Usages of cum
Cum puer aegrotus erat, medica cum eo manebat tota hora.
When the boy was sick, the female doctor stayed with him for a whole hour.
Cum magistra in schola docet, discipuli tacent.
When the (female) teacher teaches in the school, the students are silent.
Cum magister tacet, discipuli veritatem facilius audiunt.
When the teacher is silent, the students hear the truth more easily.
Cum ianitor nomen viatoris audivisset, portam aperuit et eum intrare iussit.
When the doorkeeper had heard the traveler’s name, he opened the gate and ordered him to enter.
Cum tabellarius ad villam veniret, servus eum celeriter in atrium duxit.
When the letter-carrier was coming to the villa, a servant quickly led him into the atrium.
Cum pluvia desiit, uxor et maritus ad villam redierunt.
When the rain stopped, the wife and the husband returned to the villa.
Cum aestas venisset, parentes pueros ad litus duxerunt, et pueri in arena diu luserunt.
When summer had come, the parents led the boys to the shore, and the boys played on the sand for a long time.
Cum calor magnus esset, nos sub umbra arborum sedebamus et aquam bibebamus.
When the heat was great, we were sitting under the shade of the trees and drinking water.
Cum autumnus venisset, puella per campum ambulavit et multa folia in terra vidit.
When autumn had come, the girl walked through the field and saw many leaves on the ground.
Cum parentes domum rediissent, mater de monte et valle fabulam narravit.
When the parents had returned home, mother told a story about a mountain and a valley.
Avus dicit puerum cautum esse debere, cum per scalas descendat.
Grandfather says that the boy ought to be careful when he goes down the stairs.
Cum ad villam pervenissent, puella et mater negaverunt iter difficile fuisse, quia vicus rectus erat.
When they had reached the house, the girl and her mother denied that the journey had been difficult, because the street was straight.
Mater puerum monet ut cautus sit, cum viam transeat.
Mother warns the boy to be careful when he crosses the road.
Ego autem puto difficillimum esse verbum novum sine mendo describere, cum manus et mens satis quietae non sunt.
I, however, think that it is most difficult to copy a new word without a mistake, when the hand and mind are not calm enough.
Discipuli gaudent, cum finis horae venit et initium prandii iam prope est.
The students rejoice when the end of the hour comes and the beginning of lunch is already near.
Cum sacerdos coronam deae obtulerit, omnes quieti stabunt.
When the priestess has offered a garland to the goddess, everyone will stand quietly.
Cum sol occiderit, convivae in atrio sedebunt et convivium incipient.
When the sun has set, the guests will sit in the atrium and begin the feast.
Cum convivium finitum erit, puellae mensam ornatam spectabunt et cantabunt.
When the feast has ended, the girls will look at the decorated table and sing.
Cum omnia munera recepta erunt, mater omnes convivas ad mensam vocabit.
When all the gifts have been received, mother will call all the guests to the table.
Cum sol occidit, mater lucernam accendit.
When the sun sets, mother lights the lamp.
Cum uvae maturae erunt, puellae ad colligendas uvas in vineam venient.
When the grapes are ripe, the girls will come into the vineyard to gather grapes.
Cum tectum et fenestra refecta erunt, nullae stillae per rimam cadent.
When the roof and the window have been repaired, no drops will fall through the crack.
Cum meridies venit, servi sub umbra sedent et aquam bibunt.
When midday comes, the servants sit in the shade and drink water.
Cum aurora venit, mater prima surgit et aquam calidam parat.
When dawn comes, mother gets up first and prepares warm water.
Cum cena parata erit, omnes dicent holera, pira, et ficus in hoc macello recentissima esse.
When dinner has been prepared, everyone will say that the vegetables, pears, and figs in this market are the freshest.
Cum studium et disciplina simul manent, pueri celerius discunt.
When eagerness and discipline remain together, boys learn more quickly.
Cum pater e taberna egressus est, matri panem recentem ostendit.
When father went out of the shop, he showed fresh bread to mother.
Cur tam diu ante ianuam moramini, cum cena iam parata sit?
