nobis

Nobis is a Latin pronoun form belonging to the first-person plural. It serves as the dative singular of the pronoun nos (we) and as the ablative plural of nos, yielding roughly “to us” or “for us” in the dative sense, and “by us” or “with us” in the ablative sense. Because the dative and ablative plural share the same form, nobis is used for both cases, with meaning determined by context.

Grammatical notes: In Latin, nobis commonly appears as the indirect object of a verb or as an object of a preposition, indicating who benefits from or is affected by an action. It can also occur in fixed phrases and liturgical expressions. For example, in everyday usage, donum nobis dedit means “he gave a gift to us.” In religious or formal language, Miserere nobis means “Have mercy on us.”

Usage and meaning: The form functions to mark recipients, beneficiaries, or agents in Latin clauses, and its interpretation as “to us,” “for us,” or “by us” depends on the surrounding verbs and prepositions. Because the form is identical for both the dative and ablative plural, translators often rely on syntax to determine the precise sense.

Etymology and relation to nos: Nobis derives from the plural pronoun nos (we) and represents the standard dative/ablative plural ending. It is one of several case forms that demonstrate how Latin marks relationships between participants in an action.

See also: Latin grammar, Latin pronouns, nos, vobis.