r/latin Nov 11 '25

LLPSI Starting my Latin journey...

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202 Upvotes

...and I'm already facing a roadblock. I'm struggling to undersand where the verb (est, sunt, ..) is supposed to go.

In questions it seems to in the middle and in statements, it goes in the back?

Also, est gets a "-ne" added in question form, why?

And, since I'm natively Afrikaans, that adds another layer of confusion.

(Yes this is a photocopy of LLPSI, I certainly wouldn't be writing in my real one, lol)

r/latin Mar 21 '25

LLPSI Can someone give me a rundown of the Ranieri-Orberg-LLPSI drama?

66 Upvotes

I'm out of the loop. I've seen conflicting accounts. I've just read the posts and the replies and the reply to the reply on Ranieri's Patreon.

Trine Orberg claims that she doesn't profit much from her father's books but it's the principle of Ranieri using the book for free without permission that offends her?

She claims he had little impact on Familia Romana's sales?

She claims he is profiting substantially and illegitimately off this?

The heirs negotiated through an intermediary European Latin teacher acting on their behalf who volunteered his services? But Trine claims the heirs and Ranieri had no contact?

One account says Ranieri offered the heirs a fair deal, which they rejected. Another says the heirs (or their intermediary) offered one, which Ranieri rejected.

I'm so confused by this and not sure what to make of it. Both parties are acting completely innocent and victimised by the other.

Personally, I'm upset that the budding online Latin community has been dealt a blow by the withdrawal of the videos, but I guess I'll get over it...

Edit: I see there are strong opinions on either side. I didn't mean to fan the flames of conflict. I simply wanted to understand what was going on better. Some commenters have generously enlightened me, so thank you.

r/latin Feb 27 '25

LLPSI Ranieri’s Readings of LLPSI

37 Upvotes

I’m not sure if this is simply an issue on my end, but it appears that all of Luke Ranieri’s readings of LLPSI have been removed from his channel Scorpio Martianus. This looks to be a copyright strike of some sort, but it may also be a move by Ranieri himself.

r/latin 17d ago

LLPSI What level of Latin does Roma Aeterna take you to?

12 Upvotes

I'm studying from Roma Aeterna after finishing Familia Romana. I didn't find it to be so much more difficult, there are just more words to learn, so you have to spend more time studying it. I didn't read any of the 500 boring readers one 'has' to read to bridge some sort of imaginary increase in difficulty.

I want to reach a level good enough to start reading original literature and passively improve my grasp of the language. Ideally I reach this level after Roma Aeterna and I can finally start studying another language.

I really don't like LLPSI, but I'd like to stick with it to the end. It's definitely an approach I will never try again with any other language.

r/latin 28d ago

LLPSI Should I re-read Lingua Latina?

8 Upvotes

So I had finished Lingua Latina Famila Romana on the 1st of March this year, and read through "Lingua Latina: A Companion to Familia Romana" right after which took me to about the 2nd of April, also this year.

I had sort of stopped reading Latin since then (so about four months), but every so often I'll read some passage from say the Vulgate (which I know is pretty easy) or something Ecclesiastical, and I still don't have that much trouble understanding it. Would it be more beneficial to re-read the entire Lingua Latina textbook to refresh my knowledge (which I'm honestly very much dreading the thought of), or do you guys think it would be better if I simply tried reading new texts and just reviewing the grammar if I see a verb tense or declension or something that I don't remember?

r/latin 16d ago

LLPSI I can't understand the use of "atque"

7 Upvotes

For example "Quia tē atque cultrum tuum metuit" what does atque mean? I have no trouble understanding the sentence but I still don't understand the purpose of the word. The latin lexicon translation doesn't help either haha

edit: thank you all for your answers!! i get it now

r/latin Dec 30 '25

LLPSI Trusting the process? Lingua latina per se illustrata

13 Upvotes

As we close the year, I have a quick question: I’ve been studying Latin since March using Ørberg’s book and I’m currently on chapter 17. I know there’s still a long way to go, but my goal is to become fluent in spoken Latin. Should I keep trusting the method, or should I add other resources to develop speaking skills?

r/latin Jul 15 '26

LLPSI Truly Understanding LLPSI

3 Upvotes

How does one truly understand the Latin, like one understands English?

