grammatici

Grammatici is the Latin term for professional teachers of grammar and literature, particularly Latin. It is the plural of grammaticus. The word derives from Greek grammatikos, meaning skilled in letters or writing.

In ancient Rome, grammatici taught the basics of Latin language, reading, and the interpretation of literary texts; they prepared students for rhetoric, law, and civil service. Their curriculum covered grammar, syntax, prosody, and the study of authors such as Vergil, Horace, and Terence; they relied on standard manuals and exemplars and guided textual understanding and criticism.

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, grammar remained central in education as the first stage of the trivium. Grammatici produced and taught commentaries, glosses, and lexicographical works; their activity contributed to preserving and transmitting Latin literature and language. Notable grammarians, such as Donatus and Priscian, authored influential handbooks that shaped how Latin was learned for centuries; numerous medieval schools employed grammatici as teachers and tutors.

In contemporary usage, the term is largely historical. The word is still used in discussions of classical education and philology to refer to scholars who study grammar, linguistic description, and textual criticism. The concept persists in modern languages through equivalents like grammarian.