Kilo Lingo

#912 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

change, alter; exchange, swap

Examples

mutantur.

The times are changing.

.

He refused to change his plan.

.

With his name changed, he fled.

.

His clothing was changed.

mutavit.

He exchanged gold for wine.

Muto, mutare, mutavi, mutatum is first conjugation and entirely regular, which is a relief in this part of the list. Same root as mutuus, "mutual", and the idea underneath both is swapping one thing for another.

Two constructions. Plain transitive, muto rem, "I change a thing". Then the exchange sense, where the thing given up is the accusative and the thing received goes in the ablative of price: aurum vino mutare, "to trade gold for wine". English speakers instinctively get this the wrong way round, so it is worth drilling. The ablative absolute mutato nomine, "the name having been changed", is a stock phrase from Horace and worth knowing on sight. Descendants everywhere: mutation, mutable, commute, and Spanish mudar.

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Latin · Free printables

muto: worksheet, infographic and listicle

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This word is part of lesson 19.