cave canem

Latin
Pompeii mosaic bearing the warning "cave canem"

Etymology

From cavē (“beware (you)”) (the singular imperative of caveō) + canem (the accusative singular of canis (“dog”)). Literally meaning: "beware the dog".

Pronunciation
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈka.weː ˈka.nem/, [ˈka.weː ˈka.nẽ]
  • (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈka.ve ˈka.nem/, [ˈkaː.ve ˈkaː.nem]

Phrase

cavē canem

  1. beware of the dog
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