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Latin-English
The following list of words may help beginners translate Latin titles and legends appearing on maps. The Renaissance Latin used on maps is very similar to classical Latin, although there are vocabulary differences.
One cannot teach Latin in a paragraph. However, as a reminder, Latin is an inflected language. Word endings change to reflect usage. Nouns are declined, and entries below give the nominative (subject) case, followed by the genitive (possessive) ending. Plurals and other cases exist, but are not given here. Adjective entries give the three endings for the masculine, feminine, and neuter nominative case. Verbs appear in the third person singular. The vocabulary below should be sufficient to extract the essence of simple phrases. Bear in mind that adjectives may appear before or after the nouns they modify. Also, the letters i and j are often used interchangeably. In addition, words such as sculpsit and scripsit were often used loosely, and may merely indicate some unspecified connection between the person named and the map. Some examples may be helpful:
W. Marshall sculpsit. Literally, W[illiam]. Marshall engraved, or more loosely, engraved by William Marshall.
Americae Nova Tabula. Here America has been inflected, and appears in the genitive (possessive) singular. Thus the title is New Map of America.
Hispaniae Novae Descriptio. This is very similar to the above example, but now Novae agrees with, and thus modifies, Hispaniae. Therefore, the translation is Map of New Spain, and not New Map of Spain, which would have been written as Hispaniae Nova Descriptio.
a, ab prep from, by
Aberdonia n Aberdeen
ac conj and, and also
accuratissimus, -a, -um adj most accurate
adjacens pres part adjoining, connecting
Aestivarum Insulae n Bermuda, lit. Islands of Summers, i.e., Sommer's Islands
Africus n southwest wind
Albion n Britain
Albis Fluvius n Elbe River
aliquot indecl num some, several
Alostum n Aalst
Alsatia n Alsace
alter, -era, -erum adj other
amplissimus, -a, -um adj most glorious, splendid, or esteemed
Amstelodamum, -i n Amsterdam
Andegavensis Ducatus n Anjou
Andegavum n Angers
Andreapolis n St. Andrews
Anglia, -ae n England
annus, -i n year
anthropophagi n cannibals
Antverpia n Antwerp
Aparctias n northwind
Apelliotes n eastwind
apud prep at the establishment of; usually indicates publisher or printer
aqua, -ae n water
Aquilo n north by northeast wind
Aquisgranum n Aachen
archiducatus, -us n archduchy
archiepiscopatus, -us n archipiscopate
Archipelagus Meridionalis n Cyclades Islands
Archipelagus Septentrionalis n Aegean Sea
Argentina n Strassburg
Argentoratum n Strassburg
Argestes n northwest wind
Artesia n Artois
atque conj and, and also
auctor, -is n author, creator; auctore usually indicates cartographer or draftsman
Augusta n Augsburg
Augusta Perusia n Perugia
Augusta Trebocorum n Strassburg
Augusta Treverorum n Treves
Augusta Trinobantum n London
Augusta Vangionum n Worms
Augusta Vindelicorum n Augsburg
Augustodunum n Autun
Aurea Chersonesus n Malay Peninsula
Aurelia n Orleans
Aurelia Allobrogum n Geneva
Auster n southwind
australis, -e adj southern
Babenberga n Bamberg
Barchino n Barcelona
Bardum n Barth
Batavia n Djakarta
Bellovacum n Beauvais
Bercheria n Berkshire
Biturigum n Berry
Bononia n Bologna
borealis, -e adj northern
Borbetomagus n Worms
Boreas n north by northeast wind
Borussia n Prussia
Borysthenis n Dniepr River
Brechiniae Comitatus n Brecknockshire
Brema n Bremen
Breslanus n Breslau, Wroclaw
Britannia n Britain, Brittany
Brixia n Breschia
Brugae n Bruges
Brunopolis n Braunschweig
Bruxellae n Brussels
Byzantium n Istanbul
Cadomum n Caen
caelavit v (he) engraved
caelestis, -e adj celestial
Caesar Augusta n Saragossa
Caesarea Insula n Jersey
Caesarodunum Turonum n Tours
Calatia n Ciazzo
Caletensium n Calais
Caletum n Calais
Cambria n Wales
