minister
[mɪˈnɪs.tɛr]masculine
Servant in Latin is minister, a masculine noun for a person who serves or attends. If unsure, use minister. Wiktionary also lists ministra and famulus.
Meaning: one who is hired to perform regular household or other duties, and receives compensation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| minister | [mɪˈnɪs.tɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [miˈnis.ter] (narrow) |
masculine |
| ministra | [mɪˈnɪs.tra] (Classical Latin, narrow) [miˈnis.tra] (narrow) |
feminine |
| famulus | [ˈfa.mʊ.ɫʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈfaː.mu.lus] (narrow) |
masculine |
| famula | [ˈfa.mʊ.ɫa] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈfaː.mu.la] (narrow) |
feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
minister is related to the verb ministrare, to serve or to attend to.
Which one should you use?
minister suggests someone performing a specific duty or office, often in a more official capacity than a household servant. famulus means a household or personal servant who belongs to a household, with a closer and more subordinate relationship to a master.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of minister is ministra, and the feminine form of famulus is famula.
Did you know?
- The English word 'ministry' and the title 'minister' for a government official or clergy member both derive directly from the Latin minister, meaning 'servant'.
- The word minister is built from the same root as the word minus, meaning 'less'. This implies a 'lesser' person in contrast to a magister, or 'master', who is built from the root for 'greater'.
- The term famulus is closely tied to the word familia, which in early Latin referred not to a nuclear family but to the entire household including its servants and slaves.
Examples in context
- ūnā cum famulō tuō, pāpā nostrō, N.,Together with thy servant, our Pope, N.,famulō is a form of the word used after cum, with thy servant.
- Si quis vendiderit filiam suam in famulam, non egredietur sicut servi exire consueverunt.If any man sell his daughter to be a servant, she shall not go out as bondwomen are wont to go out.famulam is the form of the feminine word used after in, to be a servant.Tatoeba #8090291 by carlosalberto, translation #8090294 by carlosalberto
- Manebo itaque servus tuus pro puero in ministerio domini mei, et puer ascendat cum fratribus suis.Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.ministerio is a related noun meaning service, while the speaker calls himself servus.Tatoeba #7898626 by carlosalberto, translation #7898631 by carlosalberto
- Famula, rogo te ut mihi advenias.Servant, please come to me.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Quintus and Lucia are discussing the management of their household.
- QuintusUbi est minister tuus?Where is your servant?
- LuciaMinister in hortō est.The servant is in the garden.
- QuintusEstne minister bonus?Is he a good servant?
- LuciaIta, optimus minister est.Yes, he is an excellent servant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “servant” translations and entries minister, ministra, famulus, famula, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries famula, famulus, minister, ministra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
