Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| excellens | [ɛksˈkɛl.lẽːs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [eksˈt͡ʃɛl.lens] (narrow) |
| praestābilis |
Both terms describe something of the highest quality. excellens is used to describe something that stands out by surpassing others, while praestābilis is often used to describe someone or something that is distinguished or noteworthy in a specific skill or quality.
What does it mean word for word?
It literally translates to 'surpassing' or 'outstanding'.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean excellent, praestābilis often carries a nuance of being 'distinguished' or 'noteworthy' in a particular quality, whereas excellens focuses more on the act of surpassing others.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form excellens is a third-declension adjective. This means its endings will change depending on the case and gender. However, the spelling for the nominative singular remains the same for masculine, feminine and neuter forms.
Did you know?
- While excellens describes a high quality, the Romans used the term egregius to describe someone so 'excellent' that they were literally 'out of the flock'.
- The word praestābilis comes from prae meaning 'before' and stāre meaning 'to stand'. To be excellent in this sense is literally to 'stand before' everyone else in a line.
- In Roman military contexts, the concept of being praestābilis was often tied to 'virtus', a word that means both 'virtue' and 'manliness' or 'courage'.
Examples in context
- Birra fuit excellens.The beer was excellent.This sentence shows how to use excellens to describe a quality of an object.Tatoeba #13882429 by rul, translation #9936578 by ddnktr
- Ille est optimus magister.He is an excellent teacher.
- Haec est optima mensa.This is an excellent table.
- Optime factum!Excellent job!
- Hic poeta excellens est.This poet is excellent.
Example conversation
Marcus and Claudia are discussing a meal.
- MarcusQuid putas de cibo?What do you think of the food?
- ClaudiaCibus est excellens, Marce.The food is excellent, Marcus.
- MarcusGaudeo quod tibi placet.I am glad that you like it.
- ClaudiaIta est, valde placet.It is, I like it very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excellent” translations and entries excellens, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