Why are you lingering so long before the door, when dinner is already ready?
Cum convivium finitum erit, convivae lente domum revertentur.
When the feast has finished, the guests will slowly return home.
Cum sol occiderit, anates ad paludem redibunt, gallus tacebit, et omnes in stabulo quieti erunt.
When the sun has set, the ducks will return to the marsh, the rooster will be silent, and all will be quiet in the stable.
Cum sol occiderit, convivae lente discedent.
When the sun has set, the guests will go away slowly.
Cum hiems venit, vaccis fenum damus, et palea quoque in stabulo manet.
When winter comes, we give hay to the cows, and straw also remains in the stable.
Cum pater iratus est, avia tamen cum patientia respondet.
When father is angry, grandmother nevertheless answers with patience.
Cum tonitrus auditur, infans flens matrem quaerit.
When thunder is heard, the crying baby looks for mother.
Cum tonitrus auditur, canis sub lecto iacet.
When thunder is heard, the dog lies under the bed.
Cum tempestas navibus noceret, nautae aliis nautis succurrebant.
When the storm was harming the ships, the sailors were helping the other sailors.
Pater adest et ianuam aperit, cum serva ianuam pulsat.
Father is here and opens the door when the maid knocks on the door.
Cum pater abest, avia pueris adest et cenam parat.
When father is away, grandmother is there for the children and prepares dinner.
Turba forum complet, cum regina ad templum ambulat.
The crowd fills the forum when the queen walks to the temple.
Cum sol oritur, lumen per fenestram in cubiculum intrat.
When the sun rises, light enters the bedroom through the window.
Cum sol oritur, aves in horto cantant.
When the sun rises, birds sing in the garden.
Puer peius scribit, cum festinat; soror autem minus cito scribit et rarius errat.
The boy writes worse when he hurries; his sister, however, writes less quickly and makes mistakes more rarely.
Cum sol occiderit, convivae in atrio convenient et convivium incipient.
When the sun has set, the guests will gather in the atrium and begin the feast.
Mater dicit stultitiam saepe venire, cum nimis festinamus.
Mother says that foolishness often comes when we hurry too much.
Pietas filiae clara est, cum aviam aegrotam quiete curat.
The daughter’s devotion is clear when she quietly cares for her sick grandmother.
Cum magistra ad villam venisset, puella celeriter chartas plicavit et de mensa sustulit.
When the teacher had come to the house, the girl quickly folded the papers and took them from the table.
Mater in vestibulo stat et ostium aperit, cum hospes mane pulsat.
Mother stands in the entrance hall and opens the door when a guest knocks in the morning.
Cum ventus crescat, gubernator clamat: “Remi parentur; velum firmum maneat.”
When the wind grows stronger, the helmsman shouts: “Let the oars be prepared; let the sail remain steady.”
Cum pluvia tandem desierit, exeamus e porticu et per vicum ad domum revertamur.
When the rain has finally stopped, let us go out from the portico and return home through the street.
Cum librum e scrinio evolvit, discipula prooemium primum legit et deinde ad argumentum redit.
When the female student unrolls the book from the case, she reads the preface first and then returns to the subject.
Puella librum non in mensa, sed in scrinio relinquit, quia bibliotheca quietior est cum omnia ordine servantur.
The girl leaves the book not on the table, but in the case, because the library is quieter when everything is kept in order.
Cum consul decretum senatui recitaret, quidam cives suffragium statim ferri volebant.
When the consul was reading the decree to the senate, some citizens wanted the vote to be taken at once.
Cum consul e curia exiret, turba ante rostra breve tempus tacuit; deinde iterum clamavit.
When the consul was leaving the senate-house, the crowd before the rostra was silent for a short time; then it shouted again.
Cum fuga hostium inciperet, milites agros et vias diligenter explorabant.
When the enemies’ retreat was beginning, the soldiers were carefully scouting the fields and roads.
Magistra addit prudentem ducem non solum procedere scire, sed etiam recedere, cum necesse sit.
The teacher adds that a wise general knows not only how to advance, but also how to retreat when it is necessary.
