epistula
[ɛˈpɪs.tʊ.ɫa]feminine
The English word "letter" can be translated into Latin as epistula. Wiktionary also lists litterae.
Meaning: written message (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| epistula | [ɛˈpɪs.tʊ.ɫa] (Classical Latin, narrow) [eˈpis.tu.la] (narrow) |
feminine |
| litterae | feminine, plural |
What does it mean word for word?
The word litterae can also literally mean the individual characters or letters of an alphabet.
Which one should you use?
epistula is used when referring to a single written message, whereas litterae is a plural noun used to refer to a letter or correspondence in general.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In ancient Rome and surrounding regions, the term tabella was used to refer to a small wooden tablet used for writing or a letter. Charta is a word originating from late Latin that refers to a piece of paper or parchment and can imply a letter.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both epistula and litterae are feminine nouns.
Did you know?
- Roman letters were often written in 'scriptio continua', a style where there were no spaces between words or punctuation to separate thoughts.
- The word litterae is the direct ancestor of the English word 'literature'. It originally referred to the act of writing or the letters themselves before it described a body of written works.
- To prevent fraud, Romans often sealed their litterae with a signet ring pressed into wax, making the physical seal as important as the written text.
Examples in context
- Epistulam ad me misit.She sent me a letter.This sentence is useful for showing the use of the form epistula in an accusative object position.Tatoeba #11919172 by soridsolid, translation #314219 by CK
- Epistulam ab ea accepi.I received a letter from her.Tatoeba #1390460 by alexmarcelo, translation #261024 by CK
- Ubi sunt litterae tuae?Where is your letter?This sentence is useful for showing how to ask for the form litterae.Tatoeba #11086463 by soridsolid, translation #6956373 by Eccles17
- Litteram tuam accepi.I received your letter.
- Gratias tibi ago pro tua litterula.Thank you for your lovely letter.
- Potesne mihi literam scribere?Can you write me a letter?
- Tabellam mihi tradidit.He handed me the letter.
- 147 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Quintus and Aurelia are discussing a piece of mail.
- QuintusVidistine hanc epistulam, Aurelia?Did you see this letter, Aurelia?
- AureliaNon vidi. Quis eam scripsit?I did not see it. Who wrote it?
- QuintusAmicus meus ex Roma epistulam misit.My friend sent a letter from Rome.
- AureliaLego eam nunc cum gaudio.I am reading it now with joy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “letter” translations and entries epistula, litterae, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
