Latin: it'due south the language of the Roman Empire, the bedrock of many modern languages, and essential to European history and culture. Wander through any large urban center in Europe, and y'all're likely to come across Latin on monuments and in mottos. Movie through a book or a paper, and you might run into it: condition quo, modify ego, carpe diem, quid pro quo, advertizing hoc, excuse, bonafide…

Yet while learning Latin can unlock our past, information technology has a reputation for being, well, difficult. Dry. Sectional.

This reputation isn't entirely fair. No language is easy to learn, but using the correct resource and having a good study program can brand learning Latin more accessible and enjoyable. Continue reading as we explore the many courses, apps, podcasts, books, and YouTube channels that will help y'all larn this fascinating language.

All About Latin

Latin was the language of international communication for millennia. The earliest existing example of it dates back to the seventh century BCE, long earlier the days of the Roman Democracy and Empire. It was oftentimes used in European courts and universities during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. And it remained the linguistic communication of the Roman Cosmic Church building until the 1960s.

Today, you'll come beyond many languages that sound a bit similar Latin: Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, Galician, Catalan, Ladino and more than are directly descended from it. English and German also accept words that can be traced back to it, as does Dutch.

And while Latin is today associated with legalese and science, everyday people however utilise it when they refer to the time: "pm" and "am" are initialisms for the Latin phrases post meridiem and ante meridiem.

In short, Latin might be considered by near to be a "dead language," simply it'due south far from irrelevant.

A 16th-century Irish, Latin, and English primer commissioned by Elizabeth I and created by Sir Christopher Nugent during the British colonization of Ireland. Public domain.

Despite Latin's modern-mean solar day relevance for academics, linguists, scientists, and lawyers, every bit a Latin student, you'll spend near of your fourth dimension reading the words of long-dead scholars and politicians. And over the class of virtually 3,000 years, Latin has evolved quite a bit.

In fact, Latin has been classified into several different variants:

Former Latin, or prisca Latinitas, dates to before 75 BCE. Among other features, it used a smaller alphabet.

Classical Latin, which is what most students larn, dates to the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. It's the language of Caesar, Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid. Classical oratorial and Classical written Latin besides differed.

Vulgar Latin was a form of spoken Latin associated with everyday people. Information technology was especially common afterward the third century CE, and existed aslope Classical oratorial and written Latin. Linguists believe that most Romance languages descend from Vulgar Latin as opposed to classical Latin.

The rules of Medieval Latin varied depending on the location. More often than not, information technology had a more than flexible word order and inconsistent spelling, while some words changed pregnant. The Medieval Latin spoken in England featured more English loanwords and greater employ of prepositions instead of cases. While not the most commonly studied variation of Latin, Medieval Latin is useful for historians and scholars of literature.

The emergence of Renaissance Latin was driven by scholars seeking to return to Classical Latin as opposed to Medieval Latin.

Ecclesiastical Latin refers to the Latin used by the Roman Catholic Church.

Then in that location is Living Latin: a modern move that questions how we think about Latin. Proponents of Living Latin debate that this language shouldn't just be read and translated, just that it should be spoken with fluency. With a little bit of creativity, speakers take found means to talk over modern transport, technology, and even social media.

Most textbooks and courses teach Classical Latin. However, you might choose to learn an additional form of Latin, or fifty-fifty forego Classical Latin in favor of a dissimilar variant. Recall about your goals: do you lot want to read Virgil, analyze Roman graffiti, or study all the documents of the Tudor court?

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How to Learn Latin

The average Latin course would, if compared to a Spanish or French 1, exist considered old-fashioned past many linguists. A lot of courses treat Latin a ways to an end: a way to read classical texts in their original language, debate the exact significant of old court documents, and better our understanding of history, literature, and philosophy.

In these more traditional courses, you will mainly translate texts and study grammar – merely the aim is comprehension, non fluency. In fact, using a dictionary for word-by-give-and-take translation might be encouraged.

In contrast, when studying modern languages, the focus is typically on being able to speak and sympathize the linguistic communication without any support. The eventual aim is to get you thinking in the target language, and so you generally just read texts in which you tin already sympathise virtually of the language. Today, there's a slowly growing motion in support of applying this second method to Latin studies.

I don't believe at that place's a "right way" to learn Latin: the all-time method will depend on your goal. Merely it's worth taking the time to consider what studying Latin means for you. Exercise you care about how quickly and easily you lot can read a new Latin text – without a dictionary? Would you like to exist able to write in Latin? Would Living Latin events where people talk Latin together involvement you, or does information technology seem inauthentic to yous?