Cum sol oritur, milites e castris procedunt.
When the sun rises, the soldiers go out from the camp.
Cum tonitrus auditur, mater infantem flentem suscipit.
When thunder is heard, mother takes up the crying baby.
Cum omnes tabellas in urnam miserint, praeco numerum suffragiorum clare referet.
When everyone has put the ballots into the urn, the herald will report the number of votes clearly.
Cum hospes ad ostium accedit, servus statim aperit.
When the guest comes to the door, the servant opens it at once.
Cum senator de mandato populi loqueretur, quidam cives tacebant, alii autem clamabant.
When the senator was speaking about the people’s commission, some citizens were silent, but others were shouting.
Cum legatus appropinquaret, puer parvus primus eum agnovit et matri monstravit.
When the envoy was approaching, the little boy recognized him first and showed him to his mother.
Cum ventus subito crescat, gubernaculum firmum esse maxime necesse est.
When the wind suddenly grows stronger, it is especially necessary that the rudder be firm.
Cum senatores inter se disputarent, tribunus suadebat ut ad bonum commune potius quam ad commodum privatum spectarent.
When the senators were debating among themselves, the tribune was advising them to look to the common good rather than private advantage.
Cum sol iam occidisset, omnes e ripa domum redierunt; navicula autem ad ripam quieta manebat.
When the sun had already set, everyone returned home from the riverbank; the little boat, however, remained quiet by the riverbank.
Cum in templo oramus, fides timorem vincit.
When we pray in the temple, faith conquers fear.
Cum ventus subito crescit, nauta naviculam ad ripam ligat.
When the wind suddenly grows stronger, the sailor ties the boat to the riverbank.
Cum pompa ad templum appropinquaret, tibicen eos qui cantabant lente sequebatur.
When the procession was approaching the temple, the flute-player was slowly following those who were singing.
Cum omen bonum esset, nautae e portu exire volebant.
When the omen was favorable, the sailors wanted to leave the harbor.
Cum fabula finita esset, plausus magnus ex auditoribus ortus est.
When the story had been finished, great applause arose from the listeners.
Cum feminae e caldario exeunt, balneatrix puellae strigilem dat et unguentum parvum ostendit.
When the women come out of the hot room, the bath-attendant gives the girl a scraper and shows her a small ointment.
Avia dicit se, cum iuvenis esset, ad forum saepe fabas et hordeum emptum ivisse.
Grandmother says that when she was young, she often went to the forum to buy beans and barley.
Fit ut etiam fortes viatores interdum anxii sint, cum via longa et obscura sit.
It happens that even brave travelers are sometimes anxious, when the road is long and dark.
Cum pater tandem venit, filiam parvam amplectitur et iterum osculatur.
When father finally comes, he embraces his little daughter and kisses her again.
Ego, cum amicam flentem video, saepe suspiro quoque et quaero quid illi desit.
When I see a weeping friend, I often sigh too and ask what is lacking to her.
Cum magistra intrat, omnes tacent.
When the teacher enters, everyone is silent.
Cum puella infelix lacrimat, mater eam benigne consolatur.
When the unfortunate girl is crying, mother kindly comforts her.
Mater dicit nos aestate frui debere, praesertim cum Iulius aut Augustus calidissimus sit.
Mother says that we ought to enjoy the summer, especially when July or August is very hot.
Mihi ver gratissimum est, praesertim cum flores in horto apparent.
Spring is most pleasing to me, especially when flowers appear in the garden.
Cum sol oritur, lux per fenestram in cubiculum intrat.
When the sun rises, daylight enters the bedroom through the window.
Socer dicit se oratorem non expectare, sed tantum propinquos; tamen omnes tacent, cum ille benigne loqui incipit.
The father-in-law says that he is not waiting for a speaker, but only for relatives; nevertheless everyone is silent when he begins to speak kindly.
Cum ventus per speluncam flat, etiam pueri putant aliquid ibi sibilare.
When the wind blows through the cave, even the boys think that something is hissing there.
Cum ad villam reditur, de columbis et passeribus diu disputatur.
