Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
Latin to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Latin term or phrase:avis, volucres, passeri
I have seen the three terms AVIS, VOLUCRES, PASSERI translated as BIRDS. WHich one is correct? Are they all correct, but meaning different kinds of bird?
Could you please explain your answer and givre examples, if possible,
Many thanks
Explanation: 'Avis' (singular) is the generic term for 'bird'. It refers to any species.
'Volucres' (plural; the singular is 'volucer') is properly an adjective meaning 'flying'. It is used substantively to mean 'birds' (of any species), but it is almost entirely confined to poetry.
'Passeres' (not 'passeri'; it is plural, the singular being 'passer') refers to any small bird, especially to a sparrow.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 days 3 hrs 48 mins (2004-11-06 16:45:49 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The only form \'passeri\' which occurs in Latn, classical or otherwise, is the dative singular.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 days 10 hrs 9 mins (2004-11-06 23:06:51 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
By form--I did not use the term in a biological sense--I meant grammatical form. As I\'ve already stated, thgough apparently not clearly enough, the only grammatical form \'passeri\' which exists in Latin, classical or otherwise, is the dative singular.
Explanation: Say, like in "rara avis" (a rare bird)
Volucres (from singulra "volucris", bird) means rather "a flying animal" (volucer volucris volucre, flying, winged; fleet, swift, fleeting. F. as subst. volucris -is, a bird or flying insect). You may compare it to "feathery" in English.
`Passeri' is rather "sparrows" (comes from singular passere, passeris). In wider sense, it's a small bird.
Passere, -eris, m. a sparrow or other small bird; a sea fish, a plaice or flounder.
Kirill Semenov Ukraine Local time: 00:08 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Russian PRO pts in category: 36
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +3
