Cogito
[ˈkoː.ɡɪ.toː]
The English phrase "I think" is expressed in Latin as Cogito.
Cogito is used to express a personal opinion or a belief. When you want to say you are thinking "about" or "of" something, you typically use cogito followed by the preposition de and the ablative case.
What does it mean word for word?
Cogito is the first-person singular present indicative active form of the verb cogitare, meaning "I think" or "I am thinking".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the context of Cicero's Rome, the verb sentio was also frequently used to express the notion of "I think".
How does it change in a sentence?
Cogito is a first-conjugation verb, which means its infinitive form is cogitare.
Did you know?
- The phrase Cogito, ergo sum was not originally written in Latin, but in French as 'Je pense, donc je suis' in René Descartes' 1637 work.
- The verb cogito is actually a compound of 'con-' and 'agitō', which originally meant 'to drive together' or 'to bundle up'.
- Latin has no single word that perfectly maps to the English 'think' because it splits the concept into cogito for mental processing, puto for estimating and sentio for perceiving.
Examples in context
- Cogito ergo deus est.I think, therefore God exists.This sentence shows the use of Cogito to express a philosophical conclusion.Tatoeba #783764 by BraveSentry, translation #6149766 by CarpeLanam
- Nocte dieque de ea cogito.I think of her day and night.This sentence demonstrates how to use cogito to express thinking of someone constantly.Tatoeba #1390524 by alexmarcelo, translation #259451 by CK
- Quoties hoc carmen audio, de te cogito.I think about you every time I listen to this song.This sentence shows the use of cogito to express thinking about someone.Tatoeba #12342864 by carlosalberto, translation #11217540 by ddnktr
- Credo linguam Latinam esse pulchram.I think Latin is beautiful.
- Opinor hanc fabulam pulchram esse.I think this story is beautiful.
- Puto artem novam valde admirabilem esse.I think contemporary art is highly admirable.
- Existimo id multum interessare.I think that's very interesting.
- Cogito me melius haec intellegere.I think I understand this better.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Claudia and Marcus are discussing a book they just read.
- ClaudiaHic liber est nimis longus.This book is too long.
- MarcusCogito eum esse optimum.I think it is the best.
- ClaudiaCur id cogitas, Marce?Why do you think that, Marcus?
- MarcusQuia historia est vera.Because the story is true.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry cogito.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cogito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
