How to say 'son and daughter' in Latin using the enclitic -que.

Title: The Tiny Word That Makes Latin Flow: -que and the Phrase Filius filiaque

Latin loves a little elegance, and sometimes a single tiny word changes the whole feeling of a sentence. If you’ve ever stumbled over how to say “son and daughter” without repeating yourself, you’re not alone. The Latin enclitic -que is exactly that tiny word—short, sly, and surprisingly powerful. It slips onto the word before it and means “and.” Think of it as the elegant shortcut Romans used to keep their lines neat and musical.

Let me explain how it works, using a simple, real-world example you’ll often see in early Certamen for Beginners topics: Filius filiaque.

What is that little -que doing, exactly?

• The word -que is an enclitic conjunction. Enclitic means it clings to the word in front of it, not as a separate token like et, but as a suffix-like addition. The translation stays natural: “and.”

• In practice, you attach -que to the second noun of a pair. The first noun stays as it is; the second noun carries the -que and becomes the signal for “and” right there in the phrase.

• This helps the sentence sound a touch more lyrical—something you’ll notice in classical authors who liked a streamlined, almost chant-like rhythm.

Now, the sample you asked about: Filius filiaque

• Filius is “son.” Filia is “daughter.”

• When the enclitic -que is added to filia, you get filiaque. You don’t try to force a separate “et” or repeat “filia”; instead, you join the second word to signal the addition.

• Put together, Filius filiaque reads as “the son and daughter.” It’s concise and a touch elegant, especially in formal or literary Latin.

Why this exact form (and not the others in the list)?

Let’s break down the answer choices you might see and why B wins in this context.

A. Filius et Filia

• This is perfectly understandable Latin and would translate to “the son and daughter.” It uses et, the straightforward word for “and.” But it isn’t using the -que enclitic, which is the focus of the question. If you’re aiming to demonstrate the enclitic construction, this option doesn’t show the device.

B. Filius filiaque

• This is the right one for the enclitic exercise. The second noun filia takes -que, becoming filiaque, which signals “and.” It preserves a tidy two-noun phrase without repeating words. If you’re studying the stylistic options Latin gives you, this is a classic compact form.

C. Filius filiorum

• Filiorum is the genitive plural of filius, literally “of sons.” The phrase becomes “son of sons,” which is grammatically off for the intended meaning. It demonstrates how a wrong case or wrong form changes the sense entirely.

D. Filius et Filibus

• Filibus is either the dative or ablative plural of filius (depending on the case), not a feminine noun like filia. The result is ungrammatical for the intended phrase and shows how important case endings are in Latin.

Where you’ll see -que in real Latin texts

• The -que enclitic isn’t a freaky novelty; it’s a staple in classical Latin. It appears in famous, rhythm-rich lines like Senatus Populusque Romanus — the Senate and People of Rome. The -que attaches to Populus, turning “people” into the second part of the pair, so the whole motto moves with a smooth, almost drum-like cadence.

• You’ll also encounter -que in poetry and prose where the author wants to connect ideas rapidly without extra words. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a musical slur that keeps the melody going.

When to use -que in your own Latin writing

• Use -que when you want a tight, graceful link between two nouns without repeating or adding another conjunction.

• Remember: it attaches to the second noun. The first noun stays steady; the second noun, along with -que, does the linking work.

• Check the form of the second noun: the -que doesn’t change its gender or case. It’s simply the suffix that marks the conjunction.

A tiny digression that’s worth keeping in mind

Latin isn’t all rules and rigid forms; it’s a language that invites rhythm and balance. The -que device is one of those small tools that helps you capture the cadence of ancient authors. If you’ve ever heard a Latin line that feels almost musical, you’re likely sensing a poet or orator who chose -que to keep the pace lively.

A quick, friendly challenge to connect it all

Here are a couple of phrases you can try forming on your own. They use the same pattern as Filius filiaque, so you can hear the cadence in your head as you write.

• Rex reginaque — King and queen.

• Puer puellaque — Boy and girl.

• Patres patrumque populus — Fathers and people (note how the topic shifts slightly with a different noun form, showing how -que behaves across different stems).

A few practical tips to keep Latin writing smooth

• When you see two nouns you want to say together with “and,” first check if one of them naturally forms well with -que. If the second noun is a feminine singular noun ending in -a, you’ll often see -que attached, becoming -aque, as in filia the second noun in Filius filiaque.

• If you’re unsure, you can always fall back to et, especially in prose where clarity matters more than elegance. But in short phrases or poetic lines, -que can give you that classic Latin texture you’re aiming for.

• Don’t worry too much about memorizing every possible combination at once. Start with a couple of go-to pairs (like filius filiaque, rex reginaque) and you’ll begin to hear the flow naturally.

A moment to tie this back to Certamen for Beginners topics

If you’ve been exploring Certamen for Beginners materials, you’ve probably met a mix of grammar points that reward careful listening to how Romans weave meaning with small words. The enclitic -que is a perfect example of a concise, expressive tool that teaches a lot about structure without overwhelming with formality. It’s the kind of knowledge that pays off when you read passages aloud, feel the rhythm, and notice how a slight word-ending can carry a big idea.

To sum it up

• The correct way to say “son and daughter” with an enclitic is Filius filiaque.

• The enclitic -que attaches to the second noun and means “and,” giving a clean, elegant connection.

• The other options either use a separate conjunction (et), change the case or meaning, or produce an ungrammatical pair.

• You’ll spot -que in classic lines like Senatus Populusque Romanus, which shows the real-life feel of the device.

• With a little practice, you’ll start hearing the cadence in Latin sentences and feel more confident when you encounter these forms in real texts.

If you’re curious to dig deeper, keep an eye out for more examples of -que in both poetry and prose. See how authors switch between et and -que to modulate tone and speed. It’s a small feature, but it makes a big difference in how Latin sounds when you read it aloud.

And yes, that tiny suffix really can open up a whole world of elegant phrasing—one line at a time.