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Latin Words and
Phrases Every One Should Know
a posteriori — from the latter; knowledge or
justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence
a priori — from what comes before; knowledge or
justification is independent of experience
acta non verba — deeds, not words
ad hoc — to this — improvised or made up
ad hominem — to the man; below-the-belt personal
attack rather than a reasoned argument
ad honorem — for honor
ad infinitum — to infinity
ad nauseam — used to describe an argument that has
been taking place to the point of nausea
ad victoriam — to victory; more commonly translated
into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans
alea iacta est — the die has been cast
alias — at another time; an assumed name or
pseudonym
alibi — elsewhere
alma mater — nourishing mother; used to denote
one’s college/university
amor patriae — love of one’s country
amor vincit omnia — love conquers all
annuit cœptis –He (God) nods at things being begun;
or “he approves our undertakings,” motto on the reverse of the Great
Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States
one-dollar bill
ante bellum — before the war; commonly used in the
Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding
the American Civil War
ante meridiem — before noon; A.M., used in
timekeeping
aqua vitae — water of life; used to refer to
various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in
Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in
France
arte et marte — by skill and valour
astra inclinant, sed non obligant — the stars
incline us, they do not bind us; refers to the strength of free will
over astrological determinism
audemus jura nostra defendere — we dare to defend
our rights; state motto of Alabama
audere est facere — to dare is to do
audio — I hear
aurea mediocritas — golden mean; refers to the
ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful
extremes
auribus teneo lupum — I hold a wolf by the ears; a
common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation
where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version
is, “to have a tiger by the tail”
aut cum scuto aut in scuto — either with shield or
on shield; do or die, “no retreat”; said by Spartan mothers to their
sons as they departed for battle
aut neca aut necare — either kill or be killed
aut viam inveniam aut faciam — I will either find a
way or make one; said by Hannibal, the great ancient military
commander
barba non facit philosophum — a beard doesn’t make
one a philosopher
bellum omnium contra omnes — war of all against
all
bis dat qui cito dat — he gives twice, who gives
promptly; a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts
bona fide — good faith
bono malum superate — overcome evil with good
carpe diem — seize the day
caveat emptor — let the buyer beware; the purchaser
is responsible for checking whether the goods suit his need
circa — around, or approximately
citius altius forties — faster, higher, stronger;
modern Olympics motto
cogito ergo sum — “I think therefore I am”; famous
quote by Rene Descartes
contemptus mundi/saeculi — scorn for the
world/times; despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher’s
rejection of a mundane life and worldly values
corpus christi — body of Christ
corruptissima re publica plurimae leges — when the
republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous; said by
Tacitus
creatio ex nihilo — creation out of nothing; a
concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical
context
cura te ipsum — take care of your own self; an
exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own
problems before addressing those of others
curriculum vitae — the course of one’s life; in
business, a lengthened resume
de facto — from the fact; distinguishing what’s
supposed to be from what is reality
deo volente — God willing
deus ex machina — God out of a machine; a term
meaning a conflict is resolved in improbable or implausible ways
dictum factum — what is said is done
disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras
moriturus — learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if
tomorrow you’re going to die
discendo discimus — while teaching we learn
docendo disco, scribendo cogito — I learn by
teaching, think by writing
ductus exemplo — leadership by example
ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt — the fates
lead the willing and drag the unwilling; attributed to Lucius Annaeus
Seneca
dulce bellum inexpertis — war is sweet to the
inexperienced
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori — it is sweet
and fitting to die for your country
dulcius ex asperis — sweeter after
difficulties
e pluribus unum — out of many, one; on the U.S.
seal, and was once the country’s de facto motto
emeritus — veteran; retired from office
ergo — therefore
et alii — and others; abbreviated et al.
