lupus
[ˈɫʊ.pʊs]masculine
The English word wolf is lupus in Latin.
The word lupus refers to the animal (noun).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
lupus is a masculine noun. Its forms change based on their role in a sentence: the accusative singular is lupum, the genitive singular is lupi (meaning "of the wolf"), the accusative plural is lupos and the genitive plural is luporum (meaning "of the wolves").
Did you know?
- The term lupus was later adopted into medical Latin to describe a specific skin disease because the red rashes looked like the hide of a wolf.
- In Roman mythology, the lupa was not just any wolf, but specifically a she-wolf who nursed the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
- Linguists think lupus was borrowed from a neighbouring Italic dialect such as Sabine, because the native Latin form of the old word for 'wolf' would have sounded different.
Examples in context
- Homo homini lupus est.Man is a wolf to man.This sentence illustrates the metaphorical use of lupus.Tatoeba #369715 by zipangu, translation #369566 by MUIRIEL
- Lupus in silva habitat.The wolf lives in the forest.This sentence describes the habitat of lupus.Tatoeba #12685329 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #11383344 by carlosalberto
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a Roman garden at dusk.
- GaiusAudisne canem latrare?Do you hear a dog barking?
- AureliaNon canis, sed lupus esse videtur.Not a dog, it seems to be a wolf.
- GaiusLupus est periculosus.A wolf is dangerous.
- AureliaIntremus statim intra portas.Let us go inside the gates at once.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wolf” translations and entries lupus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lupus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
