Latin Verb Conjugation Cheat Sheet: All 4 Conjugations
By Claudius · April 1, 2026 · 7 min read
Latin verb conjugations are the backbone of the language. Before you can translate a single sentence, you need to know which conjugation a verb belongs to — and then which endings to apply. This cheat sheet covers all four Latin conjugations, their principal parts patterns, present tense endings, and practical tips for Classical Conversations students in Challenge A and B.
What Is a Latin Conjugation?
A conjugation is a family of verbs that share the same set of endings. Latin has four conjugations, each identified by the vowel that appears at the end of the verb's second principal part (the present active infinitive). Knowing which conjugation a verb belongs to tells you exactly which endings to use — in every tense, mood, and voice.
Every Latin verb has four principal parts: the first-person present singular, the present infinitive, the first-person perfect singular, and the perfect passive participle. You must memorize these four forms for every verb you learn — they unlock the entire verb system.
The Four Conjugations at a Glance
1st Conjugation — The “–āre” Verbs
Infinitive ends in –āre · Stem vowel: ā
Example principal parts: amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (to love)
Other examples: portō (carry), laudo (praise), vocō (call)
Present Tense Active Endings:
Memory tip:The long “ā” is your signal. If the infinitive has that long “a” sound before –re, it's 1st conjugation every time.
2nd Conjugation — The “–ēre” Verbs
Infinitive ends in –ēre (long e) · Stem vowel: ē
Example principal parts: moneō, monēre, monuī, monitum (to warn)
Other examples: habeō (have), videō (see), doceō (teach)
Present Tense Active Endings:
Memory tip:The long “ē” in the infinitive distinguishes 2nd conjugation from 3rd. This is the most important distinction to drill — many students mix them up.
3rd Conjugation — The “–ere” Verbs (short e)
Infinitive ends in –ere (short e) · Stem vowel: consonant or ŭ
Example principal parts: mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum (to send)
Other examples: dīcō (say), dūcō (lead), scrībō (write)
Present Tense Active Endings:
Memory tip: 3rd conjugation verbs use –unt (not –nt) for the third-person plural. If you see –unt, you're in 3rd conjugation territory.
4th Conjugation — The “–īre” Verbs
Infinitive ends in –īre (long i) · Stem vowel: ī
Example principal parts: audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum (to hear)
Other examples: veniō (come), sentiō (feel), mūniō (fortify)
Present Tense Active Endings:
Memory tip:4th conjugation looks like 3rd in several forms but has a long “ī” in the infinitive. The third-person plural is –iunt, not just –unt.
How to Identify a Verb's Conjugation
The fastest way to identify conjugation is to look at the second principal part(the present infinitive):
– Ends in –āre? → 1st conjugation (amāre)
– Ends in –ēre (long e)? → 2nd conjugation (monēre)
– Ends in –ere (short e)? → 3rd conjugation (mittere)
– Ends in –īre (long i)? → 4th conjugation (audīre)
The tricky pair is 2nd vs. 3rd — both end in –ere, but the vowel length differs. In Henle, macrons (the lines over long vowels) mark this distinction. Always look for the macron.
Where CC Students Encounter Conjugations
In Challenge A, students meet all four conjugations in the first semester of Henle. The Foundations Latin memory work (noun endings, be-verb forms) provides a grammatical foundation, but conjugations are a step up in complexity. Most Challenge A students are comfortable with 1st and 2nd conjugation by Christmas break, and working through 3rd and 4th by spring.
In Challenge B, Henle Second Year Latin introduces the subjunctive mood, passive voice, and the full array of tenses — all built on conjugation mastery from Challenge A. Students who drilled conjugations thoroughly in Challenge A find Challenge B far more manageable.
The bottom line: If your student can conjugate amō, moneō,mittō, and audiō in the present tense from memory, they have a foundation that will serve them through all four years of Challenge Latin.
Practice on Via Latina
Via Latina has interactive conjugation drills and chants to help CC students master all four Latin conjugations. Practice the endings until they're automatic — then translation becomes easy.
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