et cetera — and the others
et tu, Brute? — last words of Caesar after being
murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, used
today to convey utter betrayal
ex animo — from the heart; thus, “sincerely”
ex libris — from the library of; to mark books from
a library
ex nihilo — out of nothing
ex post facto — from a thing done afterward; said
of a law with retroactive effect
faber est suae quisque fortunae — every man is the
artisan of his own fortune; quote by Appius Claudius Caecus
fac fortia et patere — do brave deeds and
endure
fac simile — make alike; origin of the word
“fax”
flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo — if I
cannot move heaven I will raise hell; from Virgil’s Aeneid
fortes fortuna adiuvat — fortune favors the
bold
fortis in arduis — strong in difficulties
gloria in excelsis Deo — glory to God in the
highest
habeas corpus — you should have the body; a legal
term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term
for a prisoner’s right to challenge the legality of their detention
habemus papam — we have a pope; used after a
Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot
to elect a new pope
historia vitae magistra — history, the teacher of
life; from Cicero; also “history is the mistress of life”
hoc est bellum — this is war
homo unius libri (timeo) — (I fear) a man of one
book; attributed to Thomas Aquinas
honor virtutis praemium — esteem is the reward of
virtue
hostis humani generis — enemy of the human race;
Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in
general
humilitas occidit superbiam — humility conquers
pride
igne natura renovatur integra — through fire,
nature is reborn whole
ignis aurum probat — fire tests gold; a phrase
referring to the refining of character through difficult
circumstances
in absentia — in the absence
in aqua sanitas — in water there is health
in flagrante delicto — in flaming crime; caught
red-handed, or in the act
in memoriam — into the memory; more commonly “in
memory of”
in omnia paratus — ready for anything
in situ — in position; something that exists in an
original or natural state
in toto — in all or entirely
in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus — then we will fight
in the shade; made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and
by the movie 300
in utero — in the womb
in vitro — in glass; biological process that occurs
in the lab
incepto ne desistam — may I not shrink from my
purpose
intelligenti pauca — few words suffice for he who
understands
invicta — unconquered
invictus maneo — I remain unvanquished
ipso facto — by the fact itself; something is true
by its very nature
labor omnia vincit — hard work conquers all
laborare pugnare parati sumus — to work, (or) to
fight we are ready
labore et honore — by labor and honor
leges sine moribus vanae — laws without morals
[are] vain
lex parsimoniae — law of succinctness; also known
as Occam’s Razor; the simplest explanation is usually the correct
one
lex talionis — the law of retaliation
magna cum laude — with great praise
magna est vis consuetudinis — great is the power of
habit
magnum opus — great work; said of someone’s
masterpiece
mala fide — in bad faith; said of an act done with
knowledge of its illegality, or with intention to defraud or mislead
someone; opposite of bona fide
malum in se — wrong in itself; a legal term meaning
that something is inherently wrong
malum prohibitum — wrong due to being prohibited; a
legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against
the law
mea culpa — my fault
meliora — better things; carrying the connotation
of “always better”
memento mori — remember that [you will] die; was
whispered by a servant into the ear of a victorious Roman general to
check his pride as he paraded through cheering crowds after a victory; a
genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of his death
memento vivere — remember to live
memores acti prudentes future — mindful of what has
been done, aware of what will be
modus operandi — method of operating; abbreviated
M.O.
montani semper liberi — mountaineers [are] always
free; state motto of West Virginia
morior invictus — death before defeat
morituri te salutant — those who are about to die
salute you; popularized as a standard salute from gladiators to the
emperor, but only recorded once in Roman history
morte magis metuenda senectus — old age should
rather be feared than death
mulgere hircum — to milk a male goat; to attempt
the impossible
multa paucis — say much in few words
nanos gigantum humeris insidentes — dwarfs standing
on the shoulders of giants; commonly known by the letters of Isaac
Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of
giants”
nec aspera terrent — they don’t terrify the rough
ones; frightened by no difficulties; less literally “difficulties be
damned”
nec temere nec timide — neither reckless nor
timid
nil volentibus arduum — nothing [is] arduous for
the willing
nolo contendere — I do not wish to contend; that
is, “no contest”; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in
a court that states that the accused doesn’t admit guilt, but will
accept punishment for a crime
non ducor, duco — I am not led; I lead
non loqui sed facere — not talk but action
non progredi est regredi — to not go forward is to
go backward
non scholae, sed vitae discimus — we learn not for
school, but for life; from Seneca
non sequitur — it does not follow; in general, a
comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather
than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent);
often used in humor
non sum qualis eram — I am not such as I was; or “I
am not the kind of person I once was”
nosce te ipsum — know thyself; from Cicero
novus ordo seclorum — new order of the ages; from
Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States
nulla tenaci invia est via — for the tenacious, no
road is impassable
obliti privatorum, publica curate — forget private
affairs, take care of public ones; Roman political saying which reminds
that common good should be given priority over private matters for any
person having a responsibility in the State
panem et circenses — bread and circuses; originally
described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman mob;
today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public
attention from more important matters
para bellum — prepare for war; if you want peace,
prepare for war; if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less
likely to attack
parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus — when you
are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things;
sometimes translated as, “once you have accomplished small things, you
may attempt great ones safely”
pater familias — father of the family; the eldest
male in a family
pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis,
domina — if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if
you don’t, money is your master
per angusta ad augusta — through difficulties to
greatness
per annum — by the year
per capita — by the person
per diem — by the day
per se — through itself
persona non grata — person not pleasing; an
unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person
pollice verso — with a turned thumb; used by Roman
crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator
post meridiem — after noon; P.M.; used in
timekeeping
post mortem — after death
postscriptum — thing having been written afterward;
in writing, abbreviated P.S.
