Frutex densior est quam herba, et lepus sub frutice latet.

Densior is the comparative form of densus, meaning denser or more dense.

• densus = dense
• densior = denser / more dense
• densissimus = densest / most dense

So Frutex densior est quam herba means that the shrub is being compared with the grass. Latin often uses a comparative adjective exactly where English uses -er or more.

Quam means than in comparisons.

So:

• densior quam herba = denser than grass

After quam, Latin usually puts the thing being compared in the same case as the first thing. Here:

• frutex is nominative
• herba is also nominative

That is why you get quam herba, not a different case here.

Latin also has another way to make comparisons, often using the ablative without quam, but this sentence uses the very common comparative + quam pattern.

Frutex is nominative singular. It is the subject of est.

In the clause Frutex densior est quam herba:

• frutex = the shrub
• est = is
• densior = denser

So frutex is the thing being described, which makes it the subject.

Densior is a third-declension comparative adjective.

It agrees with frutex in:

• gender
• number
• case

Since frutex is singular nominative, densior is also singular nominative.

A useful point: comparative adjectives in Latin often have forms like:

• masculine/feminine nominative singular: -ior
• neuter nominative singular: -ius

So here densior matches a masculine or feminine noun. Since frutex is masculine, densior is correct.

Because sub can take two different cases, depending on the meaning:

• accusative if there is motion toward/under
• ablative if there is position under/beneath

Here the rabbit is already hiding under the shrub, not moving to a place under it. So Latin uses the ablative:

• sub frutice = under the shrub

If it meant something more like the rabbit runs under the shrub, Latin might use the accusative instead.

Frutice is the ablative singular of frutex.

The noun frutex is a third-declension masculine noun. Some key forms are:

• nominative singular: frutex
• genitive singular: fruticis
• ablative singular: frutice

So in sub frutice, the preposition sub requires the ablative because it means location, and frutice is the correct ablative singular form.

Latet is from the verb lateo, latere, meaning to lie hidden, to be hidden, or to hide oneself.

Latet is:

• 3rd person singular
• present tense
• active indicative

So lepus sub frutice latet means:

• the rabbit hides under the shrub
• or more literally, the rabbit lies hidden under the shrub

English often uses hide actively, but Latin lateo often has the sense be hidden or remain concealed.

Because latet is a singular verb, and lepus is in the nominative singular, which is the normal case for the subject.

In et lepus sub frutice latet:

• et = and
• lepus = hare / rabbit
• sub frutice = under the shrub
• latet = hides / lies hidden

So lepus is the one doing the action.

Lepus is a third-declension masculine noun, not a second-declension one.

A learner might expect a masculine noun ending in -us to be second declension, but lepus is an exception in appearance. Its forms are like this:

• nominative singular: lepus
• genitive singular: leporis

So you have to learn it as a third-declension noun from its dictionary form, usually something like lepus, leporis.

This is a good reminder that the genitive singular is what reliably tells you the declension.

Latin has no articles equivalent to English the, a, or an.

So:

• frutex can mean a shrub or the shrub
• herba can mean grass or the grass
• lepus can mean a rabbit/hare or the rabbit/hare

The exact meaning depends on context. English has to choose an article, but Latin does not.

The word order is natural, but Latin word order is more flexible than English word order because the endings show the grammatical roles.

This sentence is arranged quite clearly:

• Frutex densior est quam herba
• et lepus sub frutice latet

A few things to notice:

• The subject often comes early: frutex, lepus
• The verb often comes later: est, latet
• The prepositional phrase sub frutice is placed before the verb

Latin could rearrange these words for emphasis, but the cases would still show what belongs where.

In a common reconstructed classical pronunciation, roughly like this:

• frutex = FROO-teks
• densior = DEN-see-or
• est = est
• quam = kwam
• herba = HER-ba
• et = et
• lepus = LEH-poos
• sub = soob
• frutice = FROO-ti-keh
• latet = LAH-tet

A few pronunciation points:

• qu sounds like kw
• c is always hard, like k
• v in classical Latin is usually pronounced like w, though there is no v in this sentence
• vowels are more pure and steady than in English

If you are learning ecclesiastical pronunciation, some sounds would differ, especially c before front vowels, but in this sentence the biggest difference is not dramatic.

Yes. Latin often makes comparisons in two ways:

1. comparative + quam

   • densior quam herba

2. comparative + ablative

   • herbā densior

Both can mean denser than grass.

This sentence uses the first pattern, which is often easier for beginners because it matches English than more closely.