The vocative case is used to give a direct address. This can be an order, request, announcement, or something else. This case is often used with the imperative mood, which is used to give an order/command.

The word in vocative case is the person being addressed. So, if I were to translate the sentence "Jack, go wash the dishes" into Latin, the name Jack would be in vocative case, because Jack is the one being addressed.

The vocative ending is the same as the nominative ending except in the singular of second declension masculine words that end in -us. To find the vocative form of these types of words, look at the stem.
  • If the stem ends in i, the ending is -i
    • ex: The vocative form of filius is filii.
  • If the stem does not end in i, the ending is -e
    • ex: The vocative form of the name Marcus is Marce.

Here are some examples of sentences with words in vocative.
  • Lucii veni huc. --> Lucius, come here.
  • Marce tace. --> Marcus, be quiet.
  • Sorores non lacrimate. --> Sisters, do not cry.