Equus fortior est quam asinus.

• equus = horse; a noun in the nominative singular
• fortior = stronger; a comparative adjective in the nominative singular, describing equus
• est = is; the 3rd person singular present of sum
• quam = than; it introduces the second part of the comparison
• asinus = donkey/ass; a noun in the nominative singular

So the structure is basically Horse stronger is than donkey = The horse is stronger than the donkey / A horse is stronger than a donkey.

Fortior is the comparative form of fortis, which means strong or brave.

Latin usually forms the comparative adjective by adding:

• -ior for masculine/feminine
• -ius for neuter

So:

• fortis = strong
• fortior = stronger
• fortius = stronger (neuter form)

Because equus is masculine singular, the sentence uses fortior.

Because adjectives in Latin do not have to belong to the same declension as the noun they describe. They only have to agree in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• equus is masculine singular nominative
• fortior is also masculine singular nominative

That is enough for agreement. The noun and adjective can still come from different declension patterns.

Because after quam with a comparison, Latin often puts the second thing compared in the same case as the first.

Here:

• equus is nominative
• so asinus is also nominative

This is the pattern:

• X fortior est quam Y = X is stronger than Y

So quam asinus means than a donkey / than the donkey.

Yes. With comparative adjectives, Latin often has two common ways to express than:

1. comparative + quam + same case

   • Equus fortior est quam asinus.

2. comparative + ablative

   • Equus fortior est asino.

Both mean the same thing: The horse is stronger than the donkey.

A learner should recognize both patterns.

In a normal prose sentence like this, est is perfectly standard and natural. It links the subject equus with the adjective fortior.

Latin can sometimes omit forms of sum when the meaning is obvious, especially in:

• poetry
• very compressed style
• certain expressions

But for a basic sentence, Equus fortior est quam asinus is the normal full form.

Latin has no articles like English the or a/an.

So equus can mean:

• a horse
• the horse
• sometimes just horse

And asinus can mean:

• a donkey
• the donkey

You decide from context which English article fits best.

Yes. Latin word order is more flexible than English because the endings show how the words function.

So these can all work:

• Equus fortior est quam asinus.
• Equus quam asinus fortior est.
• Fortior est equus quam asinus.

The most neutral textbook order is the original one, but changing the order can shift emphasis.

Here it is an adjective, because it describes the noun equus.

• fortior = stronger as a description of a thing or person
• if you wanted an adverb, you would use fortius = more strongly

So:

• Equus fortior est = The horse is stronger
• currit fortius = he runs more strongly / more vigorously

The comparative adjective is usually given in the dictionary as:

• fortior, fortius

That shows the two nominative singular forms:

• fortior for masculine/feminine
• fortius for neuter

It is based on the positive adjective fortis, forte.

So when you see fortior in the sentence, you should recognize it as the comparative form of fortis.