This page lists Englishtranslations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations, such as i.e. and e.g.. Some of these are themselves translations of Greek phrases.
A related list is that of Latin proverbs; the difference between phrases and proverbs being often subjective. Use this test to see whether a Latin sentence is a phrase or proverb: If the sentence is an old yet common saying that expresses some practical truth, then it is probably a proverb. Proverbs often give advice as well, such as the well-known proverb "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." On the other hand, if it is in the form of an incomplete sentence or does not contain some practical truth, then it is probably a phrase.
"From the stronger" — loosely, "even more so" or "with even stronger reason." Often used to lead from a less certain proposition to a more evident corollary. e.g. "It is unwise to invest in pyramid schemes, and, a fortiori, in e-mail pyramid schemes."
"From the latter" — based on observation, the reverse of a priori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known after a proof has been carried out.
"From the former" — presupposed, the reverse of a posteriori. Used in mathematics and logic to denote something that is known before a proof has been carried out.
Ab hinc
"From here on."
Ab imo pectore
"From the depths of (my) chest" — i.e. "from my heart". Attributed to Julius Caesar.
"From the beginning" or "from the start" — compare in medias res; see also List of legal terms
Ab origine
"From the origin."
Ab ovo usque ad mala
"From the eggs to the apples," i.e., from beginning to end (the Roman main meal traditionally began with an egg dish and ended with fruit). From Horace, Satire 1.3.
"From the founding of the city (of Rome)" — i.e. from 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.
Absit omen
"May the presentiment not be realized."
Acta est fabula, plaudite!
"The play is over (literally, story is done), applaud!" common ending phrase of ancient Roman comedies
Ad astra per aspera
"A rough road leads to the stars" - literally, "to the stars through severity/hardship"
"To appeal to the crowd (literally, to the "taking" of the common folk" — often used of politicians who make false or insincere promises appealing to popular interest.
"To the man" — usually, an argument criticizing the opponent's person rather than his ideas; or also an argument designed to appeal to personal interest rather than objective fact.
"To infinity" — going on forever. Used to designate a property which repeats in all cases in mathematical proof.
Ad interim
"In the meantime" — as in the term "chargé d'affaires ad interim" for a diplomatic officer who acts in place of an ambassador.
Ad Kalendas Graecas
"To the Greek Kalends" — said by Emperor Augustus, in Suetonius, with the sense of "never". Kalends were part of the Roman calendar, not of the Greek, so the "Greek kalends" are "a date that will never happen".
"To the point of nausea". Often used as a quasi-humorus alternative to Ad Infinitum in mathmatical proof.
Ad pedem litterae
"At the foot of the letter" — i.e. "exactly as it is written".
Ad perpetuam memoriam
"To the eternal memory [of]"
Ad usum Delphini
"For usage of the Dauphin" — said of a work that has been expurgated of offensive or improper parts. The phrase originates from editions of Greek and Roman classics which Louis XIV had printed for his heir apparent, the Dauphin.
Ad usum proprium (ad us. propr.)
"For own usage"
Ad valorem
"By the value" — e.g.ad valorem tax.
Advocatus Diaboli
"The Devil's Advocate" — said about someone who defends an unpopular view for the sake of discussion (and implying a lack of personal belief in the validity of the argument).
Aegri somnia
"A sick man's dreams" — from Horace, Ars Poetica, 7.
Alea iacta est
"The die has been cast" — said by Julius Caesar, in Suetonius, after his decision to defy Roman law by crossing the Rubicon with his troops. (Suetonius actually uses it in the future imperative "Alea iacta esto": "Be sure to cast the dice").
Alis volat propiis
"She flies with her own wings" - the Oregon state motto.
Alma mater
"Nourishing mother" — term used for the university one attends/has attended. The word "matriculation" is derived from "mater". The term suggests that the students are "fed" knowledge and taken care of by the university. The term is also used for a university's traditional school anthem.
"Friend of the court" — an adviser, or a person who can obtain or grant access to the favour of powerful people (like Romana curia). In current U.S. legal usage, a third party allowed to submit a brief (an amicus brief) to the court.
Amor vincit omnia
"Love conquers all" — from Vergil, Eclogue X: Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.
"In the year of the lord" — indicates a year counted from the traditional date of birth of Jesus; also called the Common Era (C.E.) to remove religious implications.
