dē
The Latin preposition dē can be used to mean 'of'.
The preposition dē is frequently used to mean 'about' or 'concerning' a subject, such as speaking about the war. Additionally, the Ablative case can express 'of' to indicate source or material.
Meaning: possessive genitive: belonging to (prep)
Which one should you use?
While dē can mean 'concerning' or 'about', it is not the standard way to express simple possession. For that, one typically uses the genitive case alone without a preposition.
Did you know?
- In Latin, the word dē literally means 'down from'. This is why it is used to mean 'about' or 'of' a subject, as if the speaker is taking information down from a source.
- To say 'of' in the sense of 'coming out of' a place, Latin would typically use ex rather than dē. Using dē for a physical exit might sound like you are moving 'down from' a height.
- Because dē can mean 'down from', using it to describe a person can imply they are descending from a specific lineage or rank.
Examples in context
- PuellaeOf the girl
Example conversation
Claudia and Gaius are discussing a new book.
- ClaudiaQuid legis, Gai?What are you reading, Gaius?
- GaiusLego librum dē natura.I am reading a book of nature.
- ClaudiaEstne optimus?Is it very good?
- GaiusIta, valde iucundus est.Yes, it is very enjoyable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “of” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
