Welcome to our guide on how to say “on” in Latin! Whether you’re a language enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about Latin, we’ll help you understand the different ways to express “on” in both formal and informal contexts. While Latin does not have a direct equivalent for the English word “on,” there are several approaches and constructions that can convey the idea effectively.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “On” in Latin
In formal Latin, you can use the preposition “super” or the prepositional phrase “in super” to indicate “on” in a spatial sense.
1. Super
“Super” is the most common way to express “on” in Latin.
Example: “The vase is on the table.”
“Vas est super mensam.”
Tip: “Super” can also indicate “about” or “concerning” depending on the context.
2. In Super
When you want to emphasize the idea of being “on top of” or “placed onto,” you can use the prepositional phrase “in super.”
Example: “She placed the book on the shelf.”
“Librum in supercilium posuit.”
Tip: “In supercilium” can also be used in legal contexts to indicate “on top of” when referring to hierarchies or rankings.
Informal Ways to Say “On” in Latin
Informally, Latin does not have a specific word for “on.” Instead, you can use different constructions and phrases to convey the meaning.
1. Accusative Case
One way to express “on” informally is by using the accusative case with the prepositions “ad” or “in.”
Example: “The food is on the table.”
“Cibus est in mensa.”
Tip: The accusative case shows movement towards or onto something.
2. Locative Case
Another informal option is to use the locative case, which expresses location or position without a preposition.
Example: “The cat is on the mat.”
“Felis in lecto.”
Tip: The locative case is used primarily with nouns denoting place or time. It has specific forms for different types of nouns.
3. Ablative Case with “In”
Using the ablative case with the preposition “in” can also indicate “on” in an informal manner.
Example: “He stood on the stage.”
“In scaena stetit.”
Tip: The ablative case expresses the idea of location in which an action takes place.
Regional Variations
Latin had several regional variations across ancient Rome, but the general concepts for expressing “on” were largely consistent.
