What are the best books to learn Latin? what textbook or dictionary should i use? are there other books to consider? These are questions that students ask me every year, so here are my recommendations for anyone learning Latin.
There are countless books, some popular, others unknown or forgotten, and how do you know if any of them are good? I’ve tried pretty much all of them with students and for myself and found the best ones, with some room for bias, and thought I’d share them with you. Note that there are many other great books to choose from; these are the ones I prefer, use and recommend.
You are reading: Books to learn latin
I have divided this guide into four parts:
- Latin textbooks
- Latin readers
- Latin dictionaries
- Latin prose composition books
Let’s get started!
best textbooks to learn latin
These are the best textbooks on the market to start learning and mastering Latin. I recommend that you get several books and work with them to develop a large vocabulary.
Roman family (lingua latina per se illustrated i)
hans Ørberg
Familia Romana is by far the best book to get a solid foundation in Latin. I myself used it to learn Latin. I also use it in teaching and it is the book I always recommend first when asked.
Roman family is written entirely in Latin and takes you from phrases like “roma in italia est” to longer intermediate texts. margin notes and pictures help explain new words without the need to translate them. the book focuses on a Roman family, but adds some classic Latin texts towards the end. this is where to start.
suggested reading: first day of learning latin: what to do
who should read roman family?
everyone learning Latin should read Roman family.
exercitia latina i: exercises for the roman family, (lingua latina per se illustrata i)
hans Ørberg
exercitia latina i is the exercise book created for the roman family. It’s not technically a textbook, but it’s a great compliment to the Roman family. And while Roman Family itself is a fantastic book, the workbook gives you countless opportunities to delve into the textbook’s morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. When I learned Latin many years ago, I did the exercises in this book many times, both in writing and orally.
coloquia personarum, (lingua latina per se illustrata i)
hans Ørberg
colloquia personarum is a dialogue book written so that each dialogue corresponds to the history and difficulty of a particular chapter of the Roman family. it does not stand on its own as a textbook, as it is written as a companion to the Roman family. However, if you study this book in combination with the Roman family and the Latin exercitia i diligently, you will develop a perfect base, so that you will never have to think about endings and basic grammar again: you will know it instinctively. all three in combination make the best textbook trio out there.
assimilated the latin sans comb
clement desessard
assimil, le latin sans peine is a fun and great book, built with a philosophy very different from that of the Roman family. it consists of 101 dialogues in Latin with a parallel translation in French (it is also available in Italian as assimil il latino senza sforzo, and in German as latein ohne mühe). Some of the dialogue is silly conversation in everyday situations, while others are passages taken from Latin literature, from Plautus to an early modern apothecary’s oath. each dialogue also comes with notes on grammar and vocabulary.
The purpose of this book here is to have fun while you learn. the reduced format of each lesson makes it perfect for shorter study sessions.
To get the most out of assimil, you should listen to the recordings of all the dialogue repeatedly to begin to develop an intuitive understanding of Latin.
assimil le latin sans peine is best used in conjunction with a comprehensive basic course in Latin as a Roman family. In this way, you get a solid foundation of FR and at the same time discover interesting passages from two millennia of Latin literature.
note: there is another assimil latin textbook by isabelle ducos-filippi. I do not recommend this; get the one from clément desessard.
Who should read assimil le latin sans peine?
if you are uncomfortable with a book entirely written in Latin and want a translation, then assimil is the book for you.
Although the translations and commentaries are in French, you can still get a lot out of the book by reading and listening to the dialogues. without the French notes and translations, perhaps I should wait until I have a Latin base.
It’s also the book for you if you’ve already used the assimil series when you were learning another language and found that it worked for you. however, I strongly recommend that you use assimil le latin sans peine in conjunction with familia romana to get the most out of both.
best Latino readers
what is a latino reader?
Latin readers is a genre of generally shorter books, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. they were intended to bridge the gap between basic studies and reading classic literature. some consist of selections from the classical canon, while others contain original or adapted Latin. here we are talking about the latter of the two. keep in mind that there are countless Latino readers, and here we only cite a few of the best.
why do you need a reader? Isn’t a textbook enough?
A good textbook, like Roman Family, will teach you many of the most common aspects of Latin in terms of vocabulary and grammar. however, to progress, you need to read more Latin beyond the textbook. readers are a great way to find a wider range of vocabulary and topics as well.
