hac nocte
The English phrase 'tonight' is translated into Latin as hac nocte.
The phrase is used as an adverb to indicate that an action will occur during today's evening.
Meaning: during today's evening (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is composed of the demonstrative pronoun hac (this, feminine ablative) and the noun nocte (night, feminine ablative), literally meaning 'in this night'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase utilizes the ablative case to indicate the specific time when an action takes place.
Did you know?
- Romans often divided the night into four 'watches' called vigiliae, meaning the phrase hac nocte could be further specified by which watch was active.
- The word nox is personified in Roman mythology as the goddess Nox, who represents the primordial night.
- The term nocte comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *nókʷts, which is the same ancestor for the English word 'night'.
Examples in context
- Quis hac nocte saltabit?Who will dance tonight?This sentence is useful for asking who will be dancing using hac nocte.Tatoeba #10797049 by carlosalberto, translation #10797019 by carlosalberto
- Quis nostrum hac nocte cenam facit?Which one of us is making dinner tonight?This sentence is useful for asking who is preparing dinner using hac nocte.Tatoeba #11023953 by carlosalberto, translation #11021167 by shekitten
- Vidistine illam pelliculam Turcicam? Ego seriem optimam de Bello Orbis Terrarum Secundo specto. Liberi nostri hac nocte televisionem non spectabunt.Did you watch that Turkish movie? I am watching an excellent series on World War II. Our children won't watch TV tonight.This sentence is useful for stating that children will not be watching television using hac nocte.Tatoeba #14052610 by carlosalberto, translation #14052601 by carlosalberto
Example conversation
Claudia and Marcus are planning their evening activities.
- ClaudiaQuid facimus hac nocte, Marce?What are we doing tonight, Marcus?
- MarcusAd theatrum ire volo.I want to go to the theater.
- ClaudiaOptime! Tunc hac nocte ibimus.Great! Then we will go tonight.
- MarcusIta est, Claudia.That is right, Claudia.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hac, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