If y'all're happy with a translation-oriented approach, brand sure you have a adept understanding of the (fairly complex) grammer, as well as texts that you find interesting. Consider finding a report or reading group so that you tin can hash out them together and support each other if something is challenging.

If you lot're looking for a more than immersive approach, y'all might want to add a few actress activities to your study plan: keeping a Latin-language periodical, texting study friends in Latin, listening to Latin podcasts and news clips, and studying pronunciation. Practice thinking in Latin to improve your fluency and read every bit much as you can – even if the text isn't as high-brow every bit the works you desire to eventually be able to read.

Try to report regularly: you will struggle to get fluency in Latin if you blitz through a calendar week's worth of reading on Sunday afternoons. It's better to study a little most days of the week.

No matter which approach you have, create reasonable goals for yourself. Measure your progress, celebrate your small successes, and stay focused on what you want to accomplish.

And don't exist disappointed if reading Virgil takes longer than y'all had hoped: Rome wasn't congenital in a day, subsequently all.

Resources for Learning Latin

From textbooks to YouTube channels and apps to radio shows, there are plenty of resource to assistance you lot study Latin – no matter how traditional or modern an approach you're looking for.

Online Latin Classes and Language Exchanges

A teacher can help you direct your studies, reply queries, and correct your errors. You don't take to enroll at a university to detect a Latin professor, either.

italki has a modest selection of Latin teachers, all of whom are publicly reviewed, set their own prices, and publish their availability online. Yous tin can also use the platform to find language exchanges, inquire questions in the forum, and publish writing for critique and corrections – although you might non always get responses. Want more information? Read our detailed review.

If italki's not to your liking, accept a look at Verbling. In that location are fewer teachers to choose from, but we similar the easier payment procedure that allows you to purchase just one form at a time.

HiNative is a Q&A app that allows yous to ask the community questions almost any language. While there isn't much nearly Latin on there, and questions almost Latin sometimes concenter answers relevant to Spanish, it could be worth a endeavour if y'all take a query. Alternatively, Reddit has a fairly active Latin community.

For many languages, apps like HelloTalk, Speaky, and Tandem are a dandy way to connect with native speakers and other students to practice communicating. While language exchanges aren't most Latin learners' preferred report method, it could offer y'all a way to ameliorate your fluency or just find someone who'll empathize with you when you're struggling through Ovid.

That being said, these apps endure from the same problem as HiNative. When I looked for linguistic communication exchange partners on HelloTalk, near of the people on my list of potential matches were from Latin America as opposed to Latin language learners. Despite that, I did observe a couple of people studying Latin. If y'all're interested in a linguistic communication exchange, these apps could be worth trying out – you might strike lucky. Desire more information? Bank check out our reviews: HelloTalk, Speaky, Tandem.

While mostly offline, Paideia Establish organizes regular Living Latin events, from multi-24-hour interval conferences to scavenger hunts. SALVI also organizes in-person weekend and week-long spoken Latin events. Participants effort to communicate only in Latin every bit they socialize, solve puzzles, and nourish lectures. Both Paideia Found and SALVI have occasional online classes and events, as well.

Online and App-Based Latin Courses

Tabella is a free online Latin course from Trinity College Dublin combining videos and text-based breakdowns. The classes typically begin with a video introducing new vocabulary, followed by a short Latin text that yous're invited to translate using the vocabulary you lot've just learned. At that place are links to grammar explanations.

These two free Medieval Latin courses are run by the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland National Archive. They're designed for complete beginners; in fact, the first topic is "what is a verb?" As well as piece of cake-to-understand explanations, it contains checklists, interactive activities, and example sentences.

Latin Online is a 10-form form from The University of Texas at Austin Linguistics Inquiry Middle. It has a heavy focus on translation and grammer, and could be too challenging for beginner students. Even so, once you lot've got some familiarity with Latin, it might be a valuable additional resource.

Linney's Latin Class is a mixture of YouTube-hosted lectures, fix texts, and homework with an answer cardinal. It's designed specifically for self-study.

The Ancient Language Institute has an extensive Latin syllabus that takes inspiration from modern language studies. It focuses on active learning through live classes and level-appropriate readings that, in theory, shouldn't require a dictionary. At college levels, you lot can cull which type of Latin you wish to specialize in. Dissimilar most of the resources in this article, the Ancient Linguistic communication Institute courses are structured like university-level modules and priced appropriately.

