Latin phrases

Common Latin Phrases

  1. Ad hoc – For this (specific) purpose

  2. Ad infinitum – To infinity

  3. Ad libitum (ad lib) – At one's pleasure (improvised)

  4. Ad nauseam – To the point of sickness

  5. Alea iacta est – The die is cast (Julius Caesar)

  6. Alias – Otherwise (another name)

  7. Alma mater – Nourishing mother (school or university)

  8. Alter ego – Another self

  9. A priori – From before (logical reasoning without evidence)

  10. A posteriori – From after (reasoning based on evidence)

  11. Bona fide – In good faith (genuine)

  12. Carpe diem – Seize the day

  13. Caveat emptor – Let the buyer beware

  14. Ceteris paribus – Other things being equal

  15. Corpus delicti – Body of the crime

  16. Cum laude / Magna cum laude / Summa cum laude – With praise / Great honor / Highest honor

  17. De facto – In fact

  18. De jure – By law

  19. E pluribus unum – Out of many, one (USA motto)

  20. Ergo – Therefore

  21. Et al. (et alia) – And others

  22. Et cetera (etc.) – And the rest

  23. Ex libris – From the library of (bookplates)

  24. Fiat – Let it be done (official decree)

  25. Habeas corpus – You shall have the body (legal right)

  26. Id est (i.e.) – That is (in other words)

  27. In loco parentis – In place of a parent

  28. In medias res – Into the middle of things (narrative device)

  29. In memoriam – In memory of

  30. In vino veritas – In wine, there is truth

  31. Ipso facto – By the fact itself

  32. Mea culpa – My fault

  33. Mens sana in corpore sano – A healthy mind in a healthy body

  34. Memento mori – Remember that you must die

  35. Modus operandi (M.O.) – Method of operation

  36. Non sequitur – It does not follow (illogical statement)

  37. Novus ordo seclorum – New order of the ages (US dollar)

  38. Pax Romana – Roman peace

  39. Per annum – Per year

  40. Per capita – Per person

  41. Per diem – Per day

  42. Persona non grata – Unwelcome person

  43. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc – After this, therefore because of this (logical fallacy)

  44. Post mortem – After death (autopsy)

  45. Prima facie – At first glance

  46. Pro bono – For the public good (free legal work)

  47. Quid pro quo – Something for something (exchange)

  48. Rara avis – Rare bird (unique person)

  49. Requiescat in pace (RIP) – Rest in peace

  50. Semper fidelis – Always faithful (US Marines)

  51. Semper paratus – Always prepared (Coast Guard)

  52. Sic semper tyrannis – Thus always to tyrants (Virginia motto)

  53. Sic transit gloria mundi – Thus passes the glory of the world

  54. Status quo – The existing state of affairs

  55. Sub rosa – Under the rose (in secret)

  56. Sui generis – Unique, in its own category

  57. Tempus fugit – Time flies

  58. Terra incognita – Unknown land

  59. Veni, vidi, vici – I came, I saw, I conquered (Caesar)

  60. Verbatim – Word for word

  61. Vice versa – The other way around

Latin Legal & Government Terms

  1. Ab initio – From the beginning

  2. Ad hominem – Against the person (personal attack)

  3. Amicus curiae – Friend of the court (legal brief)

  4. De novo – From the new (start over)

  5. Ex post facto – After the fact (retroactive law)

  6. Lex talionis – Law of retaliation

  7. Nolo contendere – No contest (legal plea)

  8. Non compos mentis – Not sound of mind (insanity defense)

  9. Pro tempore (pro tem) – For the time being

  10. Res ipsa loquitur – The thing speaks for itself

Latin Scientific & Medical Phrases

  1. Ad astra per aspera – To the stars through hardships

  2. Circa (c.) – Around (approximate dates)

  3. In vitro – In glass (test tube experiment)

  4. In vivo – In life (experiment in a living organism)

  5. Locus classicus – Classic example

  6. Mutatis mutandis – With necessary changes

  7. Non plus ultra – The highest point (perfection)

  8. Reductio ad absurdum – Argument leading to absurdity

  9. Tabula rasa – Blank slate (John Locke’s philosophy)

  10. Vita brevis, ars longa – Life is short, art is long

Latin Phrases in Literature & History

  1. Ab urbe condita (AUC) – From the founding of the city (Rome, 753 BC)

  2. Aegrescit medendo – The remedy is worse than the disease

  3. Annuit coeptis – He has favored our undertakings (US dollar)

  4. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori – It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country (Horace)

  5. Et tu, Brute? – And you, Brutus? (Caesar's last words in Shakespeare)

  6. Fiat lux – Let there be light (Genesis)

  7. Hannibal ad portas! – Hannibal is at the gates! (Roman warning)

  8. O tempora! O mores! – Oh, the times! Oh, the customs! (Cicero)

  9. Panem et circenses – Bread and circuses (Roman political strategy)

  10. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Who watches the watchmen? (Juvenal)

Latin Mottoes & Expressions

  1. Ad astra – To the stars

  2. Audemus jura nostra defendere – We dare defend our rights

  3. Citius, Altius, Fortius – Faster, Higher, Stronger (Olympic motto)

  4. Fiat justitia, ruat caelum – Let justice be done, though the heavens fall

  5. Labor omnia vincit – Work conquers all

  6. Lux et veritas – Light and truth (Yale motto)

  7. Nihil sub sole novum – Nothing new under the sun

  8. Pax vobiscum – Peace be with you

  9. Sic itur ad astra – Thus one goes to the stars

  10. Veritas vos liberabit – The truth will set you free