Some Useful Latin Phrases

After four years of studying Latin in high school, I began to understand the extent to which the English language has drawn from Latin. Latin is the language that was spoken by the Ancient Romans and throughout the Roman Empire. Although the language was spoken 2000 years ago, Latin is still used today in religious services, a large volume of literature has been written in Latin, 60% of the English language has come directly or indirectly from Latin, and a very large part of the Romance languages (French, Spanish, Portugese, Italian, Romanian, and a handful of smaller ones) comes from Latin. So, it's not really a dead language. It's everywhere!

The following is a list of interesting phrases and mottoes. You may recognize more than you expect! You can also check out some Latin Abbreviations.

 

~ Ad astra per aspera ~~ to the stars through difficulties

~ Ad infinitum ~~ to infinity, i.e. without limit

~ Ad maiorem Dei gloriam ~~ to the greater glory of God

~ Ad nauseam ~~ to the point of sickness or disgust

~ Alea iacta est ~~ the die is cast

~ Alter ego ~~ second self

~ Alma Mater ~~ nurturing mother (applied to a school or college)

~ Amari usque ad mare ~~ from sea to sea (Canada)

~ Amicus curiae ~~ friend of the court

~ Ante bellum ~~ before the war

~ Aqua vitae ~~ water of life

~ Ars longa, vita brevis ~~ art is long, life is short

~ Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere ~~ we dare defend our rights (Alabama)

~ Auxilio ab alto ~~ by aid from [on] high

~ Carpe Diem ~~ sieze the day

~ Cave Canem ~~ beware of the dog

~ Corpus delicti ~~ the body (facts) of the crime

~ Cui bono? ~~ for whose benefit is it?

~ Cum grano salis ~~ with a grain of salt

~ Cum laude ~~ with honor (praise)

~ De facto ~~ from or according to the fact

~ Dei gratia ~~ by the grace of God (seen on Canadian coins)

~ Deo gratias ~~ thanks to God

~ Disciplina praesidium civitatis ~~ the instruction [and] protection of the the state (University of Texas)

~ Ditat Deus ~~ God enriches (Arizona)

~ Dominus providebit ~~ the Lord will provide

~ Dum spiro spero ~~ while I breathe I hope

~ E pluribus unum ~~ one out of many (motto of the United States, found on currency)

~ Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem ~~ with the sword she seeks quiet peace under liberty (Massachusetts)

~ Errare humanum est ~~ to err is human

~ Erratum ~~ error

~ Esse quam videri ~~ to be rather than to seem (North Carolina)

~ Est modus in rebus ~~ there is middle ground in things

~ Esto perpetua ~~ let it be forever (Idaho)

~ Et tu, Brute ~~ you too, Brutus?

~ Ex animo ~~ from the heart (sincerely)

~ Ex officio ~~ out of (as a result of) one's duty or office

~ Ex parte ~~ on one side

~ Ex post facto ~~ resulting after the fact

~ Ex uno disce omnes ~~ from one learn about them all

~ Excelsior ~~ higher (New York)

~ Experientia docet ~~ experience teaches

~ Extempore ~~ from the moment (without preparation)

~ Facta, non verba ~~ deeds, not words

~ Fata viam invenient ~~ the fates will find a way

~ Fide, non armis ~~ by faith, not arms

~ Fortes et Liber ~~ strong and free (Alberta)

~ Genus homo ~~ the human race

~ Helluo librorum ~~ a glutton for the books (bookworm)

~ Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit ~~ man proposes, but God disposes

~ Homo sapiens ~~ man having sense, i.e. human being

~ Hostis humani generis ~~ enemy of the human race

~ In absentia ~~ in absence

~ In Deo speramus ~~ In God we trust (Brown University)

~ In hoc signo vinces ~~ in this sign (cross), you will conquer (told to Constantine before the battle of Milvian Bridge)

~ In libris libertas ~~ in books there is freedom (L.A. public library)

~ In loco parentis ~~ in place of a parent

~ In medias res ~~ into the middle of things

~ In memoriam ~~ to the memory of

~ In nomine Domini ~~ in the name of the Lord

~ In omnia paratus ~~ prepared for all things

~ In perpetuum ~~ into perpetuity (forever)

~ Ipso facto ~~ by the fact itself, thereby

~ Ius gentium ~~ the law of nations

~ Iustita omnibus ~~ justice for all (Washington D.C.)

