My Favorite Latin Resources (Beginning through Advanced)

Learning (or teaching) Latin? I can help! Explore all my favorite Latin resources, both free and paid.

This page is a quick guide to the resources which I personally have found most helpful in learning and teaching Latin. I have organized them according to function – textbook, dictionary, grammar, commentary, etc. Free and paid resources are mixed together.

Latin manuscript in Gothic script with text overlay My Favorite Latin Resources

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Best Latin Textbooks

Here I will discuss the three Latin textbooks with which I have the most experience. The first two employ the traditional grammar-translation method and I have used both of them as textbooks in the university classroom. The third focuses on reading Latin and learning via inductive reasoning.

Susan Shelmerdine’s Introduction to Latin, Second Edition

Shelmerdine’s Introduction to Latin is currently my preferred Latin textbook for both classroom and self-study. I have used it to teach at Harvard and beyond. It’s pretty affordable as these things go – you can get it for under $50.

There is an accompanying workbook, Ed DeHoratius’ Introduction to Latin: A Workbook, which has an answer key in the back. This makes ideal for independent learners.

Hackett Publishing also offers some free supplementary resources online (such as audio and exercises).

Wheelock’s Latin, Seventh Edition

I learned Latin from Wheelock’s Latin and I loved it, but it is old-school and grammar-heavy, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. If you love grammar, then you may love Wheelock’s. I personally prefer the order in which Shelmerdine introduces grammatical topics, but Wheelock’s is a solid choice.

I highly recommend the accompanying book of Latin stories; before you know it you will be reading whole paragraphs of Latin. There is also a workbook for Wheelock’s, although it unfortunately does not have an answer key in the back. 

Wheelock’s is probably the most affordable of the three textbooks discussed in this post. You can usually get it for under $25 on Bookshop or Amazon. The workbook is not really necessary, but it is also pretty cheap (check Bookshop or Amazon).

To access the answer key for the exercises in the textbook and the workbook, visit this website. You have to contact the publisher and explain that you are an independent student (and not someone trying to cheat in a class). If they believe you, they will give you the answer keys for free.

This process can be rather complicated, which is honestly the main reason I have reservations about recommending Wheelock’s for independent study.

Wheelock’s has long been one of the most popular classroom textbooks, however, which means that there are lots of websites and additional books out there for learners.

If you are teaching yourself Latin, then you may want to consider purchasing A Comprehensive Guide to Wheelock’s Latin by Dale A. Grote. Grote’s goal is to provide extra assistance and explanations to confused students. When I teach with Wheelock’s, I always put this book on library reserve for my students.

Here are some useful (free!) websites:

Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, I: Familia Romana

The Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata (LLPSI) series offers a natural, acquisition-based approach to Latin. You read simple Latin texts and gradually build up your knowledge through inductive reasoning. A lot of people love this textbook, but it really depends on your learning style.

The first book, Familia Romana, is typically available for under $50. If you decide to use LLPSI, you will definitely want to buy the companion, Lingua Latina: A Companion to Familia Romana, as well. Otherwise you will end up looking for grammatical explanations elsewhere, which could be frustrating.

👉 Read my full review of Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata here.

Best Latin Dictionaries

I have written a whole post on the best (classical) Latin dictionaries, so I recommend that you read that for more information. Here I will summarize my thoughts quickly.

My top choice for beginners and intermediate students is The New College Latin & English Dictionary. It is clear and thorough while also managing to be small and affordable (typically less than $10 on Bookshop or Amazon).

For advanced students, my favorite is definitely Lewis and Short’s A Latin Dictionary. This is the dictionary that I use every day as a PhD student at Harvard. You can purchase a physical copy on Bookshop or Amazon.

Additionally, Lewis and Short is available online for free in various forms. I usually access it via Logeion, a platform created by the University of Chicago. There is also a Logeion app, which I love.

👉 Read my full post on choosing the best Latin dictionary.

Latin Vocabulary Tools

We have already covered dictionaries, but what about other vocabulary tools? Here are some useful resources (online and print).

Vocabulary Building

First of all, let’s talk about vocabulary building. Do you want to increase your Latin vocabulary, but aren’t sure how? Then you will love the Dickinson College Commentaries Latin Core Vocabulary List.

Scholars and students at Dickinson College have compiled a list of the 1,000 most frequently used words in the Latin language. According to the site, these words account for 70% of the word forms in a typical Latin text.

Yes, 70%. You read that right. If you work through this list, then you can read almost anything in Latin and recognize a huge percentage of the words.

Dickinson’s list is really neat because you can view it in different ways. The words appear in alphabetical order by default, but you can click on “Frequency Rank” to see the words from most to least common.

