decem
[ˈdɛ.kẽː]
The Latin word for ten is decem.
decem is the cardinal number used to represent the quantity occurring after nine and before eleven.
Meaning: the cardinal number occurring after 9 and before 11 (num)
Which one should you use?
decem is the cardinal number for ten, whereas decimus is used as the ordinal number meaning tenth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The number decem is indeclinable, which means it does not change its form to match the case of the nouns it modifies.
Did you know?
- The English word 'decimate' comes from decem because the Roman army sometimes punished a unit by killing every tenth man.
- Latin uses the root of decem to form the word decima, which referred to a tenth part of a harvest paid as a tax.
- The word decem shares a prehistoric root with the English word 'ten' and the Sanskrit word daśa.
Examples in context
- Esne decem annos nata?Are you ten years old?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is decem years old.Tatoeba #1107676 by alexmarcelo, translation #69226 by CN
- Decem camali mihi sunt.I have ten pens.This sentence is useful for stating that one possesses decem pens.Tatoeba #4938365 by alexmarcelo, translation #370732 by saeb
- Hic decem annos laboravi.I've worked here for ten years.This sentence is useful for describing a duration of decem years of work.Tatoeba #1358702 by alexmarcelo, translation #253453 by CN
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marcus and Aurelia are counting coins on a table.
- MarcusQuantum pecuniae habes?How much money do you have?
- AureliaHabeo decem denarios.I have ten denarii.
- MarcusId est optimum.That is great.
- AureliaGratias tibi ago, Marce.Thank you, Marcus.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ten” translations and entries decem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries decem, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