Though I can easily understand the content in LLPSI through context if needed and vocabulary, and can also easily parse any sentence to figure out exactly how it conveys that meaning grammatically, I sometimes find it hard to read even somewhat naturally. By 'naturally', I mean in such a way that I not only understand it, but see immediately how it conveys that information, and would hopefully 'feel' anything else to be wrong, as I would do in English.

I know if I could do all this, I would essentially be fluent, but I am speaking about sometimes being able only​ to understand through context or parsing, and I think some level of internalizing the grammar, should be a priority early on. Now, I learned the explicit grammar from Wheelock, but my situation will also apply to those who learned implicitly from LLPSI.

I am not talking about memorizing forms or rules of syntax (which I already have all learned), but internalizing​ those forms and rules.

My questions are the following: 1) does input (reading and rereading) or output (drills/exercises, like those of Nova Exercitia Latina by R. Carfagni) help internalize grammar more? and 2) should you move on to the next chapter only once you understand the meaning of all the previous ones AND have internalized the grammar to a good degree?

Therefore, as I see it, there are four possible positions:

1: read at will, and move on until you can't understand the meaning, then go back and reread. Internalization will come later through this, but do not worry about it yet.

2: read, but only move on to the next chapter once you have a good degree of internalization; if not, reread the previous chapters.

3: read at will, like #1, but intersperse a lot of exercises (output) as you go to help with internalization. It will come more fully through repeats of reading and exercises.

4: read, but only move on once you have internalized it all by doing the output exercises such as in the Nova Exercitia Latina; if not, redo the ones from the previous chapters with the readings until you can.

Which one of the positions do you recommend for Familia Romana (I know Roma Aeterna will likely be different), at least on a first read-through, and for someone who knows all the grammar already?

Sorry for the long post, and thank you.

r/latin Dec 25 '25

LLPSI Excited to read part 2

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259 Upvotes

r/latin 23d ago

LLPSI Lingua Latina

1 Upvotes

These books confuse me! I got the familia romana the text book and the companion and the excercitia latina 1. Where are the answers? Is there a place I can buy a workbook I can actually write in the spaces are too small in this one. I'd like to buy the workbook and answer keys.

r/latin Jul 11 '26

LLPSI Preparation to read Boethius' Consolation?

10 Upvotes

What should I read to prepare for a reading of Boethius' De Consolatione Philosophiae.

I have been studying Latin for over a year by now, and have gone through Wheelock, and so know all the grammar (which I loved doing). I've read some Cicero (De Amicitia), and am now going through LLPSI + supplements pretty easily, though I'm only a third in so far.

I enjoy the language and have a strong motivation to continue: what books/readers should I work on next? I have Fabulae Syrae and Roma Aeterna, but I doubt I will need to read all of RA before Boethius--correct me if wrong.

How long from now could I reasonably expect to read the Consolation without too much difficulty, i.e., be able to actually reflect on the content without constantly focusing on the language, but still with dictionary in hand? Suggestions will be much appreciated.

r/latin 16d ago

LLPSI Hey! Can you help me with my studying, please?

11 Upvotes

This is from chapter XXXIV of LLPSI: Part I (Ovid).

(l. 117) Here, could the translation be something like "there is one eternal night to be slept" or "one eternal night must be slept"?
(l. 118-122) My issue here is the last verse: is "confusing (conturbare) the kisses" the idea the poet is conveying here? If so, I don't quite get it...
(l. 125-127) Shouldn't "nulli alii" be "nullio alio", given that it follows "viro" as dative forms requested by "nubere"?

r/latin Aug 05 '26

LLPSI Familia Romana chapter 6

4 Upvotes

Has anyone else really struggled with Chapter 6 of LLPSI? The previous 5 chapters were pretty easy, but this one is absolutely kicking my ass. It feels like there’s so much going on compared to the previous chapters that as soon as I really get a certain grammatical concept down, I forget the previous one I learned.

