Questions & Answers about Multi dicunt nomen meum altum esse, sed ego sum discipulus laetus.

Why is dicunt used here instead of a singular verb form?

Dicunt is third-person plural, meaning “they say.” The sentence begins with Multi dicunt, literally “many [people] say,” which requires the plural form of the verb.

What is the function of nomen meum altum esse in this sentence?

This is an example of indirect speech (or an indirect statement) introduced by dicunt. In Latin, indirect statements normally use an infinitive (here, esse) with the subject in the accusative (here, nomen meum). So literally it’s “they say (that) my name is lofty/high.”

Why is nomen in the accusative when it’s the subject of esse?

In Latin indirect statements, the subject of the infinitive is in the accusative case (since it’s embedded in a construction governed by dicunt). Even though it translates as the subject of “is” in English, it must be accusative in the Latin syntax.

Why does meum agree with nomen and not something else?

Meum is a possessive adjective modifying nomen, meaning “my name.” It must match nomen in case (accusative), gender (neuter, since nomen is neuter), and number (singular).

What does altum mean and why is it used here?

Altum means “high” or “lofty.” It is used as the predicate adjective describing nomen meum (my name) within the indirect statement.

Why is sum discipulus laetus in the present tense?

Sum discipulus laetus is a simple statement in the present indicative meaning “I am a happy student.” It indicates a current, ongoing fact: “I am (right now) a happy student.”

How does ego function in the phrase sed ego sum discipulus laetus?

Ego (“I”) is the explicit subject pronoun. In Latin, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb form can show who the speaker is. However, ego is used here to place special emphasis on “I,” contrasting with Multi earlier in the sentence.