vetus amicus
[ˈwɛ.tʊs aˈmiː.kʊs]word by word
The English phrase 'old friend' is translated into Latin as vetus amicus.
This phrase describes a person who has been a friend for a long time.
Which one should you use?
The adjective vetus refers to something that is old in terms of age or has existed for a long time, rather than describing someone who is elderly (senex).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase becomes vetus amica when referring to a female friend.
Did you know?
- The Proto-Celtic relative of vetus shifted in meaning to describe a sow that had already given birth.
- Roman authors often used the term amicus to describe a political ally or a client, regardless of whether they actually liked the person.
- The word amicus is derived from the Latin verb amō, which means 'to love'. To the Romans, a friend was literally a 'loved one'.
Examples in context
- Salve, amicus antiquus!Hello, old friend!
- Quam bonum est te videre, vetus amice!How good it is to see you, old friend!
- Vetus amicus est mihi.He is an old friend to me.
- Vetus amicus advenit.An old friend arrives.
- Vetus amicus me salutat.An old friend greets me.
Example conversation
Lucia and Marcus meet in a quiet courtyard.
- LuciaSalve, Marce! Quis est hic vetus amicus?Hello, Marcus! Who is this old friend?
- MarcusSalve, Lucia! Hic est amicus meus vetus.Hello, Lucia! This is my old friend.
- LuciaEgo eum cognosco!I recognize him!
- MarcusIta vero, multos annos nos simul habitavimus.Indeed, we lived together for many years.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (vetus, amicus) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amicus, vetus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
