ambō
masculine
The Latin word for 'both' is ambō.
ambō is used as a determiner to refer to each of two things or one and the other. To express the conjunction 'both…and…', you can use the phrase et…et…, repeating et before each item you are linking.
Meaning: each of two, one and the other (det)
Which one should you use?
While ambō is the masculine form, the word must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. For example, you should use ambae when referring to feminine nouns.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, ambō must decline in case, number and gender to match the noun it accompanies. For instance, the masculine or neuter genitive plural form is ambōrum.
Did you know?
- The Latin word ambō is the direct ancestor of the English prefix 'ambi-' found in words like 'ambidextrous' and 'ambivalent'.
- The word ambō shares a Proto-Indo-European root with the Sanskrit word ubhayah, which also means 'both'.
- Latin poets sometimes avoid using ambō in favor of duo to maintain a specific rhythmic meter in a line of verse.
Examples in context
- Ambō mentītī sunt.They both lied.This sentence illustrates the use of ambō to indicate that two people performed an action.Tatoeba #11039347 by alexmarcelo, translation #9183242 by CK
- Et pater et materBoth father and mother
- Ambi soceri maximi amicos habent.Both fathers-in-law have great friends.
- Ambo fratres in villa habitant.Both brothers live in the countryside.
- Ambō puerī laetī sunt.Both boys are happy.
- Ambō servī laborant.Both slaves are working.
Example conversation
Lucia and Quintus are talking about two friends.
- LuciaUtrī amīcī veniunt?Which of the two friends are coming?
- QuintusAmbō ad forum veniunt.Both are coming to the forum.
- LuciaBene, ubi sunt nunc?Good, where are they now?
- QuintusQuintus dīcit eōs prope esse.Quintus says they are nearby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “both” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
