Order anything by pointing in Latin
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten Latin words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Latin phrases in this lesson
- Velim...WEH-lim
- I would like...
- Hochok
- This one
- Quantum est?KWAN-tum EST
- How much is it?
- Rationem, quaesorah-tee-OH-nem KWAY-so
- The bill, please
- Per chartam creditoriamper KAR-tam kre-di-TOH-ri-am
- By card
- NummisNUM-ees
- In cash
- AquaAH-kwa
- Water
- Cafaeumka-FAI-um
- Coffee
- TheaTEH-a
- Tea
- Cervisiaker-WEE-si-a
- Beer
- SineSEE-neh
- Without...
Literally "I would wish": "velim aquam", I would like water.
The neuter "this", right for pointing at a thing.
Literally "how much is it?". Quantum is the interrogative; est means is. Price haggling in Roman markets was normal; exact prices were less fixed than today.
Ratio means account or bill. In Roman taverns (popinae) and inns (cauponae), hosts kept running tabs and settled at the end.
Modern Latin, as coined for the Vatican's own dictionary.
Nummus (coin) in ablative plural nummis (by coins/cash). No concept of card payment in Roman times; payment was always in metal coins or barter.
Aqua was essential but often unsafe. Romans built aqueducts to bring clean water. Wine was safer; water was mixed with wine for drinking.
Modern Latin. Coffee reached Europe more than a thousand years after Rome fell.
A modern coinage, since the Romans never knew tea.
A Gaulish word the Romans borrowed; they themselves preferred wine.
Sine (without) + ablative. Sine sale (without salt), sine oleo (without oil). Requests for dietary preferences, though less common in ancient times.