Dictionary headwords

Knowing how to read a dictionary headword is what makes a Latin dictionary usable. A Latin entry does not just give one word and a meaning; it gives a small kit of forms that tell you how the word will change throughout a text. Learning to unpack that kit is one of the highest-value reading skills at A1.

For a noun, the entry lists three things: the nominative (dictionary form), the genitive (which reveals the declension and stem), and the gender.

puella, puellae, f. = "girl". The genitive puellae shows it is 1st declension; f. marks it feminine.

rēx, rēgis, m. = "king". The genitive rēgis reveals the hidden stem rēg-, which the nominative rēx disguises. Every other form is built on that stem: regem, regi, rege.

For a verb, the entry gives the principal parts, usually four forms:

Part	Example (amo)	What it gives you
1st (present "I")	amo	I love
2nd (infinitive)	amare	to love; shows the conjugation
3rd (perfect "I")	amavi	the past stem: I loved
4th (participle)	amatus	the passive/participle stem

For English speakers: in an English dictionary one headword is basically all you need, so it is tempting to read only the first Latin word and ignore the rest. Do not skip them. If you learn only rēx you will not recognize rēgis or regem in a sentence, and you will not find them either, because they are filed under rēx. The genitive and the principal parts are not clutter; they are the map to every form the word can take. Read the whole entry, then match the ending in front of you to the right stem.