salva me
The English phrase 'save me' is translated into Latin as salva me.
The phrase is used as a request for someone to rescue or protect the speaker from danger or harm.
Which one should you use?
The verb servare can also be used to mean 'save' or 'preserve' me, resulting in the alternative serva me. In later Latin, salvare became more common for rescue contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the phrase from 'save me' to 'save him', you change the pronoun from 'me' to 'eum', resulting in salva eum. In a religious context, you might add Domine to address a deity, creating the phrase salva me, Domine.
Did you know?
- In the Catholic liturgy, a similar plea appears in the 'Kyrie eleison', though the phrase is Greek rather than Latin.
- The word salva comes from the same root as the English word 'salvation' and the Italian word salute, which means 'health'.
- If you were shouting this to a crowd rather than one person, the grammar would shift from salva me to the plural salvate me.
Examples in context
- Serva me, DomineSave me, Lord
- Salva me, precorSave me, I pray
- Salva me, Deus!Save me, God!
- Salva me ab hostibus.Save me from the enemies.
- Per sapientiam, salva me.By wisdom, save me.
Example conversation
Marcus is trapped in a dangerous situation and calls for Lucia's help.
- MarcusLucia, salva me!Lucia, save me!
- LuciaVeni ad me, Marce!Come to me, Marcus!
- MarcusNon possum moveri, salva me!I cannot move, save me!
- LuciaTe iam servo.I am saving you now.
