Cum tonitrum auditur, mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur.

Cum can have several meanings in Latin, including when, since, and although.

Here it means when because:

• it introduces a time clause: Cum tonitrum auditur
• the verb is in the indicative (auditur), which is common for a straightforward time statement

So this part means:

• when thunder is heard
• or more naturally in English, when there is thunder / when thunder is heard

If cum were followed by a subjunctive verb, it might suggest a different nuance, such as since or although, depending on context.

Auditur means is heard. It is the 3rd person singular present passive of audio, audire (to hear).

So:

• tonitrum auditur = thunder is heard

Latin often uses the passive where English might prefer a more active or more natural expression. In English, we might translate this as:

• when thunder is heard
• when one hears thunder
• when thunder sounds

All are reasonable ways to express the idea.

Tonitrum is nominative singular neuter.

It is nominative because it is the subject of auditur:

• tonitrum auditur = the thunder is heard

Even though English may feel like thunder is just a general phenomenon, in Latin it is still grammatically the subject of the passive verb.

A quick breakdown:

• tonitrum = thunder
• auditur = is heard

So literally: thunder is heard.

Mater is the subject of the main clause, so it is in the nominative singular.

Main clause:

• mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur

This means:

• the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her

Since mater is the one doing the actions tenet and consolatur, it must be nominative.

Infantem is accusative singular because it is the direct object of tenet:

• mater infantem tenet = the mother holds the baby

The verb teneo takes a direct object, so the thing being held goes into the accusative.

Also, even though consolatur does not repeat the object explicitly, the baby is still understood as the one being comforted. Latin often leaves out a repeated object when it is obvious.

So the full sense is:

• the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her

In gremio means in the lap or on the lap.

The noun is:

• gremium, gremii = lap, bosom

Here in takes the ablative because it expresses location:

• in gremio = in/on the lap

This is different from in + accusative, which usually shows motion into something.

Compare:

• in gremio = in the lap / on the lap (location)
• in gremium = into the lap (motion toward)

So in this sentence, the mother is already holding the baby there.

Consolatur is a deponent verb form.

A deponent verb:

• has passive forms
• but an active meaning

So:

• consolatur looks like is comforted
• but actually means comforts

The dictionary form is:

• consolor, consolari = to comfort

This is a very common thing in Latin and often confuses beginners.

So here:

• leniter consolatur = gently comforts

not is gently comforted.

Latin often omits words that are easy to understand from context.

In this sentence:

• mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur

the object infantem is stated with tenet, and it is natural to understand the same baby as the object of consolatur too.

In fuller English we might say:

• the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her

Latin does not need to repeat infantem if the meaning is already clear.

Leniter is an adverb, meaning gently or softly.

It modifies consolatur:

• leniter consolatur = she gently comforts

It comes from the adjective lenis (gentle, soft). A learner should notice that many Latin adverbs are formed in recognizable ways, and -ter is one common ending.

To an English speaker, yes, it may feel different, but it is normal Latin.

Latin word order is more flexible than English because the endings show the grammatical roles. So:

• Cum tonitrum auditur, mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur.

could be rearranged in various ways without changing the basic meaning very much.

For example, Latin can place words for emphasis, rhythm, or style. English depends much more on word order to show who is doing what.

In this sentence, the order is actually fairly straightforward:

• time clause first: Cum tonitrum auditur
• then the main clause: mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur

All three verbs are present:

• auditur = is heard
• tenet = holds
• consolatur = comforts

The present tense here can describe:

• something happening now
• a habitual action
• a general scene

So the sentence may mean something like:

• When thunder is heard, the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her

This sounds like a general or repeated situation rather than one single event fixed in the past.

Yes, very naturally.

Because the sentence is in the present tense and describes what generally happens, cum can be understood as:

• when
• whenever

So a very idiomatic English translation might be:

• Whenever thunder is heard, the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her.

That captures the repeated or typical sense well.

Not always exactly.

Infans, infantis can mean:

• baby
• infant
• young child

In many beginner sentences, infantem is best translated simply as the baby. That usually sounds more natural in English than the infant, unless you want a more formal tone.

So here:

• mater infantem in gremio tenet = the mother holds the baby in her lap

It has two main parts:

1. Cum tonitrum auditur

   • a temporal clause
   • when thunder is heard

2. mater infantem in gremio tenet et leniter consolatur

   • the main clause
   • the mother holds the baby in her lap and gently comforts him/her

So the overall structure is:

• When X happens, Y happens.

That is a very common pattern in Latin and a useful one to recognize quickly.