minutum
Medieval, neuter
The English phrase "minute" (unit of time) can be translated into Latin as minutum. If unsure, use minutum. Wiktionary also lists minuta and horae pars sexagesima.
Meaning: unit of time (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| minutum | Medieval, neuter | |
| minuta | [mɪˈnuː.ta] (Classical Latin, narrow) [miˈnuː.ta] (narrow) |
Medieval, feminine, uncommon |
| horae pars sexagesima | [ˈhoː.rae̯ ˈpars sɛk.saːˈɡeː.sɪ.ma] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈɔː.re ˈpars seɡ.zaˈd͡ʒɛː.s̬i.ma] (narrow) |
Late |
The term is used to refer to a unit of time. In Medieval contexts, the noun minutum is the standard form, though the uncommon feminine form minuta also exists.
What does it mean word for word?
The word minutum is a neuter noun derived from the past participle of the verb minuere, which means "to make small". It literally translates to "a small thing".
Which one should you use?
minutum is a Medieval term. In contrast, the Late Latin phrase horae pars sexagesima is a more descriptive way to specify the mathematical concept of a minute as the sixtieth part of an hour.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
minutum is a neuter noun. The form minuta is a feminine noun. Related adjectives such as minūtus can also mean "very small".
Did you know?
- Classical Latin had no single word for 'minute' because the Romans did not divide their hours into sixty equal parts.
- The root of pars may be related to the Ancient Greek word pórnē, meaning 'prostitute'.
- The term minutum is primarily a Medieval Latin construction rather than a Classical one.
Examples in context
- Post unum minutum veniam.I will come after one minute.
- Non habeo unum minutum extra.I do not have one extra minute.
- Unum minutum tantum est.It is only one minute.
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are waiting for a meeting to start.
- LuciusCur non venit?Why is he not coming?
- AureliaSero venit. Exspectemus unum minutum.He is coming late. Let us wait one minute.
- LuciusSed iam multa minuta exspectavimus!But we have already waited many minutes!
- AureliaTamen patiens esto, Luci.Still, be patient, Lucius.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minute” translations and entries minutum, minuta, horae pars sexagesima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries horae pars sexagesima, pars, CC BY-SA 4.0.