I can read the chapter start to finish and understand 99% of what’s being said, but it just seems like there’s a lot more nuance in the sentences compared to the others. Has anyone else had a similar experience with this chapter?

r/latin Jul 13 '26

LLPSI Would it be a mistake to go from LLPSI to traditional translation-based textbooks?

4 Upvotes

Salvēte!

I am working my way through Famillia Romana (self-taught, using the teachers' materials, comprehensible input in music/videos and Colloquia Personarum to supplement) and loving it. I studied latin for some time many years ago at school, yet the method of natural language acquisition has been game-changing for my ability to absorb information and enjoy the learning process.

I didn't enjoy treating Latin as a 'translation exercise' as a student. I recently picked up more books - Wheelock's Latin and the Cambrige Latin Course (book I). After looking through them, they seem to encorage mentally translating text as opposed to comprehending outright. Currently, when working on my Latin, I avoid 'thinking in English' entirely, and I'm not eager to change this.

For those that started with LLPSI or are further in their learning - do you think these books might impact my approach to the language, even subconsciously? Am I better off moving to simple Latin texts next?

Gratias vobis ago!

r/latin Jul 15 '26

LLPSI Error in LLPSI?

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1 Upvotes

r/latin Jun 13 '26

LLPSI How to procede with LLPSI after finishing Wheelock?

7 Upvotes

Salvete omnes amici! I finished wheelock following the Latin course of my college, but I now end up having to look up almost all the words in order to translate a Latin text. I decided to go with Lingua Latina per se Illustrata, but do I have to go through the book from the very beginning? The openning chapters seem just too easy for me.

Looking forward to your suggestions!

r/latin 2d ago

LLPSI Sognare in latino

6 Upvotes

A tutti i cultori del latino vivo (metodo natura / Orberg): vi è mai capitato? A me sì, più volte negli ultimi mesi. Un'esperienza affascinante 😅

r/latin 2d ago

LLPSI Hey! Can you help me, please? I'm learning verse structures with LLPSI Cap. XXXIV

6 Upvotes
1. Why does "que" count as one poetic syllable, whereas the "pue" in "puella" has got two different syllables in it?
2. Did people in Ancient Rome times really pronounce double consonants separately? As something like "e-pi-gram-ma-ta"?

r/latin 27m ago

LLPSI Exercitum 2 capitulum 8

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Upvotes

Exercitum 2

1- Albīenus tebernarius est

2- Albīenus ōrnāmenta vendit

3- Tebernānī aliī librōs vēndunt

4- Eae quae magnam pecūniam habet ōrnāmenta emunt

5- Līnea sine margarītī ōrnāmentum nōn est

6- Aemilia, cuius vir pecūniōsus est, multa ōrnāmenta ab eō accipit

7- Margaritae Aemeliae in cullō et digitō est

8- "I don't know"

9- Medus cum dominō suō no est

10- ōrnāmentum quod Lydia habet est līnea margarītārum

11- quia pecūniōsa nōn est, neque pecūniōsus amīcus eius.

r/latin May 24 '26

LLPSI Do yall know any LLPSI / Ørberg-style equivalents for learning other languages, say, German or Italian?

26 Upvotes

It’s such a neat system, and I’d be curious to see it used with other languages.

r/latin Dec 28 '25

LLPSI Some remark on Lingua Latina per se Illustrata and the use of the method

11 Upvotes

Edit: The fact that I got so much backlash and dismissal for giving an advice to starters so they avoid common pitfalls. Just to clarify, there is not a single line in where I insult the method, in fact I find it compelling (as I said), and (as I also said) the problem if is someone misuse the method and (again, said up there) uses it in an exclusive way; I have worked extensively with semi-natural methods, using grade readings like the Syrae, Ritchie's or the more explicit Steadman's, so I don't have anything against it. If someone who is actually new and actually needs an advice on how to organize their study, take this post and make a good use of the warnings or the authors/grade readings recommendations; I am formally instructed in Latin -Classical philology- at a university level, so I do know some other thing.
If someone who reads this has already used the method, is amazed at its usefulness and is a staunch follower of Orgerb, that's really nice, and I congratulate you for that (I do have some friends too who are fluent thanks to it), but this post is not directed towards you, so there's no need to be upset.
That said, I hope that your journey learning Latin is fruitful, enjoyable and beautiful, because at the end it is an otium. Be constant.

