Avia dicit: “Licet pluat, tamen in horto ambulare volo.”

That is a very common question, because licet has more than one use.

In this sentence, licet means although / even though, not it is permitted. Latin often uses licet with a subjunctive verb to introduce a concessive clause:

licet pluat = although it is raining / even if it is raining

So here licet is not really about permission. It is introducing a contrast.

Because after concessive licet, Latin normally uses the subjunctive.

• pluit = it is raining in the indicative
• pluat = it may be raining / let it rain / although it is raining, depending on context

Here pluat is the present subjunctive of pluere. The subjunctive is required by the construction licet + subjunctive.

So:

• licet pluit would be wrong here
• licet pluat is the normal Latin pattern

Tamen means nevertheless / still / all the same.

Latin very often pairs a concessive clause with tamen in the main clause:

• licet pluat, tamen ...
• although it is raining, nevertheless ...

In natural English, we often do not need both words, because although ... still ... can sound a bit heavy. But in Latin this pairing is very common and perfectly normal.

So tamen reinforces the contrast:

Even though it is raining, I still want to walk in the garden.

Because in can take either the ablative or the accusative, depending on the meaning.

• in + ablative = in / on a place, showing location
• in + accusative = into / onto a place, showing motion toward

Here horto is ablative singular, so:

• in horto = in the garden or within the garden

If the idea were into the garden, Latin would use:

• in hortum

Since the walking happens in the garden, not into it, in horto is correct.

Because it depends on volo.

Volo means I want, and after verbs like volo, Latin usually uses a complementary infinitive to say what someone wants to do:

• ambulare volo = I want to walk
• literally, to walk I want

This is very similar to English:

• I want to walk

So ambulare is the infinitive because it completes the meaning of volo.

Because Latin often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows the subject.

volo already means I want. The -o ending tells you it is first person singular.

So Latin does not need ego unless the speaker wants emphasis:

• ambulare volo = I want to walk
• ego ambulare volo = I want to walk with extra emphasis on I

This omission of pronouns is one of the most normal features of Latin.

Avia is nominative singular.

It is the subject of dicit:

• avia = grandmother
• dicit = says

So:

Avia dicit = Grandmother says

It is a first-declension noun. Its basic forms are:

• nominative: avia
• genitive: aviae

Because this sentence is written as a direct quotation:

Avia dicit: ...

That means we are hearing the grandmother’s exact words.

Latin can also report speech indirectly, but then the structure would change. For example, an indirect version might look something like:

Avia dicit se, licet pluat, tamen in horto ambulare velle.

That is more advanced, but the important point is:

• direct speech = the person’s actual words
• indirect speech = the narrator reports what was said

This sentence uses direct speech, so the grammar stays simple inside the quotation.

Yes. Latin word order is much freer than English word order.

This sentence could be rearranged without changing the basic meaning, because the endings show the grammatical relationships. For example, Latin keeps the meaning clear through forms like:

• horto being ablative
• pluat being subjunctive
• volo being first person singular

Still, the given order is very natural:

• Licet pluat sets up the concession first
• tamen marks the contrast
• in horto ambulare volo gives the main idea

So the order is not random; it is clear and stylistically sensible.

Yes. It is a standard way to express concession.

Latin has several ways to say although / even though, but licet + subjunctive is a very common and recognizable pattern. The addition of tamen in the main clause is also very typical.

So this is a useful structure to learn as a whole:

licet + subjunctive, tamen + main clause

For example:

• Licet sim fessus, tamen laboro.
• Although I am tired, I still work.

That is exactly the same pattern as in your sentence.