You can also filter the words into different groups. If you click on the dropdown menu below “Filter by: Semantic Group”, you will see a list of themes and topics. Animals/Plants, Emotions, Travel – there are around 40 categories. So you can pick a category and learn the words in it!

Finally, guess what? You can access this resource in different languages! Currently the languages are English, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, and Turkish. (It says that Arabic, Chinese, and Greek are also available, but they did not work for me.)

Modern Latin

Are you wondering how to talk about modern items and concepts in Latin? Do you simply want to describe your everyday life? Then you will appreciate the following resources.

First, picture dictionaries. You may hear “picture dictionary” and think of a children’s book, but they are great for older learners, too. I personally love incorporating picture dictionaries into my studies.

Anna Andresian’s Vocabula Picta is beautifully done and packed with information. Household items, sports events, technology, geography . . . you can find it all here.

Another excellent option is The Usborne First Thousand Words in Latin. If you want to learn “modern” Latin vocabulary, then I highly recommend one of these fun dictionaries.

If you don’t want to purchase a dictionary, you have a few options. First, there is the online Neo-Latin Lexicon. The interface can be a bit clunky, but you can look up pretty much anything you want. And there are citations, you know how the authors chose the terms.

Finally, you can always turn to Latin Wikipedia – or shall I say, Vicipaedia. I commonly find an article in English and then see if I can convert it to Latin. You would be surprised how often it works!

Best Latin Grammars

At a certain point in your studies, you will likely want to make use of a Latin grammar. This is a book that systematically lays out Latin grammar along with many examples from classical Latin texts.

Textbooks introduce material in the order most easily learned, but grammars prioritize conciseness and thematic continuity. So a grammar will typically start with nouns, tell you everything you need to know, then move onto adjectives, verbs, etc.

This means that grammars are usually best as references, but I will confess that I have read a few cover to cover before. (But then, I’m a grammar nerd!)

Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar

My go-to Latin grammar is Allen and Greenough’s New Latin Grammar. It is an excellent reference book and it actually isn’t too expensive, either. It’s usually about $20 on Bookshop and Amazon.

Since Allen and Greenough’s is in the public domain, you can access it online for free on the Dickinson College website. Play around with it and see what you think. If you like it, I would recommend the hard copy, because in my opinion it is easier to navigate.

Other Latin Grammars

E. C. Woodcock’s New Latin Syntax is a fun read if you are interested in a more historical approach to Latin grammar. Woodcock discusses on why Latin developed the way it did and views the language from a more theoretical perspective.

Woodcock’s, like Allen and Greenough’s, is in the public domain, so you should be able to find a free copy online. Or you can purchase a physical copy from Bookshop or Amazon.

My last recommendation is Charles E. Bennett’s New Latin Grammar. (No, I have no idea why everyone decided to call their grammars variations on the same thing . . . ) I don’t have as much experience with Bennett’s, but it is meant to be a shorter, simpler, but still thorough grammar.

Bennett’s is also available online for free (thank you, public domain!). Or you can purchase it used on Amazon.

English Grammar for Students of Latin

This resource is not technically a Latin grammar, although it does explain a lot of Latin grammar. Instead, English Grammar for Students of Latin is exactly what it sounds like: a guide that explains English grammar and compares it with Latin.

If you never learned about grammatical concepts such as tense, voice, mood, etc. – or if you are simply rusty – then I highly recommend this book as a supplement to your textbook. There’s even some short exercises with an answer key in the back.

Latin Reading Materials (Beginner & Intermediate)

When you are first starting out, you may be content just to read whatever sentences your textbook gives you. Soon, though, it is a good idea to broaden your horizons. Input is crucial for improving your understanding.

It is important for students to read lots and lots of Latin, but it is often hard to find texts at appropriate levels. What do you do if you aren’t ready to read classical Latin yet?

Well, for very beginners, Familia Romana and the accompanying books can be great for supplementary reading. This is true even if you are using another textbook as your primary learning resource.

Once you have reached an upper beginner or intermediate level, then it’s time for one of the coolest Latin resources: Latin novellas!

Latin Novellas

What, you may ask, is a Latin novella? Basically, it is a short book written in Latin for Latin learners. In recent years Latin teachers have been writing more and more such novellas. They typically focus on a Greek or Roman myth or on life in ancient Rome, so you can learn more about classical culture and improve your Latin.

If you haven’t read any novellas yet, you definitely should! Here are some of my favorites for beginners.

  • Ego Polyphemus – an account of Ulysses’ encounter with the Cyclops, from the Cyclops’ perspective
  • Lars Romam odit – a reimagining of Tarquin’s attack on Rome
  • Labyrinthus – the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, from Ariadne’s perspective

👉 Read my full post on Latin novellas for beginners.

