vocō
To summon in Latin is expressed as vocō or arcessō.
Meaning: to ask someone to come (verb)
Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| vocō |
| arcessō |
The English verb 'summon' can be translated using different Latin words depending on whether you are calling out to someone or sending for them. vocō is the general term for calling or summoning someone, such as calling out to someone by name. arcessō is more specific and implies sending for someone or summoning them to come to you.
Which one should you use?
vocō is used as a general term for calling or summoning someone. In contrast, arcessō specifically implies the act of sending for someone to come to you, often in the context of an official or formal summons.
How does it change in a sentence?
Its present infinitive form is vocāre. Its present infinitive form is arcessere.
Did you know?
- The word arcessō is derived from ad meaning 'to' and caedere, which can mean 'to strike' or 'to cut'. This implies a more forceful or urgent way of summoning someone than the gentle vocō.
- In Roman law, the act of summoning someone to court was a formal process called in ius vocatio. If a citizen refused to answer this summons, the plaintiff could legally use force to bring them.
- The word vocō is the direct ancestor of English terms like 'vocal' and 'vocabulary'. It comes from the root meaning 'to call', which is why words related to the voice often share this root.
Examples in context
- Voca amicum ad te.Summon your friend to you.
- Rusticus convocat vicinos ad festum.The farmer summons the neighbors to the feast.
- Servum vocō.I summon the slave.
- Amicum ad me vocō.I summon my friend to me.
Example conversation
Julia needs Gaius to help her with a task.
- JuliaGāie, te ad me vocō.Gaius, I summon you to me.
- GaiusEcce, adsum!Look, I am here!
- JuliaTū mī hīc adiūta.Help me here.
- GaiusLibenter tē adiūvō.I gladly help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “summon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
