Spectator cum amicis ridet.

Spectator is nominative singular. In Latin, the subject of a finite verb is normally in the nominative case.

Here, ridet is a 3rd person singular verb, so spectator matches it naturally as the subject.

The dictionary form is spectator, spectatoris, a masculine 3rd-declension noun.

Because cum meaning with takes the ablative case.

So:

• amici = nominative plural
• amicos = accusative plural
• amicis = ablative plural, and also dative plural

After cum, Latin uses the ablative, so cum amicis is correct.

Ridet is 3rd person singular present active indicative of rideo, ridere, risi, risus.

That means it means he laughs, she laughs, it laughs, or more loosely is laughing, depending on context.

The ending -t is the normal 3rd person singular ending in the present tense.

It can mean either one.

Latin often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• laughs
• is laughing

So without extra context, both are possible translations.

Latin often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you the person and number.

Since ridet already means he/she/it laughs, Latin does not need to add a separate he unless the writer wants emphasis or contrast.

So:

• ridet = he/she/it laughs
• is ridet would mean he laughs, but with extra emphasis on he

Latin has no articles.

So spectator can mean:

• the spectator
• a spectator
• sometimes just spectator

You choose the best English article from the context.

The same is true of amicis, which could be translated as with friends or with the friends, depending on the situation.

By itself, amicis could be either:

• dative plural = to/for friends
• ablative plural = by/with/from friends or other ablative uses

But after cum, it must be ablative.

So in this sentence, cum amicis can only mean with friends.

This is very common in Latin: one form may have more than one possible case, and the surrounding words tell you which one it is.

No. Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order because case endings show the grammatical roles.

These can all express the same basic idea:

• Spectator cum amicis ridet
• Cum amicis spectator ridet
• Ridet spectator cum amicis

The difference is usually one of emphasis or style, not basic meaning.

The given order is a simple, natural one for beginners.

No. Cum can also be a conjunction meaning things like when, since, or although.

But here it is clearly a preposition, because it is followed by amicis in the ablative case.

So in this sentence, cum means with.

With ordinary nouns, cum is usually written as a separate word:

• cum amicis = with friends

But with certain pronouns, Latin often attaches it:

• mecum = with me
• tecum = with you
• nobiscum = with us
• vobiscum = with you all
• secum = with himself/herself/themselves

So cum amicis is exactly what you should expect with a noun like amicis.

They are:

• spectator, spectatoris — spectator
• amicus, amici — friend
• rideo, ridere, risi, risus — laugh

Learning dictionary forms is important because Latin words change shape depending on their role in the sentence.