Expert: Maria Date: 6/8/2008 Subject: english into latin
Question Hello Maria: I hope that you will help me again with some translations from english into latin. In my first set of questions I asked how to say Family first in latin and I am satisfied with the quote you gave me, but, how do you say, literally; Family first, is it Prima familia or Primus familia? Also, could you translate into latin; "By force of arms" and Force rules". Once again, thank you.
Answer Hello,
Besides the translations “Familia ante omnia” (family before all things) and “Familia ante omnes” (family before all else), as I’ve already said in my previous answer, “Family first” can be translated as “Primum familia” just denoting priority in order, rank, or importance.
In fact the English adverb ‘first’ corresponds to Latin adverb PRIMUM, not to the adjective ’primus’(in the masculine ) or ‘prima’ (in the feminine) which both are wrong in this context.
As for “By force of arms" and “Force rules”, they translate respectively as “Armorum vi” and “Roboris leges” or “Virium leges”.
(See below).
Best regards,
Maria
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-By force = VI (from VIS,ablative of means )
-of arms = ARMORUM (genitive plural of ARMA, neuter plural, 2nd.declension)
-Force = ROBORIS (genitive singular of VIS) or VIRIUM (genitive plural of VIS).
Note that the noun VIS is defective: in the genitive singular it uses in fact the genitive of ROBUR , i.e. ROBORIS.
-rules = LEGES (nominative plural of LEX, 3rd.declension).
Both ROBORIS LEGES and VIRIUM LEGES are correct, of course, but I'd like to use the first.
