Questions & Answers about Vox discipuli clara est.
What does each Latin word in Vox discipuli clara est mean, and what are their dictionary forms?
- vox – “voice”
- Dictionary form: vox, vocis (f.) – “voice”
- discipuli – “of the student” (or “of the disciple”; see below on case)
- Dictionary form: discipulus, discipuli (m.) – “student, disciple”
- clara – “clear”
- Dictionary form: clarus, clara, clarum – “clear, bright, famous”
- est – “is”
- Dictionary form: sum, esse – “to be”
So the sentence means: “The voice of the student is clear.”
Why doesn’t the Latin sentence use a word for “the” like in English?
Latin normally has no separate words for “the” or “a/an.”
- vox can mean “voice,” “the voice,” or “a voice,” depending on context.
- The same is true for any noun: Latin leaves it to context to decide whether you should translate with “the” or “a/an.”
So vox discipuli clara est is best translated, from context, as “The student’s voice is clear.”
What grammatical role (case) does each noun have in this sentence?
- vox – nominative singular (subject of the sentence)