Below you will find the best Latino readers, or books, for extensive reading. they differ in level and scope. I have noted under each book when it is appropriate, or even possible, to read them. for best results, you should strive to read them all, many times.
fabulae sirae
fabulae syrae contains myths and stories from the classical world told in Middle Latin. each story corresponds to a chapter of the second half of the Roman family and is therefore a perfect companion to that book.
It’s also a great way to learn about the myths of the classical world that were always present in the minds of the Roman authors who had been steeped in them since childhood.
when can you read fabulae syrae?
I have my students study Roman family in a step-by-step method, and when they have finished the first half of the book, they also start reading fabulae syrae. this is the way to go, as fabulae syrae will reinforce material from the corresponding chapter on roman family while adding new vocabulary.
ritchie’s easy fables
frank ritchie
Ritchie’s fabulae faciles is a 19th century Latin reading classic. It is an entertaining book to read, with stories about Hercules, Odysseus, Perseus and Jason and the Argonauts.
Fabulae Fabulae was written to provide students with a springboard into Caesar’s Bello Gallico, which has traditionally been the first Roman text read by students. For this reason, it is written in a simple style, with frequent use of Caesar’s most common turns of phrase, for example his rebus constitutis (“having decided on these things”). If you read and reread this, you will develop your vocabulary and knowledge about the myths of the classical world.
You can find an edition that has Latin text with vocabulary and comments here.
See Also: Nick Stone – Book Series In Order
when can you read ritchie’s easy fabulae?
if you have worked through the roman family methodically and diligently, you will be able to read fabulae faciles comfortably. Your best bet is to read Fabulae Syrae first, as there will be a lot of vocabulary and overlapping themes. then you follow easy fabulae; there may be some words or grammar points that are difficult in fabulae faciles, but then you can refer to the glossary and comments in this edition.
pugio bruti — a crime story in easy Latin
daniel pettersson, amelie rosengreni i am very biased towards this book, being one of its authors. It’s the kind of book I wish I had when I learned Latin many years ago: an exciting novella in a very classical style.
Pugio Bruti is a crime story set in Roma Augusta where a young woman, Terentia, searches for the truth about her father’s dagger. The book is written in easy but classical Latin with a vocabulary of less than 350 words. comes with a complete Latin-English vocabulary. To complement the book, you can listen to the audiobook version and work through the online course’s video course. there are also plenty of additional free resources online
when can you start reading pugio bruti?
I suggest you finish at least the first half of Roman family before you start reading pugio bruti. If you’re not sure of your level, there’s help in the form of full Latin and English vocabulary in the book and a glossary (where you can find all word forms) free online. The book also repeats words in different ways so that a word you don’t understand at first becomes part of your vocabulary once you’ve finished the book.
epitome historiae sacrae: brevi christi vitae narratione addita
charles lhomond, roberto carfagni
epitome historiae sacrae is a 17th century Latin reader written entirely in Latin with stories from the Bible in intermediate (higher) Latin. the wide variety of stories will substantially enrich your vocabulary while remaining enjoyable. my students enjoy this book both because of the vocabulary and because the familiarity of the stories makes them much more understandable.
You can find an edition that has marginal notes explaining new or difficult words, all in Latin here. this edition also has several exercises, including crosswords and matching.
When can epitome historiae sacrae be read?
Because of the large vocabulary, epitome historiae sacrae is more difficult than the previous ones on this list. you should finish (ie not just read it once) lingua latina part i: roman family and the workbook, and you should be able to read epitome historiae sacrae without too much trouble.
ad alpes: a history of roman life (2017 edition)
h. c. freaking out
Years ago, I came across this Latin book and reading it made me very happy. ad alpes is a unique book and, I would say, one of the best Latin readers out there. it is both a novel with an overall narrative and a Latin reader with over 200 pages of Latin stories from the ancient world. Woven into the narrative of the book you will find countless passages from various Latin authors and as such it really prepares you for reading the classic authors.
Reading (or listening to) this book over and over again will give you a large vocabulary and a good understanding of more advanced grammar. It comes with a full Latin and English vocabulary and is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
who can read ad alpes?