The Mango Languages Latin course is a lilliputian different: while it takes Latin texts from Caesar, Cicero, and other classical writers as its base of operations, information technology focuses on helping you lot build your ain Latin sentences and can be a useful tool for learning Latin pronunciation. Beginner students might appreciate the focus on agile learning, although the featured texts are very curt. It has a fourteen-day free trial or you can find out more about the features in our detailed review (focused on modern languages).

Petrarch'south Livy, featuring twelfth-century annotations by Petrarch and Lorenzo Valla. Public domain.

Duolingo also has a Latin course, although some linguistic communication learners notice it difficult due to the lack of in-depth grammatical explanations.

Mondly is another choice. It more often than not wouldn't exist our first pick of language-learning resources as it tin exist a bit dull. Nevertheless, it could assistance you memorize some basic vocabulary and judgement structures.

Meanwhile, Memrise doesn't have an official Latin class but does host several community-fabricated ones. Most of them are designed to back-trail specific textbooks, making them a viable supplementary activity that will aid y'all drill the content.

By and large, we don't recommend Rosetta Stone. Nosotros plant it to be expensive, dull, and repetitive. Just it is another selection if yous're looking to learn Latin in a non-bookish way. While we'd suggest trying out some of these other courses outset, you may find it worth looking at.

Latin Courses to Avert

In our experience, Transparent Linguistic communication can be monotonous. It involves memorizing words and phrases with very little grammatical caption. On the plus side, it does requite some historical context to the phrases – yet without exploring Latin grammer in greater item, we question how useful it tin really be.

Cudoo is a one-size-fits-all arroyo to language learning: afterward all, what other beginner-level Latin course would hope to teach you how to give out your phone number? It doesn't seem like any attempt to customize the grade cloth has been made.

We don't guarantee that you'll larn how to talk about phone numbers, either: in our feel, Cudoo doesn't always deliver on everything in the course description. Plus it'due south dull, devoid of grammatical and cultural explanations, and ineffective at drilling.

Latin Grammar Breakdowns and Guides

The Latin Library contains links to numerous Latin grammar breakdowns organized past function, as well every bit vocabulary handouts for textbooks, exercises, and readings. These are designed as supplementary materials for Latin courses from George Mason Academy, just make excellent guides if you desire to ameliorate your understanding of a particular grammatical point. In that location'southward too a Declension Exerciser.

The Academy of Ohio has a fairly detailed (but still in progress) guide to Latin grammer. Latdict is another in-progress but helpful option.

Conjuguemos has a series of games and practise activities that volition aid y'all drill your Latin verb conjugations and moods.

The Latin Learner app won't teach you grammar, but it will test you on your declensions and verb tenses, as well as on the vocabulary in Wheelock's Latin. Plus, it has a dictionary.

You can also buy a series of Latin worksheets hither.

Latin Vocabulary Builders and Word Games

Limited vocabulary can be 1 of the biggest challenges to fluent reading. Fourth dimension spent drilling relevant words can pay off subsequently when you lot're able to read texts without checking the lexicon quite so often.

Some of these tools are designed specifically for Latin; others embrace multiple languages. For the latter kind, it may be worth double-checking the words in the dictionary. For example, "apple tree" can be translated as mālum or pomum, but these words tin can besides be used to mean fruit and tree-growing fruit respectively.

Minimus Etc has a range of flashcards and cocky-tests. Information technology also comes with some workbooks and worksheets. While it's designed to be used by children, information technology can exist a good tool for building upwards basic vocabulary.

Yuni.com has an extensive list of Latin phrases. We like that all the phrases come from quotes, meaning that they are accurate, and besides that yous can click on any phrase and see ones that starting time with the same word. Clicking on ab initio ("from the beginning") will accept you to a folio with phrases like ab hinc ("from hither on") and ab origine ("from the origin"). This makes information technology easier to spot patterns, expand your knowledge, and develop more way when writing and speaking in Latin – if that'southward your goal, of course.

Android users might like to endeavor Beginner Latin and Beginner Latin 2. The apps volition show y'all a series of Latin words, and when you come across a new one, add information technology to a list for you. When reviewing the listing, you tin can choose whether you desire to meet the definitions and also practice a true-or-false quiz about the words' meanings. While adequately basic, these apps can assist you report on the get.

When you're ready for more than challenging vocabulary, you could attempt ok Latin from the same web programmer. The vocabulary is more advanced, and it likewise functions every bit a dictionary and give-and-take-of-the-day app. Withal, the quiz is easier. In fact, you lot might find it too piece of cake and decide to create your own flashcards.