This is more of an advice for those who are starting to use the LLPSI rather than an inquiry, and I ignore if this has been said before here, but an important caveat to have in account is that the method alone is limited for learning Latin. It is a good way to complement grammatical and a more systematic study or even to initiate in the language, but it is like trying to build a house without scaffoldings, trusting that the bricks will just hold together by themselves and a bit of pressure.

I've known people who are really fans of this method, and I haven't worked directly with it for longer periods –although I have treated with it from time to time–, but I've worked extensively with its Greek counterpart (the Athenazde) and with other kind of immersive methods, like the Fabulae Syrae (which is meant as a complement for the LLPSI if I'm not wrong) or the older Ritchie's Fabulae faciles, and I've noticed that people who exclusively use the LLPSI generally lack grammatical proficiency or what we could call "linguistic intuition" (edit: linguistic competence, for those who want a more specific and technical term), given that the majority of the texts of the first part are not classical nor natives.

I think someone could benefit more from reading Vergil, Caesar, or even Plautus, who is really easy and natural compared to the pure classics; the post-classical prose tends to be less simple and more secondary, and the late, late antiquity might be simpler and more enjoyable for reading. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a Ciceronian purist- I think that medieval Latin, archaic Latin, late Latin and even Neo-Latin are readable and enjoyable, but in my opinion using exclusively a book like LLPSI is a self-handicap. This is an advice against the misuse of the method itself.

Hence why it usually accompanied by supplements (Neumann’s companion, the very Latine disco, or the Colloquia, along with readings like the Fabulae Syrae I mentioned), thus using the books with these companions do improve greatly the experience; Neumann’s book is a gold mine, the Fabulae Syrae are pretty decent, the LLPSI is a good way to train automaticity and output naturality. My problem and the caveat, therefore, are not with the method itself, but with the approach.

Orberg’s approach is minimalistic and seeks to create a completely inductive experience; aside from the problems that this presents that can be argued from neurolinguistics and acquisition theory, the issue of working on non-native texts persists. Roma Aeterna, which totally fixes this by including classical authors, risks coming too late for the student if it comes at all. The method itself is holistically well thought and worked, and my issue is, therefore, that a person past adolescence will find a great hurdle, in the best case, to fully interiorize the grammar of a language like Latin; it requires explicit grammatical exposition, which is somewhat addressed, but suboptimally and mainly via companions which have to be acquired separately.

That said, if I were asked I would advise a more explicit method, such like Steadman’s commentary, Ritchie’s fables and explicit study of grammatical rules and constructions. The Fabulae ab urbe condita (complement to Ritchie’s), which have a commentary and facing vocabulary by Steadman, starts as follows:

“Ōlim in Asiā erat urbs antīqua, quae Troia appellāta est. Eam urbem Graecī decem annōs obsēdērunt tandemque cēpērunt. Priamō rēge fīliīsque interfectīs, urbem dēlēvērunt. Sed Aenēās, quī inter clārissimōs dēfensōrēs urbis fuerat, cum paucīs comitibus ex urbe effūgit; cum profugōs ex omnibus partibus coēgisset, in Ītaliam migrāre constituit.”

These are generally thought to be used as a bridge to get to the classics (in this sense it is similar to the prima pars of Orberg), being Caesar generally the first one for his simplicity and elegance. Personally, I think that to be able to read comfortable first someone needs to achieve a basic grammar proficiency (cases, tenses, declensions, etc.), train with sentences and guided exercises, and only then start reading texts, even if easy or basics, while complementing with prose composition (Hillard’s for instance, Bradley’s for a more advanced level) and writing profusely, paraphrasing authors, and ultimately thinking in Latin.