It is best to have a good foundation of Latin grammar and vocabulary before reading ad alpes. So, read and study Famila Romana, Fabulae Syrae, Fabulae Fabulas, Epitome Historiae Sacrae before starting Ad Alpes.
roma aeterna, (lingua latina per se illustrated ii)
hans Ørberg
roma aeterna is the second volume of the lingua latina per se illustrata series and takes the student through roman history and myths through passages by roman historians and poets such as titus livio, salustius and ovid.
Before diving into Roman literature, Roma Aeterna first retells the first four books of Virgil’s Aeneid in direct Latin prose. thereafter, it covers central events in Roman history through a wide variety of readings accompanied by brief explanations of grammar and exercises.
who can read roma aeterna?
although roma aeterna is meant to be read after the roman family (and the auxiliary books of the illustrata series of lingua latina per se), our students often find that there is too great a gap.
Therefore, I suggest reading and mastering the Fabulae Fabulae Fabulas and Epitome Historiae Sacrae Latin readers before reading Roma Aeterna, unless Roman history is one of your passions.
fabulae gallicae — fairy tales in Latin
charles perrault (author), laurent d’aumale (translator)
fabulae gallicae is a latin translation of charles perrault’s 1697 fairy tales. the book contains eight classic fairy tales; Cinderella, Diamonds and Frogs, Blue Beard, Little Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb, Puss in Boots, Donkey Skin, and Sleeping Beauty. However, fairy tales are not Disney’s versions of stories, which means that even though you know the stories, the plots and endings may surprise you.
Most readers and books written to learn Latin prefer Roman stories, antiquity, myths, or the Bible. fabulae gallicae is therefore a welcome breath of fresh air, providing something completely different to read.
There are two versions of the book: a paperback and an e-book. both contain a glossary in three languages: French, English and Spanish.
Who can read fabulae gallicae?
You need to be quite advanced to easily read fabulae gallicae, as it is written in a very classical style. I read one of the stories, magae, or diamonds and frogs, in our book club if you’re curious about the level. you can find the video here.
best latin dictionaries
Having a good dictionary is crucial to learning Latin, but it’s hard to know which ones are good. For a complete guide and comparison of Latin-English dictionaries, read: What are the best Latin-English dictionaries to learn Latin?
Below I have indicated those that I consider to be of most interest, both large and small academics for beginning and intermediate students.
the bantam new college latino & english dictionary
john traupman
the bantam new college latino & english dictionary is a popular medium sized 700 page dictionary with 70,000 words and phrases. It also includes sections that can be useful when you are learning Latin, such as pronunciation, grammar, history, mythology. is not only a Latin-English dictionary but also has an English-Latin section. Bantam stands out, which contains slang, vulgar expressions and Neo-Latin vocabulary.
Who should use the bantam dictionary?
the bantam new college latino & english dictionary is a great dictionary if you want a good all in one resource and be able to look up a word and get a general idea of its meaning. but for reading classic authors, I recommend a larger dictionary.
cassell’s latin dictionary (standard)
d. p. simpsons
cassell’s latin dictionary is very popular and quite comprehensive. its 880 pages focus on Latin from 200 B.C. to 100 AD and contains a Latin-English and English-Latin section. What sets this dictionary apart from Bantam’s are the many usage examples taken from Latin literature and a section on idiomatic expressions, which I greatly appreciate.
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Who should use Cassell’s Latin Dictionary?
cassell’s latin dictionary is great if you study latin and read classical texts beyond a few sentences here and there. provides most of what you need without being too overwhelming.
lewis & short (a Latin dictionary or a harpist’s Latin dictionary)
charlton thomas lewis, short charles
lewis & short is, without a doubt, the most widely used Latin-English dictionary by students and academics alike. It is also one of the most complete dictionaries with Latin from the 2nd century BC. to the 8th century AD It comprises 2,000 pages with countless examples from the literature, notes on usage, and etymology. it is also freely available online.
has been criticized over the years for slight inaccuracies, both in definitions and, more particularly, in vowel quantities. it is still an excellent and impressive dictionary.
who should use lewis & short?
lewis & short is primarily a Latin dictionary for advanced learners and academics. it is also the standard dictionary among scholars reading later Latin.
oxford latin dictionary
p.w. glow (editor)
oxford latin dictionary is a huge 2400 page dictionary, covering Latin up to 200 AD, excluding most Christian writers.
as lewis & in short, it is just a Latin-English dictionary and provides the user with examples from the literature and notes on usage and etymology. however, it differs from lewis & in short, it is not based on earlier dictionaries, but is an entirely new work that takes modern research into account.
