debitum
The English word debt is translated into Latin as debitum.
debitum refers to money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another. To express the state of having a debt, you can use the phrase habere debitum. If you wish to describe the act of falling into debt, the phrase in aes alienum incidere is used, while in sumptus incidere is used to mean incurring debt. A genuine debt can be described as a bona fide obligatio.
Meaning: money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the neuter noun debitum is debita. To indicate possession or a relationship to a debt, use the genitive singular form debiti (of a debt).
Did you know?
- In early Roman law, a person who could not pay their debitum could be seized by their creditors and forced into nexum, a form of debt bondage that made them a legal servant.
- In Roman law, a debt was often referred to as aes alienum, which literally translates to 'alien bronze'. This stems from an ancient time when bronze was the standard medium for commerce.
- The word 'debt' in English contains a silent 'b' because of its Latin roots. In the original Latin, the 'b' in debitum was clearly pronounced, but it was lost in English as the spelling was altered to reflect the etymology.
Examples in context
- Promissio autem est debitum.A promise is a debt.Tatoeba #3350779 by carlosalberto, translation #2534999 by Alois
- Hoc debitum solvere debeo.I must pay this debt.
- Magnum debitum habet.He has a large debt.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are discussing a loan.
- LuciusAurelia, quantum est debitum meum?Aurelia, how much is my debt?
- AureliaTuum debitum est decem denarii.Your debt is ten denarii.
- LuciusHoc debitum cras solvam.I will pay this debt tomorrow.
- AureliaBene, exspectabo te cras.Good, I will expect you tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries debitum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
