tempora
The English phrase "seasons" is translated into Latin as tempora.
How does it change in a sentence?
tempora is the plural form of the neuter noun tempus, which can mean both "time" and "season". If you need to say "of the seasons" to indicate possession or a relationship, use the genitive plural form temporum.
Did you know?
- While tempora is the general term for 'seasons', the Roman calendar originally had only ten months, leaving the winter 'season' as an unnamed gap in the year.
- The phrase O tempora, o mores! is a famous lament by Cicero that translates to 'Oh the times, oh the customs!' It uses tempora to complain about the moral decline of the 'seasons' or 'eras' of human history.
- In Latin, the word tempus does not just mean a 'season' or a 'period of time', it can also mean 'the weather' or 'the current state of the sky'.
Examples in context
- Quot tempora anni sunt?How many seasons are there in a year?This sentence is useful for asking how many seasons are in a year using tempora.Tatoeba #6674938 by CarpeLanam, translation #73059 by CM
- "Quae sunt quattuor tempora?" "Ver, aestas, autumnus et hiems.""What are the four seasons?" "Spring, summer, fall, and winter."This sentence is useful for listing the four seasons, including ver, aestas, autumnus and hiems.Tatoeba #11167222 by carlosalberto, translation #11167202 by carlosalberto
- Dixit autem Deus: “Fiant luminaria in firmamento cæli, ut dividant diem ac noctem et sint in signa et tempora et dies et annos, ut luceant in firmamento cæli et illuminent terram". Et factum est ita.And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: to shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth, and it was so done.This sentence shows how tempora is used in a larger context alongside days and years.Tatoeba #7929445 by carlosalberto, translation #7929449 by carlosalberto
Example conversation
Aurelia and Gaius are discussing the weather in Rome.
- AureliaAmo omnia tempora anni.I love all the seasons of the year.
- GaiusSed ego hiemem odi.But I hate winter.
- AureliaQuid de aliis temporibus?What about the other seasons?
- GaiusAestatem maxime amo, Aurelia.I love summer the most, Aurelia.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
