Nemo est qui tonitrum et fulgur non timeat.

to be

Breakdown of Nemo est qui tonitrum et fulgur non timeat.

• et: and
• non: not
• timere: to fear

Questions & Answers about Nemo est qui tonitrum et fulgur non timeat.

Why is nemo treated as singular?

Because nemo means no one / nobody, and Latin treats it as grammatically singular.

So:

• nemo est = there is no one
• not nemo sunt

Even though it refers to all people in a general sense, the grammar is singular, just like English no one is, not no one are.

Why does the sentence say nemo est qui... instead of just nemo...?

This is a very common Latin pattern:

• nemo est qui... = there is no one who...

Latin often uses est plus a relative clause to make a general statement about a type of person.

So this sentence is built as:

• nemo est = there is no one
• qui ... timeat = who would / who does fear

Together: There is no one who does not fear thunder and lightning, i.e. everyone fears thunder and lightning.

Why is it qui?

Qui is the relative pronoun, meaning who here.

It refers back to nemo:

• nemo = no one
• qui = who