"A horrible year" — a pun on Annus mirabilis, first used by Queen Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her, and subsequently occasionally used by others to refer to other years.
"Before the letter" — said after an expression that described something that existed before the expression itself was introduced or became common. For example, one could say that Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram, since the profession of "computer scientist" was not recognised in Turing's day.
Ante meridiem (a.m.)
"Before noon" — in the period from midnight to noon.
Ante prandium (a.p.)
"Before lunch" — i.e. before a meal. Used on pharmaceutical prescriptions.
Asinus asinorum in saecula saeculorum.
"The jackass of jackasses in the centuries of centuries", or "The greatest jackass in eternity."
Audentis fortuna iuvat
"Fortune favors the bold"—allegedly the last words of Pliny the Elder before he left the docks at Pompeii to rescue people from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE; originally from Vergil, Aeneid X, 284.
"Accursed hunger for gold" — from Vergil, Aeneis 3,57; later quoted by Seneca: quod non mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames ("What aren't you able to bring men to do, miserable hunger for gold!")
Aut Caesar aut nihil
"Caesar or nothing" — i.e., all or nothing. (Caesar is here used in the meaning emperor.) Adopted as his personal motto by Cesare Borgia.
Aut vincere aut mori
"Either conquer or die".
Ave atque vale
"Hail and farewell!" — from Catullus, carmen 101, addressed to his deceased brother.
Ave Europa, nostra vera Patria
"Hail Europe, our true Fatherland" — Anthem [song] of pan-Europeanists
B
Beati possidentes
"The happy who possess", translation of a quote from Euripides
"Good services", a nation's offer to mediate in disputes between two other nations
Bonum commune communitatis
"General welfare." Literally, "common good of the community."
Bonum commune hominis
"Common good of man."
Busillis
Pseudo-Latin meaning "baffling puzzle" or "difficult point". John of Cornwall (ca. 1170) was once asked by a scribe what the word meant. It turns out that the original text said in diebus illis magnis plenĉ ("in those days plenty of great things"), which the scribe misread as indie busillis magnis plenĉ ("in India there were plenty of large busillis")... [1].
C
Cacoethes scribendi
"Bad habit of writing" — i.e. an insatiable urge to write. From Juvenal.
"Carthage must be destroyed." Cato the Elder often ended his speeches with "ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" (see below for "ceterum censeo"). "Carthago delenda est" is the same phrase in the nominative case; "Carthaginem delendam esse" is an accusative infinitive.
"In conclusion, I think that..." — Cato the Elder used to conclude his speeches, on any topic whatsoever, with Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam ("In conclusion, I think that Carthage must be destroyed").
"Faster, higher, stronger" — Motto of the modern Olympics.
Circa (ca.)
"Around" — in the sense of "approximately, about"; usually of a date, eg. "Jesus was actually born circa6 BC"
Circulus vitiosus
"Vicious circle" — in logic, a fallacy involving the presupposition of a proposition in one of the premises (see petitio principii); in science, a positive feedback out of control.
"I think therefore I am" — (French philosopher Rene Descartes) Through this ultimate rationalistic view, Descartes attempts to prove the existence of one's self not through one's sense experience but through reasoning.
"In fact" — Said of something that actually is the case, in contrast to a legal or official rule or status or version, which is described as de jure. In some contexts de facto refers to the "way things really are" rather than what is "officially" presented as the fact. E.g., "Although the emperor held the title and trappings of head of state, the Shogun was the de facto ruler of Japan."
"About the matter" or "about reality" — in logic, de dicto statements (about the truth of a proposition) are distinguished from de re statements (about the properties of a thing itself).
"A god from a machine" — a contrived or artificial solution, usually to a literary plot. Refers to the practice in Greek drama of lowering by machine an actor playing Zeus onto the stage — as though he were descending from Olympus — to resolve an awkward plot.
Deus vult!
"God wills it" — this slogan was the principal one of the Crusades.
"Members of a dismembered poet" i.e. "the scattered remnants of the poet" (Horace, Satires, I, 4, 62), battered poetry.
Dominus Vobiscum
"God be with you" — phrase used during and at the end of Catholic sermons; greeting form among and towards members of Catholic organizations (i.e. priests, nuns etc.)
Dramatis personae
"People of the play" — the characters represented in a dramatic work; cast.
"War may seem sweet to those who have never been involved". A phrase from Erasmus (16th century).