Candia, -ae n Crete
Cantabrigiensis Comitatus n Cambridge
Cantium n Kent
Carinthia n Karnten
Cecias n northeast wind
centum card num hundred
Ceretica n Cardigan
Cestria n Chester
chalcographus, -i n engraver
chersonesus, -i n peninsula
chorographica, -ae n geography
Cimbrica Chersonesus n Jutland
Circius n north by northwest wind
cis prep on this side of
citra prep on this side of
Claudiopolis n Cluj
Clivia n Cleve
cognitus, -a, -um adj known, reconnoitered
Colonia n Cologne
Colonia Agrippina n Cologne
Colonia Allobrogum n Geneva
Colonia Claudia n Cologne
Colonia Munatiana n Basle
Colonia Ubiorum n Cologne
Comensis Lacus n Lake Como
comitatus, -us n county
compendiosus, -a, -um adj abridged
complectens pres part embracing, comprising
comprehendens pres part including
Conatia n Connacht
conatus, -us n effort, endeavor; ex conatibus, by the efforts of
Condivincum Nannetum n Nantes
confinis, -e adj adjacent
confinis, -is n neighboring region
Constantia n Constance
Constantinopolis n Istanbul
continens, -entis adj adjacent, neighboring
conventus, -us n district assigned to a city, association
Corcagia n Cork
Cornubia n Cornwall
Corus n northwest wind
Cracovia n Cracow
cum prep with
Cumbria n Cumberland
Dania n Denmark
Darbiensis Comitatus n Derbyshire
Daventria n Deventer
decem card num ten
decimus, -a, -um ord num tenth
delineavit v (he) sketched; usually indicates cartographer or draftsman
Delphi n Delft
Denbigiensis Comitatus n Denbigh Shire
descripsit v (he) drew, indicates cartographer or draftsman
descriptio, -ionis n map, representation, description
Devonia n Devonshire
dicio, -ionis n dominion, sovereignty; also ditio, -ionis
dioecesis, -is n district, governor's jurisdiction, diocese
Divio n Dijon
divisus, -a, -um adj divided, separate
dominium, -ii n ownership, property, rule
Dorcestria Comitatus n Dorsetshire
Dordracum n Dordrecht
Duacum n Douay
ducatus, -us n duchy, dukedom
Dunelmensis Episcopatus n Durham
duo, duae, duo card num two
duodecim card num twelve
Eblana n Dublin
Eboracensis Ducatus n Yorkshire
editus, -a, -um adj published, produced
Elvetiorum Argentina n Strassburg
emendatus, -a, -um adj corrected, improved, amended
Enipontius n Innsbruck
episcopatus, -us n episcopate, bishopric
Erfordia n Erfurt
et conj and
Euroafricus n south by southwest wind
Euroauster n south by southeast wind
Euronotus n south by southeast wind
Euros n southeast wind
Eustadium n Eichstadt
ex prep from, out of
exactissime adv most exactly
exactissimus, -a, -um adj most exact
excudebat, excudit, excud., exc. v (he) made or struck; usually indicates printer or publisher
exhibens pres part displaying
Exonia n Exeter
facies n shape, appearance, face
Faventia n Faenza
Favonius n westwind
fecit v (he) made, produced, created, or prepared; usually indicates engraver
fere adv approximately
finitimus, -a, -um adj neighboring
Fionia n Funen Island
Firenze n Florence
Florentia n Florence
florentissimus, -a, -um adj most flourishing, prosperous, or eminent
flumen, -inis n river
fluvius, -ii n river
forma, -ae n figure, design, sketch, plan
formis indicates publisher
Forum Iulii n Friuli
Forum Livii n Forli
fretum, -i n strait, channel
Frisia n Friesland
Fulgineum n Foligno
Gades n Cadiz
Gallia, -ae n France
Gallovidia n Galway
Ganabum n Orleans
Gand, Gandavum n Ghent
Gebenna n Geneva
Geldria n Gelderland
Genabum n Orleans
geographicus, -a, -um adj geographical
Germania Inferior n Netherlands
Glascua n Glasgow
Glotta n Clyde
Graecia n Greece
Gratianopolis n Grenoble
Gravionarium n Bamberg
Hafnia n Copenhagen
Haga Comitis n The Hague
Hammona n Hamburg
Hannonia n Hainaut
Hanovia n Hanau
Hantonia Comitatus n Hampshire
Hassia n Hesse
Helenopolis n Frankfort on Main
Hellas n Greece
Hellespontius n northeast wind
Helvetia n Switzerland
Herbipolis n Wurtzburg
heres, heredis n heir, successor
Hibernia, -ae n Ireland
Hierosolyma n Jerusalem
Hispalis n Seville