I think one of the greatest strengths of the Oxford Latin Dictionary lies in the clear layout of its articles, which makes finding the relevant meaning relatively easy for the reader.
Who should use the oxford latin dictionary?
If you are an advanced student and want to delve into the different nuances and uses of words, the Oxford Latin Dictionary is a great resource. I suggest you use both lewis & short and old.
best book on Latin prose composition
If you want to get really good at Latin and master it well, one of the best things you can do is follow a good Latin prose composition textbook and start practicing your writing skills. writing in Latin helps you build confidence in your ability to handle the language and understand it deeply.
suggested reading: Latin prose composition: books and method
Note that “Latin prose composition” here means translating selected sentences and passages from English into Latin in order to practice a particular aspect of the language. therefore, it is not creative writing.
I have learned a lot by translating into Latin as it helped me discover what I didn’t know or hadn’t noticed while reading.
note! translation exercises are helpful, but will be of little use without extensive reading of level-appropriate Latin.
Here are my two favorite Latin prose composition books:
n & hillard’s latin prose composition
north & Hillard’s Latin Prose Composition is a classic aimed at students beginning to write in Latin. the method focuses on the translation from English to Latin. Please note that the book still requires a full understanding of Latin morphology as the book focuses on teaching syntax and vocabulary. the book starts with some preparatory exercises, which are very simple, but the actual exercises are more difficult.
The book follows a simple structure: each chapter first briefly explains a point of grammar such as the genitive of quality or final sentences. Below are some examples of the chapter’s grammar point with English translations. Finally, there are the exercises themselves, which consist of short, disjointed sentences using the grammar points from the chapter.
After a few chapters, there are summary exercises. these are coherent paragraphs that relate a short story or an episode from the story. In these synthesis exercises, the grammar and vocabulary from the previous chapters are practiced together.
north & hillard has a complete glossary of all the words and expressions you will need to do the exercises.
I make most of my students read this book diligently. Although the style and content of the book may seem rather dry to students, the result of using it is always the same: my students have intimately mastered the most important aspects of grammar and phraseology. furthermore, this hyperfocus on particular aspects of the language makes it much more likely that they will notice the same things as they read. “oh this is the same structure i practiced using in north & Hillard!”
when can you use north & amp; hillard?
start working on north & hillard after getting a solid grounding in latin, preferably after the roman family, provided you study it methodically.
arnold de bradley’s latin prose composition
Arnold Bradley’s Latin Prose Composition is the standard textbook for advanced composition practice. aims to teach you how to write classical latin following the example of caesar and cicero. To do this, the chapters are divided into grammatical topics. each chapter focuses on one aspect, for example, the accusative and the infinitive, the conditional clauses or the reported speech.
The chapters first introduce the grammar point with explanations in English with example sentences in Latin clarifying the points. then follow isolated sentences in English to translate into Latin. these sentences are written to be translated using the grammar topic of the current chapter while practicing the previous points.
When I was learning Latin, I went over Bradley’s Arnold countless times, both in writing and orally. afterwards, I gained a new confidence in my knowledge of the Latin language and grammar. it is a detailed course and will greatly deepen your knowledge while making reading Latin much easier and more rewarding.
However, if your goal is to write well in Latin, this course is just the beginning: you will have to read and write for years to develop your style and vocabulary.
when can you study the arnold of bradley?
you can start studying bradley’s arnold after you know the latin morphology well and have a good vocabulary. first, master the roman family content by hans Ørberg and various readers, and then go through north & Hillard’s Latin Prose Composition, which works well as an introduction to Latin writing.
final recommendations
Now you have an idea of which books to buy and study to learn Latin well. remember that there are many other books not on this list that may be just as good. however, these are books that I have used successfully myself to achieve fluency in speaking and reading Latin.
do not rush to read the books; learning Latin can be and should be a pleasurable experience and not the “necessary evil” you have to go through to learn it. keep reading and studying constantly, and in time you will be able to read and, if you want, speak Latin well. it just takes time and reading.
good luck!
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