The novellas usually cost about $10 each. If you don’t have the budget, then check out Project Arkhaia. This website includes various beginning and intermediate Latin texts (often with accompanying audio). The website is a bit clunky, but it has good content.

I believe that the site was originally made for a specific class (hence all the talk of “operatives”), but it is a great resource for everyone. You can go to the Operation LAPIS Reading List and find a long list of simple Latin compositions. Or you can take a look at the Informational Texts and the Fabulae Historicae.

Best Latin Commentaries

Are you ready to start reading classical Latin texts? Great! Then you will need a good commentary, especially if you are an independent learner.

A commentary is a book that guides you through a Latin text. There are two main kinds of commentaries: student commentaries and scholarly commentaries.

Commentaries aimed at students focus on explaining difficult grammar and cultural concepts, while scholarly commentaries include literary, stylistic, textual, and sociohistorical debates (among other things). Here I will focus on student commentaries.

I will be updating this page with my favorite specific commentaries in the future, but for now I will mention two series that are good for intermediate and advanced students.

The Bryn Mawr Commentaries are the most entry-level commentaries that I know of. These slim books can help so much as you navigate classical texts.

Once you are a bit more advanced, then you can try the Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics. This series of commentaries – affectionately called the Cambridge Green and Yellow – is one of the best Latin resources for students.

Where To Find Latin Texts

So, you’re ready to read Latin, and you know you will need a commentary. But where do you get the Latin to read?

It’s worth noting that a good commentary will typically contain the text in it, as well. So you don’t necessarily need a separate text. But sometimes you want to have a text in its own book.

It is time to introduce some of my very favorite Latin resources, some online (and free) and some physical (and paid).

First, most classical texts are available online for free. Here are some of my go-to websites:

I use the Latin Library and Perseus constantly to get quick access to Latin texts. But if I am working closely with a particular author, I do prefer to have a physical critical edition.

Critical Editions of Latin Texts

A critical edition is a version of a Latin work that has been carefully produced by a scholar. The scholar carefully reviews the manuscript tradition of the work and picks the very best form of the Latin to present to us.

There are many reputable series of Latin texts, but here I recommend the Oxford Classical Texts (OCTs). This choice is based on their high quality and their relative affordability (typically between $40 and $80).

Yes, it’s a bit of an investment – but won’t that inspire you to work harder? I love holding an OCT in my hands and knowing that I understand all that Latin.

Loeb Classical Library

Before we move on, I must mention the Loeb Classical Library. The Loebs are not critical editions, but they are extremely popular resources for Latin students everywhere. Latin Loebs have red covers and Greek Loebs have green covers.

In each Loeb, you will find the Latin on the left and the English on the right. This makes it easy to reference the English when you get stuck. However, the format can also lead to English becoming your crutch – and we want to avoid that!

In general, I would recommend that you not use the Loeb as your main Latin text to read from. But Loebs are often cheaper than OCTs (typically around $30), so they can provide more affordable access to Latin texts.

If you can’t fit the OCT in your budget, then by all means buy a Loeb. Just have a piece of paper ready to cover up the English so you can keep your eyes on the Latin.

The entire Loeb Classical Library is digitized, but unfortunately it is not free. If you are a student, then you may have institutional access, but if not, you will have to pay for a subscription.

Miscellaneous Websites

I have already linked to lots of websites, but here are a few more that might be of interest.

Dickinson College Commentaries: Dickinson College has published so much free information for Latin learners. There is everything from word lists to commentaries to audio.

Latin Stack Exchange: This forum is full of fascinating discussions about everything Latin-related. It can be a great place to get answers, although I do sometimes spot incorrect responses. Usually other forum members will jump in to correct misinformation, though.

Alatius: A Latin Macronizer: If you are trying to add macrons to a Latin text quickly, then Alatius can help you out. You do need to double-check things, though.

Latin Textual Tradition & Manuscripts

Do you want to learn more about how Latin texts made it through the centuries to us? Check out these books!

Latin Historical Linguistics

Latin is an Indo-European language, which means that it is ultimately descended from Proto-Indo-European. If historical linguistics interests you, I recommend that you begin with some of the following resources:

Currently the standard Latin etymological dictionary is Michiel de Vaan’s Etymological Dictionary of Latin & the Other Italic Languages. But it’s not cheap ($400+ for the hardcover and around $90 for the paperback) and its huge. So I usually use Etymonline and Wiktionary for my etymological data, unless I’m writing an academic article.

My Favorite Latin Resources: Final Thoughts

I hope this page has proved helpful. I will constantly be updating it to help you to find the best Latin-learning resources!

Most recently updated: June 2024