Dictionary formlingua, linguae(feminine)
Translation
tongue; language, speech
Test yourself on lingua
Three quick questions. No account needed.
Know this word? Create a free account to track it.
Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | lingua | linguae |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | lingua | linguae |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | linguam | linguas |
| Genitiveof | linguae | linguarum |
| Dativeto, for | linguae | linguis |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | lingua | linguis |
Examples
.
Our language is beautiful.
.
He did not hold his tongue.
.
Many languages are heard in the city.
.
He wrote about the language of his homeland.
.
The words of our language are sweet.
Lingua, linguae, f., first declension, and it runs the same three steps English does with "tongue": the organ in the mouth, then speech in general, then a particular language, lingua Latina. Because the metaphor is shared, the idioms transfer intact - linguam tenere really is "to hold one's tongue".
The older form of the word was dingua, and the l is thought to have crept in by contamination from lingo, "I lick". That d is why lingua looks so unlike English "tongue" despite the two descending from the same root. Spanish lengua and French langue continue it directly, and English took language, linguist, bilingual and the whole of lingua franca.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
(1)Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Meet this word in a story
Every course has graded stories written only with words you have been taught, plus grammar drills, a games arcade and printable worksheets. Chapters 1 and 2 are free.
Chapters 1 and 2 free, forever. Plus: 7 days free, then $5 a month for all eleven languages.
Latin · Free printables
lingua: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "lingua" (tongue; language, speech): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 4, lesson 7: lingua, tamquam, velut and 7 more words.