Expert: Maria - 3/6/2009

Question
Can you please translate "rate" into Latin?  Rate as in percentage rate on a loan.  thank you.


Answer
Hello,

the word “Rate” as in percentage rate on a loan translates as follows:

-“faenus” or “fenus” (nominative neuter, 3rd.declension), if it refers to the proceeds of capital lent out, i.e. the  interest/ rate received by the creditor.

-“usura” (nominative feminine, 1st.declension), if it refers to  interest paid by the debtor for the use of money.

-“impendium”  (nominative neuter, 2nd.declension), if it denotes the money paid out for a loan, i. e. as a payment, generally speaking.

As you can see, the Romans used different terms, according to the context.
Moreover each of these terms change ending, according to its role in a sentence, as Latin is an inflected language with 5 declensions and six cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, ablative).

Best regards,
Maria