Clozemaster gets you to gauge the missing word in Latin sentences, using phrases such every bit "How much practice the carrots cost?" (Quanti abiding carotae?) and "The princess was eaten past the shark" (Principissa a squalo devorata est.) It will repeat phrases until it's satisfied that yous've "mastered" them. We like that you get to see the words in context, dissimilar with many vocabulary builders. Use it with a salubrious amount of caution, though: some of the phrases appear to have come from Tatoeba, which relies on users adding and translating sentences.

uTalk uses games to drill phrases. It'southward constructive, but we're not certain it's the best method for learning Latin as we would ordinarily recommend it ahead of a short trip. Information technology won't teach you grammar, and some of the phrases are focused on going shopping and technology. On the other hand, if you're planning to attend a Living Latin upshot and feel nervous about switching from Caesar to small talk, this might exist a expert pick for you.

Y'all might likewise come up across the StartFromZero Latin app. Although it'south made by the same developer equally Beginner Latin and okLatin, we would use information technology with circumspection. Nosotros came across several errors.

The Anki app allows you lot to create your ain flashcards or use another student'due south shared deck. If you're already reading Latin and discovering new vocabulary, information technology will help make sure that you don't forget information technology. Nosotros like the fashion it adapts to how challenging you notice a give-and-take or phrase.

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The Magna Carta, an example of Medieval Latin. Public domain.

Audio Courses and Podcasts for Learning Latin

Whether yous're a believer in Living Latin or just learn best aurally, there'south no reason to overlook podcasts and audio courses.

Just like the title suggests, Learning Latin via Agrippina sets out to teach yous Latin through reading Agrippina. It contains the original text, the translation, and introduces like phrases that use the new vocabulary and/or sentence structures.

The Latin Poetry Podcast is an English language-language podcast that breaks down the pregnant of Latin poems. It's an accessible and engaging companion to the poems, and the Latin text is included in the podcast clarification.

Ready to immerse yourself in Latin? Nosotros recommend starting off with something like Latinitium. Each episode is the retelling of a short Latin story, and you tin read the Latin text at the same time.

Nuntii Latini was a weekly Latin-language news broadcast that, after 30 years, finally went off air in 2019. Yet, you can mind to nine years' worth of episodes online.

The 3-person podcast Quomodo Dicitur is slowly only regularly updated, and has over 160 episodes. Many of these are slightly under 30 minutes long.

Alternatively, you might prefer In Foro Romano, Sermones Raedarii, Philologia Perennis, or Legio Xiii. At that place are enough of options, then it's worth trying them all out until you notice one that catches your attending.

Latin Textbooks and Grammars

The Lingua Latina books are many Latin learners' favorite texts. While they are widely described as a textbook, they could exist considered more like a graded Latin reader. Each book set out to teach you Latin through immersion in a fictional story, simply in that location's a twist: they desire you to be able to read the story without reaching for a dictionary. Pictures and explanatory notes help yous to make sense of what is going on, and although you are intended to choice up the grammar intuitively, there are some grammer breakdowns for you. Each affiliate as well has practice exercises. Y'all'll want to begin with Familia Romana before progressing to Roma Aeterna and the many readers.

Those who want a chip more grammar in their Latin studies could attempt using A Companion to Familia Romana alongside the commencement Lingua Latina book. It'south written past a dissimilar author and focuses on providing more grammatical explanations, cultural notes, and English-linguistic communication definitions.

If yous don't like learning-through-immersion, however, you could try Wheelock's Latin. It has a heavy focus on grammer and translation, and is suitable for beginners.

The Cambridge Latin Course textbooks tread the heart basis between Wheelock's Latin and Lingua Latina. It mixes grammar and vocabulary with short stories and cultural notes. It is more expensive than many other options, nonetheless.

Learn to Read Latin benefits from in-depth explanations, equally well as an accompanying workbook (although information technology doesn't come up with an answer primal). Make sure to buy the second editions, which were published in 2015.

The Ecce Romani series was widely used in the by, and still has its fans today.

If you lot're searching for something that volition teach you everyday Latin, you might like Conversational Latin for Oral Proficiency.

Allen and Greenough'due south New Latin Grammar is a reference book rather than a textbook. It can exist a useful resource if you want to cheque coast tables or double bank check a grammatical betoken.

You lot might encounter Classical Latin: An Introductory Course and the accompanying workbook being used in courses. Even so, these tend to be less popular amongst people studying past themselves.

Teach Yourself Latin receives mixed reviews, with many criticizing it for being too challenging.