Hispania n Spain
hodie adv today, nowadays
hodiernus, -a, -um adj present, modern
Holmia n Stockholm
Holsatia n Holstein
Huntingdonensis Comitatus n Huntingdonshire
Illyricum n Dalmatia
imago, -inis n image, likeness, copy
Imaus Mons n Himalayas
impensa, -ae n cost, expense; impensis usually indicates publisher
impensus, -a, -um adj expensive
imperium, -ii n empire, dominion
in prep in, on, at
incidit, incidebat v (he) cut; usually indicates engraver
incola, -ae n inhabitant
inferior, -ius adj lower
instruavit v usually indicates engraver
insula, -ae n island
integro, -a, -um adj whole, entire
invenit v (he) devised; usually indicates cartographer or draftsman
inventor n usually indicates cartographer
Islandia n Iceland
item adv likewise, also, in the same manner
Iuliacensis Ducatus n Julich
Iutia n Jutland
iuxta, juxta prep near
lacus, -us n lake
Lancastria Palatinatus n Lancashire
Larius Lacus n Lake Como
Latium n Lazio
Legio n Leon
Leida n Leyden
Leicestrensis Comitatus n Leicestershire
Lemovicense Castrum n Limoges
Lemovicum n Limousin
Leodium n Liege
Leucorea n Wittemburg
Libonotus n south by southwest wind
Libs, Lips n southwest wind
limes, limitis n boundary, route
Lipsia n Leipzig
litus, litoris n coast, beach
locus, -i n place, district
Londinum n London
Lotharingia n Lorraine
Lovanium n Louvain
Ludoviciana n Louisiana
Lugdunum n Lyons
Lugdunum Batavorum n Leiden
Lusatia n Lausitz
Lusitania n Portugal
Lutetia n Paris
Lutzenburgum n Luxembourg
Mantua Carpetanorum n Madrid
mappa, -ae n map
marchionatus, -us n marquisate
Mare Hyrcanum n Caspian Sea
Mare Rubrum n Red Sea
mare, -is n sea, ocean
Matritum n Madrid
Mediolanum n Milan
meridionalis, -e adj southern
Mervinia Comitatus n Merionethshire
milia, -ium card num thousand
mille adj a thousand
Misnia n Meissen
Moguntia n Mainz
Moguntiacum n Mainz
Momonia n Munster
Mona n Isle of Man
Monachium n Munich
Monasterium n Munster
Montensis Ducatus n Bergh
Montisferratus n Monferrato (Italy)
Monumenthis Ducatus n Monmouthshire
mundus, -i n the world, the universe, the earth
Mutina n Modena
Namurcum n Namur
Nannetum n Nantes
Nassovia n Nassau
Natolia n Asia Minor
nec non besides, and also
nec, neque conj and besides, and also
Neocomum n Neuchatel
neotericus, -a, -um adj modern
Nicsia n Naxos
nonus, -a, -um ord num ninth
Nordovicum n Norwich
Norimberga n Nuremberg
Northantonensis Comitatus n Northamptonshire
Notus n southwind
novem card num nine
Novesium n Neuss
Noviodunum n Nevers
Noviomagum n Nijmegen
novissimus, -a, -um adj newest, most recent
noviter adv newly
novus, -a, -um adj new
nunc adv now, nowadays
ob prep because of, against
occidentalis, -e adj western
oceanus, -i n ocean
octavus, -a, -um ord num eighth
octo card num eight
officina, -ae n workshop, factory, ex officina --, from the workshop of, i.e., published or printed by
olim adv once, at that time, formerly
oppidum, -i n town
ora n border, coast
ora maritima n seacoast
orbis, -is n globe, circle, world, earth, orbit
Orcades n Orkneys
orientalis, -e adj eastern
Oxonium Comitatus n Oxfordshire
pagus n village, province
Palatinatus Bavariae n Oberpfalz
Palatinatus Rheni n Rheinland-Pfalz
Panormum n Palermo
Papia n Pavia
pars, partis n part, region
Parthenope n Naples
Parthenopolis n Magdeburg
passim adv here and there, all over
Patavium n Padua
Pedemontana n Piedmont
per prep through, by
Perusia n Perugia
Pictavium n Poitiers
pictor, -oris n painter
pinxit v (he) drew, painted, or decorated
plus, pluris adj more
Polonia n Poland
Pontus Euxinus n Black Sea
praecipuus, -a, -um adj excellent, extraordinary, special
praesertim adv especially
praeter conj besides
praeter prep past, beyond
presbiter n elder, priest
Presbiter Ioannis n Prester John
pretiosus, -a, -um adj expensive, valuable, precious
primus, -a, -um ord num first
privilegium, -ii n private law; cum privilegio usually indicates copyright
promissionis n promise