~ Labor omnia vincit ~~ work conquers all (Oklahoma, University of Illinois, and the American Federation of Labor)

~ Lex scripta ~~ the written law

~ Littera scripta manet ~~ the written letter lasts

~ Lux et oriente ~~ light from the east

~ Magna cum laude ~~ with high honor

~ Magnum bonum ~~ a great good

~ Magnum opus ~~ a great work

~ Meus regnum bona possidet ~~ an honest heart is a kingdom in itself

~ Mens sana in corpore sano ~~ a healthy mind in a healthy body

~ Mihi cura futuri ~~ my concern is the future

~ Mirabile dictu ~~ wonderful to say

~ Modus operandi ~~ method of operating

~ Montani semper liberi ~~ mountaineers are always free (West Virginia)

~ Multum in parvo ~~ much in little

~ Munit haec et altera vincit ~~ one defends and the other conquers (Nova Scotia)

~ Ne plus ultra ~~ no more beyond, i.e. nothing better

~ Nil sine numine ~~ nothing without providence (Colorado)

~ Non compos mentis ~~ not in possession of one's senses

~ Nosce te ipsum ~~ know thyself

~ Nova Scotia ~~ New Scotland

~ Novus homo ~~ a new man (in politics)

~ Non sibi sed suis ~~ not for one's self but for one's own

~ Obiter dictum ~~ something said by the way (ob iter), incidentally

~ Parva sub ingenti ~~ the small under the protection of the great (Prince Edward Island)

~ Pater Noster ~~ Our Father (i.e. the Lord's Prayer)

~ Pax in bello ~~ peace in the midst of war

~ Pax vobiscum ~~ peace be with you

~ Per annum ~~ by the year

~ Per capita ~~ by heads or individuals

~ Per diem ~~ by the day

~ Per se ~~ by itself

~ Persona non gratia ~~ an unwelcome person

~ Poeta nascitur, non fit ~~ the poet is born, not made

~ Possunt quia posse videntur ~~ they can because they think they can

~ Post mortem ~~ after death

~ Primus inter pares ~~ first among his equals

~ Pro bono publico ~~ for the public good

~ Pro forma ~~ for (as a matter of) form

~ Pro patria ~~ for one's country

~ Quaerite prime regnum Dei ~~ seek ye first the kingdom of God (Newfoundland)

~ Qui dedit benificium taceat; narret qui accepit~~let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it, tell it (Seneca)

~ Quid pro quo ~~ something for something

~ Rara avis ~~ a rare bird

~ Regnat populus ~~ the people rule (Arkansas)

~ Rex regnant sed non gubernat ~~ the king reigns but does not govern

~ Saepe ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit ~~ often it is no advantageous to know what will be (Cicero)

~ Salus populi suprema lex esto ~~ let the welfare of the people be the supreme law (Missouri)

~ Sedit qui timuit ne non succederet ~~ he who feared he would not succeed sat still (Horace)

~ Semper idem ~~ always the same thing

~ Semper paratus ~~ always prepared

~ Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice ~~ if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you (Michigan)

~ Sic semper tyrannis ~~ thus always to tyrants (Virginia)

~ Sine die ~~ without a day (being set)

~ Sine qua non ~~ without which not (a necessity)

~ Splendor sine occasu ~~ Spendor without end (British Columbia)

~ Status quo ~~ the situation in which [it was before]

~ Sub rosa ~~ under the rose (in concealment)

~ Sub sole nihil novi est ~~ There's nothing new under the sun

~ Subpoena ~~ under penalty

~ Sui generis ~~ of one's own kind

~ Summa cum laude ~~ with highest honor

~ Summum bonum ~~ the highest good

~ Sursum corda ~~ [lift] up your hearts

~ Tempus fugit ~~ time flies

~ Terra firma ~~ solid earth

~ Terra incognita ~~ an unknown land

~ Timendi causa est nescire ~~ ignorance is the cause of fear

~ Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes ~~ I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts (Virgil)

~ Trahimur omnes laudis studio ~~ We are all led on by our eagerness for praise

~ Ultima Thule ~~ Farthest North

~ Una voce ~~ with one voice, unanimously

~ Ut incepit fidelis sic permanet ~~ as loyal as she began, so she remains (Ontario)

~ Velle est posse ~~ to be willing is to be able

~ Veni, vidi, vici ~~ I came, I saw, I conquered (said by Caesar after Zela)

~ Verbum sapienti sat est ~~ A word to the wise is sufficient

~ Vestis virum facit ~~ clothes make the man

~ Via media ~~ a middle way or course

~ Vice versa ~~ in reverse

~ Virtute et armis ~~ by courage and by arms (Mississippi)

~ Volo, non valeo ~~ I am willing but unable

~ Vox humana ~~ the human voice

~ Vox populi vox Dei ~~ the voice of the people is the voice of God

 

 

 

Material taken from http://www.main-vision.com/richard/Latin2.htm

& http://snafu.mit.edu/~bhslatin/index.shtml