quis
[ˈkʷɪs]
The Latin word quis means.
quis is an interrogative pronoun used to ask which person or what person is being referred to. In English, it translates to 'who' or 'whom'.
How does it change in a sentence?
quis is the nominative singular form, used when the person is the subject of a sentence. When you need to indicate possession, use the genitive form cuius to mean 'whose'.
Did you know?
- The word quis is a cognate of the English word 'who'. Both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷís, which was used across many ancient languages to ask for identity.
- While quis is used for people, it can be used for things in specific contexts where the speaker is treating an object as a person. This personification allows the writer to attribute human traits to an inanimate object.
- In some Roman legal or formal texts, quis is used in a rhetorical way to state a fact that everyone already knows. This transforms the 'who' into a tool for emphasis rather than a request for information.
Examples in context
- Quis erit in conventu?Who will be at the meeting?
- Quis ex discipulis disertissimus est?Who among the students is the most eloquent?
- Quis est hic vir?Who is this man?
- Quis venit ad villam?Who is coming to the villa?
- Quis est amicus tuus?Who is your friend?
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are waiting for a guest at home.
- LuciusQuis ad portam pulsat?Who is knocking at the door?
- AureliaMarcus venit, Luci.Marcus is coming, Lucius.
- LuciusQuis eum misit?Who sent him?
- AureliaNoster amicus eum misit.Our friend sent him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