proprius, -a, -um adj special, individual, particular
prout conj as, just as
Provincia n Provence
quartus, -a, -um ord num fourth
quattuor card num four
-que conj and, used as a suffix
qui, quae, quod rel pron who, which, what, that
quinque card num five
quintus, -a, -um ord num fifth
Ratisbona n Regensburg
recens, -entis adj recent
recens, recenter adv recently, newly
regio, -ionis v line, boundary, region
Regiomontium n Konigsberg
regnum, -i n kingdom, dominion
retectus, -a, -um adj discovered, opened, made accessible
Rhedones n Rennes
Rhenolandia n Rheinland
Rhenus Fluvius n Rhine River
Ripen n Ribe
Rothomagum n Rouen
Rugia n Rugen Island
Rupella n La Rochelle
Sabaudia n Savoy
Sacra Insula, Insula Sacra n Holy Island
Salmantica n Salamanca
Salopia n Shrewsbury
Salopiae Comitatus n Shropshire
sanctus, -a, -um adj holy
Sarnia Insula n Guernsey
Saxonia Inferior n Lower Saxony
Saxonia Superior n Upper Saxony
Scania n Zealand Island
Schedamum n Scheidam
scilicet adv certainly, naturally
Scio n Chios
Sclavonia n Slavonia
Scotia, -ae n Scotland
scripsit v (he) wrote or drew; sometimes indicates lettering engraver
sculpsit, sculp., sc. v (he) carved; usually indicates engraver
secundum prep according to
secundus, -a, -um ord num second
sedes belli n seat of war
Senae n Siena
septem card num seven
Septentrio n northwind
septentrionalis, -e adj northern
septimus, -a, -um ord num seventh
Servia n Serbia
seu conj or
sex card num six
sextus, -a, -um ord num sixth
Sinarum Regio n China
Sinus Gangeticus n Bay of Bengal
situs, -a, -um adj situated
situs, -us n position, situation, site
sive conj or
Somersettensis Comitatus n Somersetshire
sophus, -a, -um adj wise
Soria n Syria
Sorlinges n Scillies
stellatus, -a, -um adj starry
Stiria n Steiermark
subjacens, -entis adj near
Subsolanus n eastwind
Suecia n Sweden
Suevia n Sweden
sumptus, -us n cost; sumptibus, at the cost of; usually indicates publisher
superior, -is adj upper, higher
Sylva Ducis n Bois-Le-Duc
tabula, -ae n map
tam adv so, so much, to such an extent
tam ...
quam... both ... and ...
Taprobana n Ceylon
Taraco n Tarragona
Tarvisium n Treviso
Taurica Chersonesus n Crimea
Taurinum n Turin
Terra Sancta n Holy Land
terra, -ae n the earth, land
terrestris, -e adj earthly, terrestrial
tertius, -a, -um ord num third
theatrum belli n theater of war
Tholosa n Toulouse
Thrascias n north by northwest wind
Ticinum n Pavia
Tigurum n Zurich
Toletum n Toledo
Tornacum n Tournai
totus, -a, -um adj all, entire, total; gen. totius
tractus, -us n district, region
Trajectum n Utrecht
Trajectum ad Mosam n Utrecht
Trajectum ad Viadrum n Frankfort on Oder
trans prep across, beyond
Transisulana n Overijssel
Trebia n Trevi
Trecae n Troyes
tres, tria card num three
Treveris n Treves (Trier)
tribus, -us n tribe
Tricasses n Troyes
Tridentum n Trent
Turcicum Imperium n Ottoman Empire
Turonum n Tours
Tuscia n Tuscany
typus, -i n image, figure
Ultonia n Ulster
Ultrajectum n Utrecht
Ulyssipo n Lisbon
undecim card num eleven
universalis, -e adj universal
unus, -a, -um card num one
urbs, urbis n city
Ursina n Bern
uterque, utraque, utrumque adj or pron each, both; gen. utriusque
Utinum n Udina
Valesium n Valois
Vallisoletum n Valladolid
Vectis Insula n Isle of Wight
vel conj or
Venetia n Venice
Venetum n Veneto
ventus, -i n wind; ventorum, of the winds
verissimus, -a, -um adj truest
vernacule adv in the vernacular
Veromandua n Vermandois
Verona n Bonn, Verona
verus, -a, -um adj true, actual
vetus, -eris adj old
Vicentia n Vicenza
vicinus, -a, -um adj nearby
Vienna n Vienne
Vindobona n Vienna
Vitemberga n Wittemburg
Vormatia n Worms
vulgo adv commonly, generally, in the vernacular
Vulturnus n southeast wind
Wallia n Wales
Wetteravia n Wetterau
Wigorniensis Comitatus n Worcestershire
Wiltonia, Wiltoniensis Comitatus n Wiltshire
Zephyrus n westwind
Zerbi n Djerba Island
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