List of Latin phrases
This subpage provides English translations of not-so common Latin phrases (i.e. not always found in dictionaries). (See also: Latin proverbs)
NOTE: The difference between phrases and proverbs is oftentimes subjective. Please use this test to see whether or not a Latin sentence is either a phrase or proverb: If the sentence is an old yet common saying that expresses some practical truth, then it probably is a proverb. If it is in the form of an incomplete sentence, and/or does not contain some practical truth, then it probably is a phrase.
ab urbe condita; anno urbis conditae, abbreviated A.U.C., "from the founding of the city" (of Rome); 753 B.C., according to Livy's count; used as a reference point by the Romans for establishing dates, as we use A.D. today.
ad astra per aspera : "To the stars through difficulties," motto of Kansas. (more frequently as "per aspera ad astra")
ad captandum vulgus : "To appeal to the crowd"
ad hoc : "For a particular purpose (improvised)"
ad hominem : "To the man" (an argument criticizing one's opponent rather than his ideas).
ad kalendas graecas : "To a date that does not (or will) not exist" (emperor August, in Svet., in the sense of "never" - kalends were a part of the roman month, and simply didn't exist in greek calendar, so it is used when in front of a false or unlikely promise)
ad libitium (ad lib) : "Freely; at ease"
alea iacta est : "The die is cast" (J.C. in Svet., precisely in the imperative form of "alea jacta esto")
alter ego : "Another self"
amicus curiae : 'Friend of the court" (adviser)
ante litteram: "before the letter", a qualifier for an expression when applied to something that existed before the expression itself was introduced or became common. Example of usage from Alan Turing:
- Alan Mathison Turing (1912-1954), British mathematician and computer scientist ante litteram.
("Computer scientist" was not in use in Turing's days.). Or simply something that anticipates the characteristics of later developments.
ars gratia artis : "Art for art's sake"
ars longa, vita brevis : "Art is long, life is short"
aurea mediocritas : "Golden Mean" (in Horace, Odi, an ethical goal to achieve)
ave atque vale : "Hail and farewell!"
bona fide : "In good faith"
carpe diem : "Sieze the day" (Horace to Leuconoe: "carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero", reap the day, believing as little as possible in the morrow)
caveat emptor: "let the buyer beware", i.e. the onus of responsibility is on the purchaser of goods.
cave canem: "beware of the dog".
ceteris paribus : "All other things being equal"
circa : "About, approximately, around"
cogito ergo sum : "I think, therefore I am" (Descartes)
cui bono : "Whom does it benefit?"
cui prodest : "Whom does it benefit?" (short form for "cui prodest scelus, is fecit" in Seneca's Medea - the murderer by the one who gets advantage from the murder)
cum grano salis : "With a grain of salt" (just a bit of wise attention)
de novo : "Anew"
deus ex machina : "An artificially introduced solution" (Literally, "A god from a machine." Refers to the practice in Greek drama of letting Zeus resolve awkward plot situations.)
divide et impera : "Divide and govern" (presumed by Philip II of Macedonia, keep your people divided by rivalries and jealousies, and you'll have an easier and more solid power)
dominus illuminatio mea : "May the lord guide me" (Literally, "The Lord is my light.")
dum spiro, spero : "As long as I breathe, I hope" (also "When I die, I hope" - spiro means also 'I breath the last breath')
e pluribus unum : "From many, one"
ecce homo : "Behold the man!" (in the Gospel), litterally "Here's the man!"
emeritus : "Honorary; by merit"
esto perpetua : "It is everlasting"
ex animo : "From the heart" (sincerely)
excelsior : "Ever upward"
ex libris... : "From the books (library) of..."
ex nihilo nihil fit : "Nothing comes from nothing"
ex post facto : "After the fact" (also "post facto")
habeas corpus : "Have the body" (Writ to bring a prisoner to court - Charles II of England, Habeas corpus Act - 1679)
hic Jacet... : "Here lies...."
infinitus est numerus stultorum : "Infinite is the number of fools" Ecclesiastes 1:15 (Vulgate)
in memoriam : "In the memory of"
in toto : "In total" (altogether)
justitia omnibus : "Justice for all"
labor omnia vincit : "Labor conquers all"
lapsus linguae : "A slip of the tongue"
lapsus memoriae : "Memory lapse"
magna cum laude : "With great honor"
magnum opus : "Masterpiece" (great work)
mea culpa : "The fault is mine"
mens sana in corpore sano : "Sound mind in a sound body"
mirabile dictu : "Wonderful to tell"
multum in parvo : "A lot in a small package"
nemo me impune lacessit: "No-one attacks me with impunity," the Scots national motto.
nolens volens : "Willing or not"
noli me tangere : "Do not interfere" (in the Gospel)
non compos mentis : "Of unsound mind"
non sequitur : "Statement that doesn't follow logic" (Literally, "It does not follow.")
Pacta sunt servanda : "agrements must be honoured"
pax vobiscum : "Peace be with you"
per annum : "Per year"
per ardua ad astra : "Through hardship to the stars," motto of the Royal Air Force.
per capita : "Per person"
pro bono publico : "For the public good"
pro tempore : "For the time being"
persona non grata : "An unpleasent person"
quid pro quo : "A thing for a thing"
quieta non movere : "Don't move settled things" (Don't rock the boat)
quod erat demonstrandum, a.k.a. Q.E.D.: "that which was to be demonstrated." This abbreviation is often written at the bottom of a proof to indicate that the assignment is complete.
quo vadis: "Where are you going?" (in Gospel, St. Peter meeting Jesus on Appian road in Rome: "Quo vadis, Domine?").
Regnat populus : "Let the People rule"
salva veritate : "With truth preserved"
sapere aude : "Dare to be wise"
semper fidelis : "Always faithful"
semper paratus : "Always prepared"
sic semper tyrannis : "Thus always to tyrants"
status quo : "Existing state of affairs" (from "statu quo ante", prior or current situation)
summa cum laude : "With the highest honor"
summum bonum : "The supreme good"
tabula rasa : "A clean slate" (Romans used to write on wax tablets, easy to cancel)
terra firma : "Solid ground"
terra incognita : "Unknown land"
veni, vidi, vici : "I came, I saw, I conquered" (Julius Cesar describing his campaign in De Bello Gallico)
via : "By way of"
via media : "Middle path"
vice versa : "A reverse of order or meaning"
- See also : Latin language