Four Latin verb conjugations explained for beginners.

Here’s the short, friendly truth about Latin verbs: they’re the engine that makes every sentence go. And in Latin, there are four big engine families, or what grammarians call conjugations. Yes, four. It’s a clean system, once you know the pattern. Let me explain how each group works, with simple bite-sized examples you can memorize without pulling out your hair.

Four conjugations, one neat map

In Latin, verbs change their endings to show who’s doing the action, when the action happens, and what kind of action it is. That shift is called inflection, and the most reliable way to predict those endings is to know which conjugation a verb belongs to. So, the four conjugations are distinguished by their infinitive endings:

• First conjugation: -are (infinitive endings like amare)

• Second conjugation: -ēre (infinitive endings like videre)

• Third conjugation: -ere (infinitive endings like dicere)

• Fourth conjugation: -ire (infinitive endings like audire)

Think of it as four families sharing the same language rules, but with different accents. Once you recognize the family, the rest falls into place.

The first family: the -are crowd

If you’ve ever seen a verb whose infinitive ends in -are, you’ve met the first conjugation. A classic example is amare, “to love.” In the present tense, the endings for the main forms look like this:

• amō (I love)

• amas (you love)

• amat (he/she/it loves)

• amāmus (we love)

• amātis (you all love)

• amant (they love)

Notice the steady -a- vowel in the stem across the forms. The pattern is steady, predictable, almost comforting if you’re just starting out. For an everyday mnemonic: think “A-MAW, you see, we all am-A-t-you,” which sounds silly, but it helps lock the rhythm in your head.

The second family: the -ēre crew

Verbs in the second conjugation end in -ēre in the infinitive. A familiar example is vidēre, “to see.” The present tense forms often look like this:

• videō (I see)

• vidēs (you see)

• videt (he/she/it sees)

• vidēmus (we see)

• vidētis (you all see)

• vident (they see)

The big clue here is the long ē in the endings, which makes the sound a touch brighter than the first conjugation. If a verb makes that long-e sound in the stem, you’re probably looking at -ēre.

The third family: the -ere crowd

Third conjugation verbs end in -ere in the infinitive, and they’re the most varied group. The example dicere, “to say,” is a good representative. In the present tense, you’ll see forms like:

• dō or dīcō (I say) — sometimes the first-person form is irregular, but the general pattern is dicō, dīcis, dīcit, dicimus, dicitis, dicunt

Note how the endings aren’t as uniform as the first two conjugations. That’s the point of the third category: more variety, more flexibility in the stem. It’s where you’ll encounter some of the most interesting verbs in Latin, because they bend a bit more to fit tense, voice, and mood.

The fourth family: the -ire squad

The fourth conjugation ends in -ire in the infinitive, with audire as a go-to example for “to hear.” Present tense looks like this:

• audio (I hear)

• audis (you hear)

• audit (he/she/it hears)

• audimus (we hear)

• auditis (you all hear)

• audiunt (they hear)

There’s a little flavor of io in the fourth conjugation—some forms push a small -i- into the stem in ways that feel almost musical to the ear. In many textbooks you’ll see the label “-io” verbs for those first-person forms. It’s a handy catch-all phrase that helps you remember the wobble a bit.

Why four? Why not three or five?

You might wonder why there aren’t more or fewer groups. Here’s the simple, practical answer: endings are the language’s shorthand. Grouping verbs by infinitive endings (-are, -ēre, -ere, -ire) gives you a reliable cue to predict the rest of the forms, especially when you’re learning new verbs. The four-conjugation system also mirrors how Latin evolves in real texts—poets and prose writers alike tend to ride patterns that fit one of these four families.

A friendly map you can keep in your back pocket

• Infinitive endings tell you the conjugation.

• Present tense forms reveal the subject and the action in the current time frame.

• Other tenses and moods build on the same endings, with a few tweaks and expansions.

If you want a quick mental shortcut, memorize the infinitive endings first, then practice a couple of verbs from each group. Soon you’ll be able to recognize a verb’s conjugation at a glance and predict its forms without flipping through a grammar book.

A couple of tips that make learning easier

• Learn the feel, not just the letters. Say the endings aloud as you write them. The rhythm helps you remember.

• Create tiny, color-coded flashcards. Red for -are, blue for -ēre, green for -ere, purple for -ire. When you see the color, you’ll recall the pattern.

• Practice with real Latin lines. A line from a poem or a short sentence from a Latin author can anchor the pattern in a meaningful context.

• Don’t fear irregularities. The third and fourth conjugations have quirks, but they’re not traps—just different melodies to learn. A little patience goes a long way.

A quick digression: where verbs meet poetry and meaning

Latin is famous for its rhythm and precision. The four conjugations aren’t just grammar quirks; they’re tools that poets and orators use to shape line length, emphasis, and mood. In shorter lines, poets lean on the present tense forms to keep the tempo brisk. In longer lines or epic passages, you’ll see a mix of tenses and moods that rely on these same endings. Understanding the four families helps you hear the music beneath the Latin you read.

Common stumbling blocks—and how to clear them

• The third conjugation can look slippery because of stem changes and irregular first-person forms. Don’t panic. Start with the present indicative and gradually add imperfect and future forms. The muscle memory follows.

• The fourth conjugation’s “io” flavor shows up in some present forms. If a verb feels a bit peppy in the first person, you’re likely in the fourth conjugation or a related pattern. Practice a few aloud to lock the sound.

• Memorizing endings is not a one-off task. Revisit them every few days. Short, focused reviews beat marathon cramming any day.

Bringing it all together

Here’s the core takeaway: Latin verbs are organized into four conjugations, each identified by its infinitive ending (-are, -ēre, -ere, -ire). Once you know which conjugation a verb belongs to, the rest of its forms tend to follow a predictable set of endings. Amāre, vidēre, dīcere, audīre—these four verbs become your stepping stones to mastering the broader ecosystem of Latin verb forms.

If you’re imagining a future reading Latin texts with greater ease, you’re not alone. The four-conjugation framework isn’t just a classroom convenience; it’s a practical toolkit for understanding nuance in both everyday statements and poetic lines. The more you practice recognizing the conjugation, the more fluid your Latin will become.

A friendly recap for quick recall

• There are four Latin conjugations.

• Infinitive endings signal the group: -are, -ēre, -ere, -ire.

• Each group has its own pattern of endings for important tenses in the present system.

• Start with a couple of verbs from each group, listen to the rhythm, and build confidence through small, consistent drills.

• Expect a little variation in the third and fourth conjugations, and welcome the challenge as part of the journey.

If you’re curious about how these patterns show up in real Latin prose or poetry, you’ll start noticing the same endings popping up again and again. That resonance is what makes Latin not just a grammar exercise, but a living language with a storied past and a vivid present in classrooms, libraries, and the pages of ancient authors.

So, the next time you see a new Latin verb, scan the infinitive and ask: which conjugation am I facing? Then let the endings guide you like a well-marked map. Before you know it, the four-conjugation system will feel less like a rulebook and more like a familiar friend helping you read, write, and think in Latin with greater clarity and ease.