Tum sacerdos pauca verba dicet, et dies festus laetus finem habebit.

Sacerdos is in the nominative singular, which is the normal case for the subject of a verb. Also, dicet is third person singular (he/she/it will say), so it matches a singular subject.

A learner may notice that sacerdos ends in -os, which does not look like a typical first- or second-declension nominative. That is because it is a third-declension noun.

Because verba is neuter plural, and the adjective has to agree with it.

• verbum = word
• verba = words
• pauca = few, a few

So:

• verba is neuter plural
• therefore pauca must also be neuter plural

This is a basic Latin rule: adjectives agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case.

Yes, but pauca verba is a very natural Latin expression meaning a few words. Latin often uses verba in the plural when talking about speech, remarks, or a brief statement.

So pauca verba dicet is a very normal way to say that someone will speak briefly.

Because they come from different conjugations, and Latin forms the future differently depending on the conjugation.

• dicet comes from dico, dicere (third conjugation)
• habebit comes from habeo, habere (second conjugation)

For the future tense:

• first and second conjugation usually use -bo, -bis, -bit
• third and fourth conjugation usually use -am, -es, -et

So:

• dicet = he/she will say
• habebit = he/she/it will have

This difference is very common and worth memorizing early.

Because festus and laetus are adjectives describing dies, so they must agree with it.

All three are:

• nominative
• singular
• masculine

So the phrase means that the day is both festive and happy/joyful.

This kind of adjective agreement is one of the most important features of Latin grammar.

Dies is a fifth-declension noun. It is usually masculine, especially when it means an ordinary day or a festival day, as here.

So the adjectives are masculine too:

• festus
• laetus

You may sometimes see dies treated as feminine in certain special senses, but masculine is the normal expectation.

It describes dies, not finem.

You can tell by agreement:

• dies is nominative singular masculine
• laetus is also nominative singular masculine

But finem is accusative singular masculine, so if laetus described finem, it would need to be laetum instead.

So the structure is:

• dies festus laetus = the festive, joyful day
• finem habebit = will have an end / will come to an end

Because habebit takes a direct object, and direct objects are usually in the accusative.

• finis = end
• finem = end (accusative singular)

So literally, finem habebit means it will have an end.

In smoother English, that often becomes it will come to an end or it will reach its end. This is a good example of Latin using a phrase that is grammatically straightforward but slightly less natural if translated word-for-word.

Yes, it is a very natural Latin way to express the idea of ending. Latin often says an end will be had or to have an end where English prefers to end or to come to an end.

So a learner should understand both levels:

• literal Latin structure: will have an end
• natural English sense: will come to an end

Because Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order. The endings show the grammatical relationships, so Latin does not depend as heavily on position.

In this sentence:

• Tum comes first to set the time
• pauca verba comes before dicet
• finem comes before habebit

This is all perfectly normal Latin. The final verb position is especially common, though not required.

So instead of expecting one fixed order like English, it is better to look at:

• case endings
• verb endings
• agreement between nouns and adjectives

Because classical Latin has no articles. It does not have separate words for the, a, or an.

So:

• sacerdos can mean the priest or a priest
• dies festus can mean the festival day, a festival day, or simply festival day, depending on context

When translating into English, you choose the article that fits the context best.