avi
The English phrase "grandparents" is avi in Latin.
The term avi is used to refer to the parents of one's father or mother. While avi refers to grandparents as a group, you may use specific terms for individual relatives. For example, avus can be used specifically to refer to a paternal grandfather and pappus is another term for grandfather that is influenced by Greek.
Which one should you use?
You should use the singular form avus when referring to a grandfather and avia when referring to a grandmother. In contrast, avi is used to refer to the grandparents collectively as a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word avi is the masculine plural form, which is used to refer to a mixed group of grandfathers and grandmothers. For the singular forms, use avus for a grandfather and avia for a grandmother. If you need to indicate possession by the grandparents, use the genitive plural form avorum.
Did you know?
- The word avus is related to the Latin word aevum, which means 'age' or 'eternity'. This suggests the Romans linked the idea of a grandparent with the concept of long time.
- In Roman law, the avus held a legal right called 'jus avitaticum', which allowed a grandfather to reclaim property he had given to his son if the son died without children.
- Romans often used avus to refer to any ancestor from a previous generation, not just a biological grandparent. It could describe a great-grandfather or even a distant forefather.
Examples in context
- Proximo hebdomadis fine cum avis domi manebo.I'll stay at home with my grandparents this weekend.This sentence shows how to use avi to describe staying home with grandparents.Tatoeba #9694939 by soridsolid, translation #1123571 by CK
- Thomas Lingua Francogallice cum avis suis loquitur.Tom speaks French to his grandparents.This sentence uses avi to describe someone speaking a language to their grandparents.Tatoeba #9017932 by soridsolid, translation #2451313 by CK
- Avus et avia horum liberorum nonaginta annorum sunt.The grandparents of these children are ninety years old.This sentence uses avi to express the age of a group of grandparents.Tatoeba #11767041 by carlosalberto, translation #11766997 by carlosalberto
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Claudia and Quintus are discussing their family holiday plans.
- ClaudiaUbi sunt avi tui, Quinte?Where are your grandparents, Quintus?
- QuintusAvi mei in Italia habitant.My grandparents live in Italy.
- ClaudiaVisne eos hac aestate visitare?Do you want to visit them this summer?
- QuintusIta, ad avos meos iter faciam.Yes, I will travel to my grandparents.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
