The “que” at the end of some Latin words

Latin Learning Latin
1

Hello, I’m reading Latin for Beginners by Benjamin L Do’ooge, and I’m seeing some nouns ending in “que”.

For example, according to the answer key, for the sentence …”The Romans are strong because of their helmets, cots of mail, shields, swords, and spears.” The last word in Latin, for “spears” is written as “pīlīsque”.

Why the que?

Thanks,

-Russ

2

It’s a simple conjunction “and.” It goes after the noun, but in English you’d translate it as before.

It’s most famously known today as the motto of the Roman Republic: Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR), the Roman Senate and People.

3

Great okay thanks.

So “et” isn’t used sometimes?

4

Hi, yes you are right. et is another way to signify ‘and’. (There are others too, e.g. atque). Latin, like English, offers different ways to mark conjunction, each with a slightly different nuance and usage.

Cheers, Chad.

5

Note that et and que are not used in the same way though.

6

Another one is: “ac”. :wink: