anni
The English phrase "years" is translated into Latin as anni.
anni is the plural form used to refer to multiple periods of twelve months.
Which one should you use?
While anni is the default plural form, other forms are used depending on the grammatical role: annorum is used for "of years" (genitive), annis is used for "in/with/by years" (ablative) and annos is used for direct objects or durations of time (accusative).
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is annus. The plural forms change based on their function: use annorum to indicate possession or "of years", annis for the ablative plural (often used in time expressions) and annos for the accusative plural as a direct object or to express duration.
Did you know?
- The Latin word annus is the direct ancestor of English words like 'anniversary' and 'per annum', which we still use in formal contexts today.
- The Roman calendar was so flexible that the 'years' counted by the state didn't always align with the solar year until Julius Caesar's reforms.
Examples in context
- Tribus abhinc annis accidit.It happened three years ago.This sentence shows how to use anni to express time passed in the past.Tatoeba #5090660 by alexmarcelo, translation #3129519 by CK
- Tribus abhinc annis mortuus est.He died three years ago.This sentence demonstrates the use of anni when describing a past event.Tatoeba #1337751 by alexmarcelo, translation #822043 by CK
- Ibi tribus abhinc annis habitavi.I lived there three years ago.This sentence illustrates the use of anni in a sentence about living somewhere in the past.Tatoeba #2229309 by alexmarcelo, translation #2169049 by CK
- Anno Domini 20212021 AD
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lucius are discussing how long they have known each other.
- JuliaQuot anni praeterierunt?How many years have passed?
- LuciusDuo anni iam praeterierunt.Two years have passed already.
- JuliaMulti anni nos separaverunt.Many years separated us.
- LuciusSed nunc anni nos iungunt.But now the years unite us.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
