Let Us: eamus, oremus

Level 5

First person plural, present subjunctive: let us.

How It Works

VerbLet us
orare (pray)oremus
laudare (praise)laudemus
videre (see)videamus
ducere (lead)ducamus
audire (hear)audiamus
ire (go)eamus

The first conjugation has -emus, and the others have -amus. Sum gives simus. The third person is useful for someone who is not there: Veniat Marcus (Let Marcus come).

Eamus includes the speaker. To send others without yourself, use the command Ite (Go).

The Mass uses this form often. The priest says Oremus before a prayer. On some days the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino (Let us bless the Lord), and the answer is Deo gratias.

Examples (5)

  1. Eamus!

    Let us go!

    Eamus is the first person plural of the subjunctive of eo. It invites others to come along.

  2. Oremus.

    Let us pray.

    The priest says this at Mass before a prayer. Oremus is the subjunctive of oro.

  3. Benedicamus Domino.

    Let us bless the Lord.

    A dismissal used at some Masses and at the end of the Hours. The answer is Deo gratias.

  4. Fiat lux!

    Let there be light!

    Genesis 1:3. In the third person the subjunctive means let it be.

  5. Ne timeamus.

    Let us not be afraid.

    Ne turns the invitation into a negative one.

Common Mistakes

  • Using non for a negative invitation.

    Non timeamus.
    Ne timeamus.

    A negative invitation or command in the subjunctive takes ne, never non.

  • Using the indicative for let us.

    Imus.
    Eamus.

    Imus is correct Latin for a different meaning: we go. The subjunctive eamus is the one that invites.

How It Connects

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Let Us: eamus, oremusLevel 5

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The present subjunctive in the first person plural means let us.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

eooro