Latin Texts: Roman, Medieval, and Mod-Day

Finally, we've got to the whole reason why you're studying Latin (probably): the texts.

Although you're probable smashing to read Caesar and other famous texts, it could be worth starting with something a footling more accessible. If you haven't used the Lingua Latina textbooks, you might like to give them a try. While described equally a textbook, they read like stories, and are popular among beginner-level Latin students.

Latinitium's Pugio Bruti: A Crime Story in Easy Latin is 70 pages long yet simply uses 350 singled-out words. It's designed to help Latin learners memorize those 350 words through their natural repetition throughout the story, which focuses on a young woman, Terentia, and a mysterious dagger left to her by her father. There is also an audiobook version and an accompanying online course. Some of their Patreon membership levels include additional Latin stories and audios.

Manga Method is another option: this website is defended to providing manga and comic books in as many languages every bit possible. Information technology has some handy actress features for learners, as well. Double click on a character's speech to read a translation, or click once to hear an audio recording of the speech.

When yous're ready for authentic texts, you could commencement with Hans Henning Ørberg's readers. He authored the Lingua Latina series, and while the readers are more challenging, they will support you through the transition to classical texts. He has published readers for Vergil, Caesar, Cicero, Ovid, and more.

Alternatively, you could try bilingual Latin texts, such as the Loeb library or, if yous're interested in Renaissance Latin, the I Tatti library.

If you are interested in medieval Latin, effort Beeson's A Primer of Medieval Latin or Reading Medieval Latin. Meanwhile, Piccolomini's Renaissance-era Historia de duobus amantibus is more salacious than you might look from someone who later became the Pope.

As for classical Latin, you lot have enough to choose from when you're prepare to forgo bilingual texts and readers: Caesar, Cicero, Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Seneca, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Tibullus, Livy… Endeavour to pick texts that interest you, and don't be afraid to switch to something a fiddling easier if your current text proves besides challenging.

You could also attempt using LingQ or SPQR Latin to assist you out with your reading. LingQ contains a choice of Latin-linguistic communication texts and a mediocre flashcard tool, but our favorite matter most it is the ability to import the texts y'all want to read. You can then look up new vocabulary without exiting the LingQ app.

SPQR Latin works in a similar way only, as you lot can probably guess from the name, was built specifically for Latin students. It has an all-encompassing range of classical texts and some medieval ones, as well every bit textbooks. In that location'south as well a dictionary, flashcards, and Latin parser. Unlike LingQ, there isn't a free version. However, the i-off payment for SPQR Latin is affordable, and the app will likely offering nearly students greater value than LingQ would.

Latin Videos and Classes on YouTube

LatinTutorial is a must-use resources for anyone studying Latin. There are 22 playlists on topics such as Basic Latin Essentials, 91 Rules of Latin Grammar, and Figures of Speech.

Latinum Institute has a 169-video Latin class appropriate for complete beginners. The appearance is a little dated, merely it's difficult to complain when nearly all the videos were published in 2012.

Paideia Media has both Latin-language videos and English-language videos about learning Latin, such every bit a recorded alive seminar on Using Fables to Activate Latin.

Scorpio Martianus has a 67-video playlist to accompany the Lingua Latina textbooks, Disney songs in Latin, and more.

We've already mentioned Latinitium'south book and audio clips. They also accept a YouTube account with a range of videos for learners, including a short Acquire to Speak Latin playlist (not suitable for beginners).

The videos from Divus Magister Craft are a mixture of Latin-linguistic communication stories, cultural explanations, and challenges.

Magazines, Dictionaries, and Other Resources for Learning Latin

Did you remember magazines were too modern for Latin? Recollect again. There are over 200 editions of Palaestra Latina, all of which are available online. They were originally published in Spain in the early on- and mid- 20th century, and so in that location are some that readers might find uncomfortable (especially the ones from the time of the 2nd World War).

Alternatively, Docere was published in a range of languages in 2002 and 2003. There were but seven issues, just you can read all of them online for free.

With all this reading, you're leap to demand a lexicon. Y'all might like to attempt Whitaker's Words, Online Latin Dictionary, or Latdict.

This Latin pronunciation guide will assistance those looking to speak or mind to Latin. This pronunciation guide, meanwhile, is specific to Ecclesiastical Latin.

Latin might be considered a "expressionless language," but you won't become bored studying information technology. From podcasts to novels and magazines to spoken Latin events, in that location are plenty of interesting ways to use Latin – fifty-fifty before you've picked up one of the classics.