IGCSE LATIN RESOURCE: DERIVATIONS

IGCSE Latin Resource

DERIVATIONS

As you are working through the coursebook and learning your vocabulary, it is worth spending a
little time considering how Latin is still influencing modern languages. The Roman empire covered
most of what we call modern Europe and inevitably, as the Romans married locals and lived in the
provinces, the languages merged. There is more trace of Latin in French and Spanish and obviously in
Italy (Romania too – the clue is in the name!), but there is a lot of Latin influence in English too,
although subsequent invasions by Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans have also left their trace!

Look at the map below which shows you the extent of the Roman empire.

Figure 1 Roman Empire in 117CE under the emperor Trajan .

One of the questions you will be asked in the IGCSE language paper, at the end of the
comprehension questions is to do with English words that have derived from Latin i.e. they retain
some obvious traces of Latin. NB It is often helpful to look at cases other than the nominative as the
stem sometimes changes and derivations tend to come from the stem that is most common in that
word.

As you work through the course, look out for words like these and perhaps jot them down so that
you remember them and will have a list at the end of the course.

© 2020, Wolsey Hall Oxford. All rights reserved. 1

IGCSE LATIN RESOURCE: DERIVATIONS

Here are some examples:

Latin + meaning English Definition

ambulo I walk ambulance An ambulance takes you to hospital
because you cannot walk
cubiculum bedroom cubicle a small room or place
puer boy puerile behaving like a boy/child
hospes (gen:hospitis) guest/host hospitality the act of behaving like a host or guest
miles (gen: militis) soldier military to do with soldiers
novus new a novel idea a new idea
iratus angry irate being angry
urbs city urban a built-up area such as in a city
rus (gen: ruris) countryside rural a countryside area

See what other words you can find.

© 2020, Wolsey Hall Oxford. All rights reserved. 2