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 students working through Henle, Form Latin, Wheelock, or another grammar-first Latin sequence. For the full interactive reference with every tense, see our complete Latin conjugations chart, and drill them musically in Conjugation Chant.
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.
Conjugation practice with instant feedback
Drill present, imperfect, and future tense verb forms interactively — Classical Quest tells you right away if you got the ending wrong and why.
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 Students Encounter Conjugations
In a Henle-centered Logic-stage sequence, students meet all four conjugations in the first semester. The Grammar-stage Latin memory work (noun endings, be-verb forms) provides a grammatical foundation, but conjugations are a step up in complexity. Most students are comfortable with 1st and 2nd conjugation first, then work through 3rd and 4th as the year progresses.
In the next stage of formal Latin, Henle Second Year, Memoria Press upper Form Latin, and comparable programs introduce the subjunctive mood, passive voice, and the full array of tenses — all built on conjugation mastery from the first formal grammar year. Students who drilled conjugations thoroughly early often find later Latin more manageable. Daily conjugation practice during summer review is one of the best ways to prepare.
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 the rest of formal Latin study.
Interactive conjugation drills and chants to help Latin students master all four conjugations.
See what students learn →