Latin is one of the ancient Italic languages, which is no longer spoken primarily by any country. However, you will find bits and pieces of this language in modern English. So, while you needn’t learn to read and write Latin, it’s always good to know the common Latin terms still used.
Did You Know?
According to a survey published in Ordered Profusion by Dieter Wolff and Thomas Finkenstaedt, 29% of the modern English words are derived from Latin.
Genealogically if we see, there is no such close relation between English and Latin. Many of us have the misconception of English descending from either Latin or Greek. However, this is not the truth; to an extent, English has been quite influenced by Latin. In the period of 43 A.D., the Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain and culminated with the Norman Conquest. During this time, many of the Latin words and phrases entered English language, some directly and some through French. Although, Latin is no longer spoken as a primary language in any country, some part of it still exists in our daily speaking and writing. You will find many scholars, students, and Roman Catholic clergies using this language fluently.
Some Common Latin Terms
Check out the list provided below, and you will come across half the words that you already use in your daily conversation, not knowing that they are of Latin origin. And if you don’t know the following terms, then you can start using it to improve your lexicon.
| Latin Terms | In Literal English |
| ab extra | from outside |
| ab ovo | from the beginning |
| ad hoc | for the specific purpose |
| ad hominem | to the man, to the person |
| ad infinitum | to infinity, forevermore |
| ad nauseam | to [the point of] nausea |
| affidavit | he has declared upon oath |
| alma mater | bountiful mother |
| alter ego | the other I |
| bona fide | in good faith |
| carpe diem | seize the day |
| caveat emptor | let the customer beware |
| ceteris paribus | other things being equal |
| circa | about, around |
| cogito, ergo sum | I think, therefore I am |
| compos mentis | in control of the mind |
| curriculum vitae | course of (one’s) life |
| de jure | according to law, concerning law |
| Dei gratia | by the grace of God |
| de facto | from the fact |
| de novo | anew |
| ergo | therefore |
| erratum | mistake, error |
| et alii | and others |
| ex cathedra | from the seat |
| et cetera | and so on, and so forth |
| exempli gratia | for the sake of an example |
| ex gratia | from kindness |
| ex libris | from the books, from the library of |
| habeas corpus | that you have the body |
| homo sapiens | wise men |
| in absentia | in absence |
| in actu | in act |
| id est | that is (to say) |
| infra | below, beneath |
| in memoriam | in memory |
| inter alia | among other things |
| in situ | in place |
| in toto | in total, completely |
| in vino veritas | in wine there is the truth |
| in vitro | in glass |
| in vivo | within the living |
| ipso facto | by the fact itself |
| magnum opus | great work |
| mea culpa | my fault, my mistake |
| mens rea | guilty mind |
| modus operandi | mode of working |
| nota bene | note well, note carefully |
| pari passu | with an equal step, on equal footing |
| per | for each |
| per annum | for each year |
| per capita | by heads, for each head |
| per centum | for each one hundred |
| per diem | per day, for each day |
| per se | in itself, by itself |
| persona non grata | an unwelcome person |
| prima facie | on the first appearance |
| pro bono | for the public good |
| pro forma | as a matter of form |
| pro rata | proportionally |
| postmortem | after death |
| quasi | with some resemblance |
| quid pro quo | this for that |
| requiescat in pace | rest in peace |
| rigor mortis | stiffness of death |
| sine qua non | without which [it could] not |
| status quo | the state in which |
| subpoena | under penalty, under punishment |
| sui generis | of its own kind |
| tabula rasa | clean slate, blank slate |
| veni, vidi, vici | I came, I saw, I conquered |
| verbatim | word for word, in exactly the same words |
| versus | against |
| vice versa | the other way round |
Learning and speaking Latin fluently may not be necessary, but knowing some of these terms will help you in improving your language and comprehension skills.
