hic, iste, ille: this and that
Three demonstratives that point near me, near you, and over there.
LatinIntermediate Latin · PronounsAbout 4 min: 1 reading, 3 practiceUpdated
- Decline hic, haec, hoc
- Decline ille and iste like ipse
- Choose hic, iste or ille by distance from the speaker
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 29 of 35
- Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
- sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
- The present of amō and moneō 4 min
- The imperfect: was doing 4 min
- The future: will do 3 min
- The dative with adjectives 3 min
- The present of regō and audiō 4 min
- The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
- The future of regō and audiō 3 min
- capiō, and giving orders 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
- The passive: being done to 3 min
- The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
- Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
- fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
- The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
- Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
- amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
- Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
- possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · The third declension
- rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
- hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
- vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
- omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
- manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
- Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
- diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
- ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
- hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
- aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Comparison
- clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
- melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
- clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · Numerals
- ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
- Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
- hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LI ("The Demonstrative Pronouns Hic, Iste, Ille"), §§ 290–293
What it is
Is, ea, id points vaguely. To point definitely, Latin has three words:
| Word | Meaning | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| hic, haec, hoc | this | something near me |
| iste, ista, istud | that (of yours) | something near you |
| ille, illa, illud | that (over there) | something far from both of us |
All three work as adjectives (hic puer, this boy) or as pronouns (hic, he, this man).
hic has its own forms:
| Case | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | hic | haec | hoc |
| Gen. | huius | huius | huius |
| Dat. | huic | huic | huic |
| Acc. | hunc | hanc | hoc |
| Abl. | hōc | hāc | hōc |
| Plural | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nom. | hī | hae | haec |
| Gen. | hōrum | hārum | hōrum |
| Dat./Abl. | hīs | hīs | hīs |
| Acc. | hōs | hās | haec |
ille and iste are declined like ipse, except the neuter nominative and accusative singular illud, istud: ille, illīus, illī, illum, illō …
Quick check
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"this girl" (nominative)
- puella is feminine
Show answer
haec puella. Feminine nominative singular: haec.
Why it matters
"This" and "that" are some of the commonest words in any language. Hic … ille also means "the latter … the former", and ille after a name can mean "that famous": Caesar ille, the famous Caesar.
Worked example
- Hic puer est fīlius meus; ille est fīlius lēgātī. → This boy is my son; that one is the lieutenant's son.
- Haec oppida magna sunt. → These towns are large.
- Illō tempore Rōmānī Gallōs superāvērunt. → At that time the Romans defeated the Gauls.
Common mistake
Mixing up haec. It is the feminine singular (haec puella) and the neuter plural (haec oppida). Check the noun.
Key terms
- hic, haec, hoc
- this; he, she, it
- iste, ista, istud
- that (near you)
- ille, illa, illud
- that (over there); he, she, it
- huius
- of this (two syllables: HOO-yoos)
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 4 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| hic, haec, hoc | this; he, she, it |
| iste, ista, istud | that (near you) |
| ille, illa, illud | that (over there); he, she, it |
| huius | of this (two syllables: HOO-yoos) |
Practice
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
"of this town"
- hōrum is plural
Show answer
huius oppidī. Genitive singular: huius.
"that man (over there)", nominative
- hic is "this", near the speaker
Show answer
ille vir. Far from both: ille.
haec with oppida is …
- oppida is neuter plural
Show answer
neuter plural. haec is both feminine singular and neuter plural.
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| hic: accusative singular masculine | hunc |
| hic: accusative singular feminine | hanc |
| ille: genitive singular | illīus |
| ille: neuter nominative singular | illud |
| hic: ablative singular feminine | hāc |
| hic: dative singular | huic |
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: hic, haec, hoc, hunc, hanc, huius, ille, illa, illud, illum, illō, puer, puella, oppidum, tempus, magnus, est, sunt. Point to things in English ('this boy', 'that girl over there', 'these towns', 'at that time', 'of this town'), and I will say them in Latin. Do 10 phrases. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- hic (this, near me), iste (that, near you), ille (that, far away).
- hic: hic haec hoc, huius, huic, hunc hanc hoc, hōc hāc hōc.
- ille, iste like ipse; neuter illud, istud.
- haec = feminine singular or neuter plural.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give the accusative plural feminine of hic.
Show answer
hās.
Translate Illud oppidum est magnum.
Show answer
That town is large.
Which word points to something near the person you're talking to?
Show answer
iste.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LI, §§ 290–293. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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