Image: a set wooden figures hold a sign reading Amor vincit omnia.

Substantive Adjectives

Because Latin adjectives demonstrate gender, the Romans frequently used adjectives as substantives - meaning that they used an adjective to represent both the adjective and the noun.

The figures in the image are holding a banner that reads "AMOR VINCIT OMNIA" - the adjective omnis, omne is being used as a substantive (translation: Love conquers everything.)

For masculine and feminine endings, the adjective could stand for the ______ one(s) or could be used with a gendered term:
- fortes - the strong ones (the strong men/the strong women)
- pulchrae - the pretty girls
- bonus - a good man
- omnes - all the men/women = everyone.
For neuter, the adjective could stand for the ______ thing(s):
- bona - good things (treasures)
- omnia - all the things = everything
- pulchra - pretty things.

Common Substantive Adjectives

Most frequently, the substantive adjective will be plural, but certain adjectives lend themselves to special meanings and form a unique noun:

omnes, omnium, m./f. - everyone
omnia, omnium, n. - everything
bonum, boni, n. - treasure
liberi, liberorum, m. - children (from the adjective liber, libera, liberum)

N.B. Adjectives involving a place name, like Romanus (Roman), Gallus (Gallic), Germanus (German), etc. were used as substantives to discuss the people as a whole:

Romani, Romanorum, m. = The Romans
Galli, Gallorum, m. = The Gauls
Germani, Germanorum = The Germans

Examples of Adjectives Used as Substantives:

Omnes cenam edebant. - Everyone was eating dinner.
Puella omnia servavit. - The girl saved everything.
Vidistine liberos? - Have you seen the children?
Romani proelium iter fecerunt. - The Romans marched to battle.
Quid est maximum bonum tuum? - What is your greatest treasure?
Ubi sunt pulchrae? - Where are the pretty women?