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In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus.

In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus.
At dinner we have fish and a little meat.

Breakdown of In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus.

et
and
nos
we
parvus
little
habere
to have
cena
the dinner
in
at
piscis
the fish
caro
the meat
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Questions & Answers about In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus.

Why is it in cena and not something like “ad cenam”? What case is cena in here?

In cena uses in + ablative, and cena is in the ablative singular.

Latin in has two main patterns:

  • in + accusative = motion into / onto something
    • in cenam = “into the dinner” (you almost never say this)
  • in + ablative = location / time “in, on, at, during”
    • in cena = “at dinner / during dinner”

So in cena literally means “at (the time of) dinner” or “during dinner”. English often translates that naturally as “for dinner”:
In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus. = “For dinner we have fish and a little meat.”

Why do piscem and carnem both end in -em? What case are these words?

Both piscem and carnem are in the accusative singular.

They are the direct objects of the verb habemus (“we have”):

  • piscem = fish (as a direct object)
  • carnem = meat (as a direct object)

In the 3rd declension, many nouns form the accusative singular with -em:

  • piscis → accusative piscem
  • caro → accusative carnem

So the pattern is: > Subject (we) + verb (have) + direct objects (fish and meat).

That’s why both words are in the accusative.

Why is there no word for “a” or “the” in this Latin sentence?

Latin has no separate words for “a / an / the” (articles). These ideas are usually understood from context.

So:

  • piscem can mean “fish”, “a fish”, or “the fish”
  • carnem parvam can mean “a little meat”, “some small meat”, or “the small piece of meat”

We choose the most natural English version depending on the situation.
Here, English “For dinner we have fish and a little meat” or “some meat” sounds most natural, so that’s how we translate it, even though Latin doesn’t mark “a/the” explicitly.

What does carnem parvam literally mean? Why does Latin use the singular for “meat”?

Literally, carnem parvam means “small meat” or “a small meat”, but idiomatically it’s:

  • “a small amount of meat”
  • “a little meat”
  • “a small piece of meat” (depending on context)

Latin often uses a singular noun for things that English treats as mass nouns (“meat,” “water,” “wine,” etc.). The idea of “some / a bit of” is supplied by context or by an adjective like parvam (“small”).

So carnem parvam habemus = “we have a little meat” or “we have some meat,” not “one meat.”

Why does the adjective parvam come after carnem instead of before it? Could we say parvam carnem?

Latin adjectives usually agree with their noun in gender, number, and case, but their position (before or after) is quite flexible.

  • carnem parvam = “small meat / a small amount of meat”
  • parvam carnem = also “small meat / a small amount of meat”

Both are grammatically correct. Latin often puts adjectives after the noun, but both orders occur. The difference is usually about style or emphasis, not basic meaning.

Here:

  • carnem parvam = somewhat neutral, common order
  • parvam carnem could slightly emphasize parvam (“a small meat, not a large one”), but the contrast is subtle in a simple sentence like this.

So yes, parvam carnem is possible too.

Does parvam describe both piscem and carnem, or only carnem?

In this sentence, parvam describes only carnem.

Reason: adjectives in Latin must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case:

  • piscem = accusative singular masculine (from piscis, piscis, m.)
  • carnem = accusative singular feminine (from caro, carnis, f.)
  • parvam = accusative singular feminine

So parvam can only agree with carnem, not with piscem (wrong gender).

If you wanted both to be described as “small,” you’d have to repeat the adjective or phrase it differently, for example:

  • piscem parvum et carnem parvam habemus
    “We have a small fish and a small piece of meat.”
What exactly does habemus mean, and how is it formed?

Habemus means “we have.”

It’s the 1st person plural, present tense, active, indicative of habeo, habēre (“to have”):

  • ego habeo = I have
  • tu habes = you (sing.) have
  • is / ea / id habet = he / she / it has
  • nos habemus = we have
  • vos habetis = you (pl.) have
  • ii / eae / ea habent = they have

Latin doesn’t have a special continuous form like English “are having,” so habemus can cover both:

  • “we have”
  • sometimes, in context, “we are having” (as in “we are having fish for dinner”)
Why is there no word for “we” in the Latin sentence?

Latin can omit subject pronouns (I, you, he, we, etc.) because the verb ending shows who the subject is.

  • habemus ends in -mus, which marks 1st person plural = “we.”

So:

  • habemus alone = “we have”
  • adding nos (we) is usually only for emphasis:
    nos habemus = “we have (it),” maybe in contrast to someone else.

That’s why the subject “we” isn’t written; it’s built into the verb habemus.

Could in cena also be translated “for dinner”? Isn’t it literally “in/at dinner”?

Literally, in cena means “in/at (the time of) dinner” or “during dinner.”

However, in natural English we commonly say:

  • “For dinner we have fish and a little meat.”

So translations:

  • Very literal: “At dinner we have fish and a little meat.”
  • More idiomatic: “For dinner we have fish and a little meat.”

Both are valid translations of In cena piscem et carnem parvam habemus; the literal preposition “in” becomes “for” in English just to sound more natural.

How do you pronounce cena, piscem, carnem, and habemus in Classical Latin?

In reconstructed Classical pronunciation:

  • cena (cēna) = /ˈkeː.na/
    • like KAY-nah (hard k sound, not “see-na”)
  • piscem = /ˈpis.kem/
    • roughly PISS-kem
  • carnem = /ˈkar.nem/
    • roughly KAR-nem (with a rolled or tapped r)
  • habemus = /haˈbeː.mus/
    • roughly hah-BAY-moos

Key points:

  • c is always hard before e, i in Classical Latin (so ce = ke, ci = ki).
  • Long ē (as in cēna, habēmus) is held a bit longer.
What are the dictionary forms and genders of cena, piscem, and carnem?

Here are the dictionary forms and basic information:

  • cena

    • Dictionary form: cēna, cēnae, f.
    • Meaning: dinner, main meal
    • Declension: 1st declension
    • Gender: feminine

  • piscem

    • Dictionary form: piscis, piscis, m.
    • Meaning: fish
    • Declension: 3rd declension
    • Gender: masculine
    • piscem is the accusative singular

  • carnem

    • Dictionary form: caro, carnis, f.
    • Meaning: flesh, meat
    • Declension: 3rd declension
    • Gender: feminine
    • carnem is the accusative singular

Knowing these dictionary forms helps you recognize why piscem and carnem use -em for the accusative singular, and why parvam must be feminine to agree with carnem.