The word ‘est’ in Latin translates to ‘is’ in English. It is the third person singular present indicative form of the verb ‘esse,’ which means ‘to be.’ In Latin, the verb ‘esse’ is crucial because it is used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate, much like the verb ‘to be’ in English.
For example, in a simple Latin sentence like ‘Aquila est rex avium’ (The eagle is the king of birds), ‘est’ serves as the linking verb that connects ‘aquila’ (eagle) with ‘rex avium’ (king of birds). The use of ‘est’ indicates being or existence, and it’s a fundamental building block in both Latin grammar and the expression of identity or state of being.