capra
[ˈka.pra]feminine
The English word goat is translated into Latin as capra. Wiktionary also lists caper and hircus.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| capra | [ˈka.pra] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈkaː.pra] (narrow) |
feminine |
| caper | [ˈka.pɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈkaː.per] (narrow) |
masculine |
| hircus | [ˈhɪr.kʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈir.kus] (narrow) |
masculine |
The term is used to refer to the animal known as a goat.
Which one should you use?
There are several masculine and feminine forms depending on the gender of the goat or the specific type of goat being described. The masculine form caper is often used to refer specifically to a male goat or billy goat. The term hircus is also a masculine noun used for a billy goat, often emphasizing its scent or specific characteristics. The feminine form capra is used to refer specifically to a female goat or she-goat.
How does it change in a sentence?
For the feminine noun capra, the genitive singular form (meaning "of the goat") is caprae and the accusative singular form is caprum.
Did you know?
- The Latin word caper is actually a linguistic cousin to the Ancient Greek word for a wild boar.
- The word hircus is a bit of a mystery to linguists, as there is no certain Proto-Indo-European ancestor that can be formally reconstructed for it.
Examples in context
- Et equus et leo et canis et caper animalia sunt.Horse, lion, dog, goat: these are animals.This sentence is useful for listing various animals including the masculine form caper.Tatoeba #1107595 by alexmarcelo, translation #943138 by mayok
- Respondens Dominus: Sume, inquit, mihi vitulam triennem et capram trimam et arietem annorum trium, turturem quoque et columbam.And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years old, and a she-goat of three years. and a ram of three years, a turtle also, and a pigeon.This sentence is useful for identifying a she-goat using the feminine form capra.Tatoeba #7756155 by carlosalberto, translation #7848821 by carlosalberto
- Taurus, vacca et vitulus pilis teguntur. Aries, Ovis cum Agno Lanam gestant. Hircus (Caper), cum Caprā, et Haedo habent Villos et aruncos.The bull, the cow and the calf are covered with hair. The ram, or wether, the ewe and the lamb have wool. The billy goat, the gelded goat, the she-goat and kid have long hair and beards.This sentence is useful for showing how the masculine form caper relates to other animals and their characteristics.Tatoeba #7355865 by jimkillock, translation #7355876 by jimkillock
Example conversation
Gaius and Lucia are looking at animals on a farm.
- GaiusEcce capra in horto!Look, a goat in the garden!
- LuciaIta, capra est pulchra.Yes, the goat is beautiful.
- GaiusHabetne capra cibum?Does the goat have food?
- LuciaIta, capra herbam edit.Yes, the goat is eating grass.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries capra, caper, hircus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caper, capra, hircus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