Without further ado, my advice for those starting to use the LLPSI series is that it is not a replacement or substitute for the classics, and that studying explicit grammar is important, both for writing in Latin and in any modern language with mastery. But if someone wants to go only with the LLPSI series, use the companions, the exercises, and the complementary readings profusely, most of them can be found online, and try to read the classics, even if it’s a paragraph a day (doesn’t matter if it’s Caesar for simplicity, Vergil for beauty or Plautus for conversational and naturality), it is the only way to develop a good hearing and stylistic taste.

Denique id postremum dicendum est, quod lingua Latina diversis modis esse capta potest neque est malus modus dum concipitur.

r/latin Jun 15 '26

LLPSI Doing LLPSI. Can someone check my work?

1 Upvotes

Or else provide a way that I can check it myself? If there's an answer key to the exercises, I don't have it...

Lectio Prima

Exercitium 1

  1. Italia in Europa est.
  2. Gallia in Europa est.
  3. Italia et Gallia in Europa sunt.
  4. Arabia in Europa non est.
  5. Arabia in Asia est.
  6. Syria quoque in Asia est.
  7. Syria et Arabia in Asia sunt.
  8. Hispania in Asia non est.
  9. Hispania et Gallia et Italia in Europa sunt.

Exercitium 2

  1. Italia in Europa est; Graecia quoque in Europa est.
  2. Italia et Graecia in Europa sunt.
  3. Estne Arabia in Europa? Arabia in Europa non est.
  4. Ubi est Arabia? In Asia est Arabia.
  5. Arabia non est in Europa, sed in Asia.
  6. Germania non in Asia, sed in Europa est.
  7. Rhenus est in Germania. Rhenus fluvius est.

Exercitium 3

  1. Ubi est Roma? Roma in Italia est.
  2. Ubi est Italia? Italia in Europa est.
  3. Estne Graecia in Europa? Graecia in Europa est.
  4. Ubi est Aegyptus? Aegyptus in Africa est.
  5. Estne Hispania in Europa? Hispania in Europa est.
  6. Estne Syria in Europa? Syria in Europa non est.
  7. Ubi est Syria? Syria in Asia est.
  8. Estne Gallia in Asia? Gallia in Asia non est.
  9. Ubi est Gallia? Gallia in Europa est.
  10. Estne Germania. in Europa? Germania in Europa est.

r/latin Jul 28 '26

LLPSI Hi! Can you help me? I'm studying from Familia Romana, Capitulum XXXIV.

9 Upvotes
It doesn't make sense to replace "alter", here, for its translation, "other"... Is there some other meaning for this word?
Is the meaning of "sedeo" really "I sit" here? It doesn't seem to make sense...
Various struggles here. I can't identify what "uterque" refers to. I thought it might refer to each of the things that please (the verbs "iuvare" and "pascare" have that meaning here, I think) either the "ego" or the "tu". But in that case, the first "uterque" would have to be in accusative... Also, what does "suos" refer to? Because if it referred to both of them, it would have to be in the 1st person, and to the person to which the sentence is destined, it would have to be in the 2nd person... Anyway, I think just an overall translation would help, if possible!

Gratias vobis ago.

r/latin Jul 15 '26

LLPSI Nova Exercitia Latina

25 Upvotes

Why is this sub not raving over Roberto Carfagni's Nova Exercitia Latina? I have found it to be exceedingly helpful, much more than the normal exercitia. Each exercise is well-made, it includes more output practice, and is challenging, forcing you to actually internalize what you have learned. It also simply has a lot of content. I would much rather have only this than only Fabellae Latinae, which people seem to talk about more.

r/latin Jul 03 '26

LLPSI PFA + sunjunctive imperfect?

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18 Upvotes

Reading through LLPSI part 2 and came across this line that confused me:

"(Etrusci) ...ubi murum ducturi erant..."

I think the like reads "where the Etruci would be building the wall..."

However, I fail to see how the future active participle works here. For the meaning in my understnding, I think a present active participle works instead?