A question for Latin scholars?

Question

What does this mean - Mater mea sus est mala. NB The question is better asked verbally as the punctuation (which is absent) is important

Answer 1

LOL!

That's a good one. To go beyond Little Miss, 'mea' could also be imperative form of meo/meare. That would make it:

Move along, mother! The pig is eating the apples.

Answer 2

This is a tricky one! Unfortunately I don't know the answer, but... have you thought that "est" can came not only from "sum, esse, fui", but also from "edo, edere"(to eat)? Just a suggestion.


Edit: Got it!!! I checked and there's also a neuter form, "malum,-i" (apple) , which in the plural accusative would be "mala". "Mea" will have the same "a" ending. The mother is not a sow! Oh, the beauties of Latin!

So: Mater, mea sus est mala! = Mother, the pig/sow is eating my apples!

Answer 3

Mater mea sus est mala means my mother is an evil swine.

Latin-English Dictionary :)

Answer 4

As you say, the punctuation is important. Mater could be either nominative or vocative, while mea could agree with either mater or sus.

It could therefore mean either 'My mother is an evil sow' or 'Mother, my sow is bad.'

Answer 5

My mother is a greedy(or)evil pig(or)swine

Answer 6

My mother is an evil swine.