Sol tandem lucet, et mater dicit lutum cito siccari.

Sol and mater are both nominative singular, so they are the subjects of the finite verbs near them.

• sol ... lucet = the sun shines
• mater dicit = mother says

Latin often shows this through case endings rather than through a rigid word order.

Because after dicit, Latin normally uses an indirect statement construction. In this construction, the subject of the reported statement goes into the accusative, and the verb goes into an infinitive.

So in lutum cito siccari:

• lutum is the logical subject of the reported idea
• siccari is the verb of that reported idea

Together, the phrase means that the mud is drying quickly.

After verbs such as dicit, putat, videt, and similar verbs of saying, thinking, or perceiving, Latin very often uses accusative + infinitive instead of a full clause with a finite verb.

So classical Latin prefers:

• mater dicit lutum cito siccari

rather than something like:

• mater dicit quod lutum cito siccatur

Both can express a reported statement, but the accusative-and-infinitive construction is the standard one beginners need to learn well.

Siccari is the present passive infinitive of siccare.

• present infinitive: the action is happening at the same time as dicit
• passive form: literally to be dried

In natural English, this is often translated more smoothly as to dry or to be drying, depending on context. So here the idea is that the mud is in the process of drying.

Latin often does not use a separate word for English that in this kind of sentence. Instead, the accusative + infinitive construction itself expresses that meaning.

So:

• English: mother says that the mud is drying quickly
• Latin: mater dicit lutum cito siccari

The meaning of that is built into the grammar, not shown by a separate word.

Cito is an adverb meaning quickly. Here it modifies siccari, so it tells you how the mud is drying.

The sense is:

• the mud is drying quickly

not:

• mother says quickly

Latin word order is flexible, but putting cito right before siccari makes that connection very natural.

Latin has no articles. There is no separate word exactly equal to English the or a/an.

So:

• sol can mean the sun
• mater can mean mother or the mother
• lutum can mean mud or the mud

English has to add articles where they sound natural, but Latin does not need them.