Mater infantem in manibus habet.

Because mater belongs to the third declension, not the first declension.

A native English speaker often learns early that many Latin feminine nouns end in -a, such as puella. But mater is one of a group of very common family words that have different patterns:

• mater = mother
• pater = father
• frater = brother

Here, mater is in the nominative singular, which is the case used for the subject of the sentence.

Because infantem is the accusative singular form, used for the direct object.

The sentence tells us that the mother is doing something to the baby: she has/holds the baby. That makes the baby the direct object, so Latin puts infans into the accusative:

• infans = an infant, baby, child (subject form)
• infantem = an infant, baby, child (object form)

So:

• Mater = the subject
• infantem = the object

Manibus is ablative plural.

The preposition in can take different cases depending on the meaning:

• in + accusative = into, onto (movement toward)
• in + ablative = in, on, inside, on (location)

Here the idea is location, not movement: the baby is in the mother’s hands/arms, so Latin uses in + ablative:

• in manibus = in the hands

That is why it is manibus, not a form like manus or manūs used for some other function.

Latin normally uses the plural here because a person has two hands, and the expression in manibus is idiomatic.

So even if English might say in her arms or in her hands, Latin naturally says:

• in manibus = in the hands

It does not sound strange in Latin. In fact, it is the expected wording.

Also, this phrase often means more than literally balanced in the hands; it can mean held in the arms/hands.

Because Latin often leaves out possessive words like her, his, or their when the owner is obvious from the context.

In this sentence, it is clear that the hands belong to the mother, so Latin does not need to say:

• in eius manibus = in her hands

That would be possible in some contexts, but it is unnecessary here. Latin often prefers the simpler version:

• in manibus

The meaning her hands is understood automatically.

Basically, habet means has, but in this sentence it is best understood as is holding or has in her arms/hands.

On its own:

• habet = he/she/it has

But together with in manibus, the phrase means something like:

• she has the baby in her hands
• more natural English: she is holding the baby

So the Latin is using a normal verb, but the whole expression is more idiomatic in English if translated as holds.

Because Latin often places the verb near the end of the sentence.

This is one of the most common word-order patterns in Latin, especially in simple statements:

• subject + object + other phrase + verb

So:

• Mater = subject
• infantem = object
• in manibus = prepositional phrase
• habet = verb

Latin word order is more flexible than English because the case endings show the grammatical roles. So other orders are possible, but this one is very normal.

Yes, often they could.

Because Latin uses case endings, the basic roles stay clear even if the order changes. For example, these would still be understandable:

• Mater in manibus infantem habet.
• Infantem mater in manibus habet.
• In manibus mater infantem habet.

The meaning stays roughly the same, but the emphasis changes.

For example:

• putting infantem earlier may emphasize the baby
• putting in manibus earlier may emphasize where the baby is

Still, Mater infantem in manibus habet is a very natural, straightforward order.

Because Latin has no articles.

English uses:

• the mother
• the baby

Latin usually just says:

• mater
• infantem

Whether we translate with the, a, or sometimes no article at all depends on the context. So in this sentence:

• mater could mean the mother or a mother
• infantem could mean the baby or a baby

The intended meaning comes from context, not from a separate word like the.

Habet is third person singular present active indicative.

That means:

• third person = he/she/it
• singular = one person
• present = happening now
• active = the subject is doing the action
• indicative = a normal statement

So habet means:

• he has
• she has
• it has

Here it means she has / she is holding, because the subject is mater.

Manus is a fourth-declension noun.

That is why its forms may look unusual if you are expecting first- or second-declension endings.

Important forms include:

• manus = hand (nominative singular)
• manūs = hand (genitive singular) or hands (nominative plural), depending on context
• manum = hand (accusative singular)
• manū = by/with/in the hand (ablative singular)
• manibus = to/for/by/with/in the hands (dative or ablative plural)

In this sentence, manibus is ablative plural because it follows in in a location sense.

Not necessarily.

Infans literally means not speaking, and in Latin it can refer to:

• a baby
• an infant
• a very young child

So infantem here could be translated as:

• the baby
• the infant
• the child

The best English choice depends on the context. If the learner has been shown baby, that is a perfectly natural translation here.

Yes, more or less literally. But natural English usually says:

• The mother is holding the baby
• The mother has the baby in her arms
• The mother has the baby in her hands

A very literal translation can help with grammar, but a more natural English translation often sounds better. Latin frequently uses ordinary verbs and prepositional phrases where English prefers a more specific verb like hold or carry.