When people return to the house, they talk for a long time about doves and sparrows.
Cum ventus frigidus per vicum flat, pueri domi manent.
When the cold wind blows through the street, the boys stay at home.
Cum canis nocte latrat, infans matrem vocat.
When the dog barks at night, the baby calls his mother.
Avia saepe memorat se, cum iuvenis esset, has historias legere solitam esse; ego autem recordor me illam fabulam iam audivisse.
Grandmother often says that, when she was young, she used to read these stories; I, however, remember that I have already heard that story.
Sic discipuli, cum historias inter se comparent et testimonia personarum diligenter audiant, facilius intellegunt quid sit verum et quid falsum.
Thus the students, when they compare stories with one another and listen carefully to the testimonies of the characters, understand more easily what is true and what is false.
Puella quoque sternuit, cum fenestra diu aperta sit.
The girl also sneezes when the window has been open for a long time.
Cum magistra dicat “taceatis,” discipuli intellegunt verbum in coniunctivo positum esse.
When the teacher says “be silent,” the students understand that the verb has been placed in the subjunctive.
Discipuli, cum domum redierint, inter se conferunt utrum philosophus an rhetor utiliora praecepta dederit.
When the students have returned home, they compare among themselves whether the philosopher or the rhetorician gave more useful lessons.
Ego sentio peregrinam illam benignam nobis magno auxilio fuisse, cum deversorium quaereremus.
I think that that kind foreign woman was a great help to us when we were looking for lodging.
Cum pluit, sub porticu manemus.
When it rains, we stay under the portico.
Cum mater adest, infans quietius dormit.
When mother is present, the baby sleeps more quietly.
Num quisquam trans pontem ire audet, cum ventus tam fortis sit?
Does anyone dare to go across the bridge, when the wind is so strong?
Cum imber desiit, puellae iterum foras exeunt et in horto ludunt.
When the rain stopped, the girls go outside again and play in the garden.
Puer fere ad pontem pervenerat, cum mater eum revocavit.
The boy had almost reached the bridge when mother called him back.
Cum sol in caelo ascendit, puella fenestram aperit.
When the sun rises in the sky, the girl opens the window.
Cum pluvia per compluvium cadit, impluvium paulatim completur.
When rain falls through the roof-opening, the rain-pool is gradually filled.
Cum pater e tablino exit, puella ei librum amissum ostendit.
When father comes out of the study, the girl shows him the lost book.
Cum lilium sub fenestra floret, etiam violae prope ianuam celerius crescunt.
When a lily blooms under the window, the violets near the door also grow more quickly.
Magistra dicit hortum quasi novam fabulam florere, cum rosae, lilia, et violae una luceant.
The teacher says that the garden blooms like a new story, when roses, lilies, and violets shine together.
Cum cena parata est, familia in triclinium venit.
When dinner is prepared, the family comes into the dining room.
Cum tonitrum auditur, mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur.
When thunder is heard, mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him.
Cum hospes in atrium intrat, canis in limine sedet.
When the guest enters the atrium, the dog sits on the threshold.
Cum pluvia gravis cadit, cives per portam in urbem intrant.
When heavy rain is falling, the citizens enter the city through the gate.
Sic et verba nova et res novae memoria tenentur, cum discipuli non solum in schola sedeant, sed etiam oculis suis quercus, pinos, hirundines, et formicas observent.
Thus both new words and new things are kept in memory, when students not only sit in school, but also observe with their own eyes oaks, pines, swallows, and ants.
Cum canis nocte latrat, infans clamat et matrem vocat.
When the dog barks at night, the baby cries out and calls his mother.
Cum caelum serenum est, nautae e portu exeunt.
When the sky is clear, the sailors leave the harbor.
Cum responsum dubium est, magistra rogat ut discipula sinceram sententiam aperte dicat.
When the answer is uncertain, the teacher asks the student to state her honest opinion openly.
Magistra dicit in bibliotheca non murmurandum esse; nam cum murmuratur, nec legitur nec bene intellegitur.
The teacher says that one must not murmur in the library; for when people murmur, neither is reading done nor is it well understood.
