Log inSign up

Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat.

Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat.
The guest stands before the door and calls the servant.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Latin

Breakdown of Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat.

et
and
stare
to stand
vocare
to call
ante
before
servus
servant
ianua
door
hospes
guest
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Latin grammar?”
Latin grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Latin

Master Latin — from Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Latin freeBrowse the full course

More from this lesson

prandiumdomiDomi tacemus, ut aviam audire possimus.theatrumPrandium breve domi sumimus, deinde ad theatrum festinamus.turbaapertusIanua aperta est, et hospes intrat.

Questions & Answers about Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat.

Why does hospes mean guest, and what form is it here?
Hospes is a 3rd‑declension noun meaning guest (it can also mean host depending on context). Here it is nominative singular, so it’s the subject of the sentence: the one doing the actions (stat and vocat).
Why is ianuam not ianua?
Because ante (when it means in front of/before as a preposition) takes the accusative case. So ianuam is accusative singular of ianua, -ae (door), used as the object of the preposition ante.
How do I know ante ianuam means in front of the door rather than before (in time) the door?
Latin ante can mean before in both space and time, but with a physical noun like door, the natural reading is spatial: in front of the door. A time meaning would usually need a time reference (e.g., ante lucem = before dawn).
What tense and person is stat?
Stat is 3rd person singular present indicative active of sto, stare: (he/she/it) stands. The subject is hospes, so: the guest stands.
Is stat transitive? Does it take a direct object?
No. Sto is intransitive, so it doesn’t take a direct object. Location or position is typically expressed with a prepositional phrase like ante ianuam.
Why is servum in the accusative?
Because vocat (calls) is a transitive verb here and takes a direct object. Servum is accusative singular of servus, -i.
Does servum mean slave or servant?
Literally, servus means slave in Roman society. Many textbooks gloss it as servant to sound more familiar in English, but the historical reality is slave.
What tense and person is vocat?
Vocat is 3rd person singular present indicative active of voco, vocare: (he/she/it) calls. With the subject: the guest calls the slave.
What exactly does et do here?
Et is the coordinating conjunction and. It links the two verbs that share the same subject: stat and vocat. So the structure is: Hospes [stat] et [vocat].
Why is the word order Hospes ante ianuam stat et servum vocat instead of a more English-like order?

Latin word order is flexible because endings show grammatical roles. This sentence uses a very common Latin pattern:

  • Subject: hospes
  • Place phrase: ante ianuam
  • Verb: stat
  • Connector: et
  • Object: servum
  • Verb: vocat Putting servum right before vocat is also a typical Latin way to keep object + verb closely connected.
How should I pronounce ianuam?

In classical-style pronunciation:

  • i at the start of ianuam is like English y: ya-
  • anuam continues: roughly YA-noo-am (with u like oo). So: ianuam ≈ YA-noo-am.