vobiscum

Latin edit

Etymology edit

From vōbīs (“you”) +‎ -cum (“with”).

Cicero offered an amusing folk-etymology to the effect that the opposite order cum nōbīs was avoided because it would sound 'obscene', that is, a bit like cunnō bis 'twice by the cunt'. (Final /m/ can assimilate to a following consonant.)

Pronunciation edit

(Classical) IPA^(key): /u̯oːˈbiːs.kum/, [u̯oːˈbiːs̠kʊ̃ˑ]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /voˈbis.kum/, [voˈbiskum]

Adverb edit

vōbīscum (not comparable)

with you (plural)
Pax vobiscum
Peace be with you.

Dominus vobiscum
The Lord be with you.

Descendants edit

Late Latin: vōscum (see there for further descendants)