Cum pluvia cessat, puellae foras exeunt.
When the rain stops, the girls go outside.
Mater puerum monet ut cautus sit, cum per pontem ambulat.
Mother warns the boy to be careful when he walks over the bridge.
Cum ventus fortis est, sonus dulcis in arundinibus auditur.
When the wind is strong, a sweet sound is heard among the reeds.
Mater infantem intro fert; cum imber desinit, puellae iterum foras exeunt.
Mother carries the baby inside; when the rain stops, the girls go outside again.
Magistra monet occasionem bonam non neglegendam esse, praesertim cum docta collega ad scholam veniat.
The teacher warns that a good opportunity must not be neglected, especially when a learned colleague is coming to the school.
Cum pluvia per compluvium cadit, impluvium paulatim completur.
When rain falls through the roof-opening, the rain-pool is gradually filled.
Cum hospes in atrium intrat, puella osculum matri dat et blanda voce “Salve” dicit.
When the guest enters the atrium, the girl gives her mother a kiss and says “Hello” in a gentle voice.
Avia meminit se, cum iuvenis esset, saepe ante lararium stetisse et rosas ibi posuisse.
Grandmother remembers that, when she was young, she often stood before the household shrine and placed roses there.
Cum clibanus satis calidus est, mater panem in eum ponit.
When the oven is hot enough, mother puts the bread into it.
Cum tibia canit et cithara simul pulsatur, sonitus totius atrii mutatur.
When the flute plays and the cithara is played at the same time, the sound of the whole atrium changes.
Cum tibia in atrio sonare incipit, infans ridet.
When a flute begins to sound in the atrium, the baby laughs.
Mulus frenum non amat et caput movet, cum serva illud ei imponere conatur.
The mule does not like the bridle and moves its head when the maid tries to put it on him.
Cum equa hinnit, infans ridet et ad ianuam currit.
When the mare neighs, the baby laughs and runs to the door.
Odi murmur in bibliotheca, quia, cum id audio, frustra legere conor.
I hate murmuring in the library, because when I hear it, I try to read in vain.
Cum nummularius nummos numerare coepisset, mulier iuxta eum stans frustra exspectabat.
When the money-changer had begun to count the coins, the woman standing next to him was waiting in vain.
Nauta metuit ne vitrum in navi frangatur, cum fluctus subito altiores fiant.
The sailor fears that the glass may break in the ship when the waves suddenly become higher.
Cum pater tandem domum rediit, puella non statim locuta est, sed demum osculum ei dedit.
When father finally returned home, the girl did not speak at once, but only then gave him a kiss.
Infans, si mater abest, lacrimat; cum mater adest, demum tacet.
If mother is away, the baby cries; when mother is present, only then is he silent.
Cum ungula equae lapidem tetigit, parvus sonus in via auditus est.
When the mare’s hoof touched a stone, a small sound was heard on the road.
Cum ex nundinis redierint, omnes fessi sed contenti erunt, quia vehiculum plenum erit et domus panem, pira, ac mustum habebit.
When they have returned from the market, everyone will be tired but content, because the vehicle will be full and the house will have bread, pears, and fresh grape juice.
Cum imber desierit, iterum procedere poterimus.
When the rain has stopped, we will be able to go on again.
Cum ancilla paulisper apud puteum morata esset, mater ei dixit ut aquam celerius ferret.
When the maid had delayed for a little while at the well, mother told her to bring the water more quickly.
Cum soror patrem ad portum secuta esset, praefectum nautis imperantem vidit.
When the sister had followed her father to the harbor, she saw the prefect giving orders to the sailors.
Cum puella ad bibliothecam profecta esset, librum in subsellio relictum invenit.
When the girl had set out for the library, she found a book left on the bench.
Cum imber desierit, omnes in solarium ascendent, ut ventum maris sentiant.
When the rain has stopped, everyone will go up onto the terrace so that they may feel the sea wind.
Cum puella ad diversorium sero venisset, hospita ei cenaculum quietum monstravit.
When the girl had arrived late at the inn, the hostess showed her a quiet upper room.
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