Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| saxum | [ˈsak.sũː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈsak.sum] (narrow) |
neuter |
| lapis | [ˈɫa.pɪs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈlaː.pis] (narrow) |
masculine |
Both lapis and saxum refer to a piece of stone, but they are used for different scales and types of stone. If you are describing something made of stone, you might use the adjective lapideus or if you are talking about the action of pelting someone with stones, you would use the verb lapidō.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean stone, lapis often refers to a smaller stone, a gem or a specific type of stone. In contrast, saxum typically refers to a larger rock, a boulder or a mass of stone. For very large and rough rocks or cliffs, the word rupes is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun lapis has the genitive singular form lapidis and the nominative plural form lapides. The neuter noun saxum has the genitive singular form saxi and the nominative plural form saxa.
Did you know?
- Some linguists believe saxum is related to the Proto-Germanic word for 'knife', shifting in meaning from a 'broken-off piece' to a 'rock'.
- The English name for the 'saxifrage' plant comes from saxum and frangere, literally meaning 'rock-breaker'.
- The word lapis is the origin of the English word 'lapidary', which describes the specialized craft of cutting and polishing gemstones.
Examples in context
- Lapis est in calceo meo.There's a stone in my shoe.This sentence uses lapis to show a small stone in a shoe.Tatoeba #10760796 by carlosalberto, translation #10760183 by sundown
- Hoc saxum ferre non possum.I can't carry this stone.This sentence uses saxum to describe an object that is difficult to carry.Tatoeba #8491911 by alexmarcelo, translation #2854235 by AlanF_US
- Lapis Rosettae anno MDCCXCIX reperta est.The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799.This sentence uses lapis to refer to the historical Rosetta Stone.Tatoeba #1534748 by alexmarcelo, translation #1534740 by CK
- lapis magnusLarge stone
- lapis durusHard stone
- petra mundaClean or pure rock
- saxum planumFlat stone
- calculum rubrumRed pebble
- Saxa in fluvio vidi.I saw stones in the river.
- Petrae aeternae sunt fundamenta mundi.Eternal rocks are the foundations of the world.
- Construamus murum ex rupibus!Let's build a wall with rocks!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucius and Claudia are walking by a river.
- LuciusVide, Claudia! Hoc saxum est pulchrum.Look, Claudia! This stone is beautiful.
- ClaudiaIta est, Luci. Quo modo id invenisti?It is, Lucius. How did you find it?
- LuciusHoc saxum in aqua erat.This stone was in the water.
- ClaudiaDa mihi, quaeso.Give it to me, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stone” translations and entries saxum, lapis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lapis, saxum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