praemonitus praemunitus — forewarned is
forearmed
praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes — lead in order to
serve, not in order to rule
primus inter pares — first among equals; a title of
the Roman Emperors
pro bono — for the good; in business, refers to
services rendered at no charge
pro rata — for the rate
quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu —
it is how well you live that matters, not how long; from Seneca
quasi — as if; as though
qui totum vult totum perdit — he who wants
everything loses everything; attributed to Seneca
quid agis — what’s going on; what’s up, what’s
happening, etc.
quid pro quo — this for that; an exchange of
value
quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur — whatever
has been said in Latin seems deep; or “anything said in Latin sounds
profound”; a recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who seem
to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more
important or “educated”
quis custodiet ipsos custodes? — who will guard the
guards themselves?; commonly associated with Plato
quorum — of whom; the number of members whose
presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting
constitutional
requiescat in pace — let him rest in peace;
abbreviated R.I.P.
rigor mortis — stiffness of death
scientia ac labore — knowledge through hard
work
scientia ipsa potentia est — knowledge itself is
power
semper anticus — always forward
semper fidelis — always faithful; U.S. Marines
motto
semper fortis — always brave
semper paratus — always prepared
semper virilis — always virile
si vales, valeo — when you are strong, I am
strong
si vis pacem, para bellum — if you want peace,
prepare for war
sic parvis magna — greatness from small beginnings
— motto of Sir Frances Drake
sic semper tyrannis — thus always to tyrants;
attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and
to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination;
whether it was actually said at either of these events is disputed
sic vita est — thus is life; the ancient version of
“it is what it is”
sola fide — by faith alone
sola nobilitat virtus — virtue alone ennobles
solvitur ambulando — it is solved by walking
spes bona — good hope
statim (stat) — immediately; medical shorthand
status quo — the situation in which; current
condition
subpoena — under penalty
sum quod eris — I am what you will be; a gravestone
inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death
summa cum laude — with highest praise
summum bonum — the supreme good
suum cuique — to each his own
tabula rasa — scraped tablet; “blank slate”; John
Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had
acquired any knowledge
tempora heroic — Heroic Age
tempus edax rerum — time, devourer of all
things
tempus fugit — time flees; commonly mistranslated
“time flies”
terra firma — firm ground
terra incognita — unknown land; used on old maps to
show unexplored areas
vae victis — woe to the conquered
vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas — vanity of
vanities; everything [is] vanity; from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)
veni vidi vici — I came, I saw, I conquered;
famously said by Julius Caesar
verbatim — repeat exactly
veritas et aequitas — truth and equity
versus — against
veto — I forbid
vice versa — to change or turn around
vincit qui patitur — he conquers who endures
vincit qui se vincit — he conquers who conquers
himself
vir prudens non contra ventum mingit — [a] wise man
does not urinate [up] against the wind
virile agitur — the manly thing is being done
viriliter agite — act in a manly way
viriliter agite estote fortes — quit ye like men,
be strong
virtus tentamine gaudet — strength rejoices in the
challenge
virtute et armis — by virtue and arms; or “by
manhood and weapons”; state motto of Mississippi
vive memor leti — live remembering death
vivere est vincere — to live is to conquer; Captain
John Smith’s personal motto