Dulce et decorum est
"It is sweet and honourable" — the beginning of a phrase from an ode by Horace: "dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori", "it is sweet and honourable to die for one's country." Used by Wilfred Owen as the title of a poem about World War I; see Dulce Et Decorum Est.
"Behold the man!" — in the Latin translation of the Gospel of John these words are spoken by Pilate as he presents Jesus crowned with thorns to the crowd.
Editio princeps
"First edition."
Emeritus
"From merit" — often used to refer to a retired professor.
Ergo (eg.)
"Therefore" — used to show a logical conclusion. 'Therefore, Hence' See Cogito ergo sum.
"Let it be everlasting" — used by the historian Fra Paolo Sarpi of his native Venice.
Et alii (et al.)
"And others" — used to abbreviate a list of names (Alii is actually masculine, so it can be used for men, or groups of men and women; the feminineet aliae is appropriate when the "others" are all female.)
"And thou, Brutus?" — literal quotation from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. He renders as Latin in an English play what was originally quoted as Greek supposedly spoken by a Roman. But Plutarch quotes Caesar as saying, και συ τεκνον Kai su, teknon? — Greek for "You too, my child?" (Greek would have been the language of Rome's elite at the time.) However it is unlikely that Caesar actually said these words.
Ex aequo
"On equal footing" — i.e. "in a tie".
Ex animo
"From the heart" — i.e. "sincerely".
Ex ante
"From before" — "beforehand", "before the event", i.e. based on prior assumptions.
"From the Chair" — a phrase applied to the Pope when he is speaking infallibly and, by extension, to others who speak with supreme authority or arrogance.
"Defender of the Faith" — a title given to Henry VIII of England by Pope Leo X on October 17, 1521 before Henry became an heresiarch. Appears on all British coins, usually abbreviated.
"You must have the body" — i.e. you must justify an imprisonment. First two words of the Writ to bring a prisoner to court (Charles II of England, Habeas Corpus Act - 1679) and commonly used as the general term for a prisoner's legal right to have the charge against specifically identified.
Habemus papam
"We have a pope" — used in a Catholic Church conclave to announce a successful ballot to elect a new pope.
Haec olim meminisse iuvabit
"Perhaps, we'll look back at this and smile." Virgil's Aeneid
"Horrible to say" — i.e. "a horrible thing to relate."
I
Ibidem (ibid.)
"In the same place" — usually in bibliographic citations.
Id est (i.e.)
"That is (to say)", abbreviated as "i.e." — sometimes "in this case," depending on the context. When celebrating this holiday (i.e. Christmas), hang a wreath on your door. It is never equivalent to "e.g.".
Igni ferroque
"By fire and iron" — a phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also seen as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.
"Imitation of God" — a principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).
Imperium in imperio
"An empire within an empire" — i.e. a group of people within an nation's territory who are beginning to look as if they most of the members owe primary allegiance to the upper member(s) of the group, so that the allegiance of the group depends more than it should on the relationship of the leader(s) with the larger empire.
Imperium sine fine
"Empire without end". In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, neverending empire, the empire-without-end.
"In place of the parents" — Legal term, "assuming custodial/parental responsibility and authority".
In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum
"In your hands I commend (i.e., entrust) my spirit", according to Luke 23:46 the last words of Jesus on the Cross.
In medias res
"Into the middle of things" — by Horace, refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative in them middle of, or at a late point in, the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.
In memoriam
"In memory of" — i.e. to remember or honor a deceased person.
In nuce
"In a nutshell."
In partibus infidelium
"In the land of the infidels" — infidels here refers to non-Christians. After Islam conquered a big part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as honorific titles.
"In silicon", an experiment or process performed as a computer simulation. Compare with in vitro and in vivo. This is pseudo-latin, though clever. The "on" ending of silicon matches no latin noun declension, though there are Greek neuter nouns that end in "-on"; the ablative case ending is simply taken by analogy from in vivo and in vitro.
In statu nascendi
"In the state of being born" — just as something is about to begin.
"In place" — in the original place, position, or arrangement. In medical contexts it implies that the condition is "still" in its original place and has not spread.
"List of prohibited books" — a list of books considered heretical by the Catholic Church.
inst.
abbreviation for instant, formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month, as opposed to last or next month. An example of usage would be "Thank-you for your letter of the 17th inst." See also ult. and prox.
"Wrath of the Gods" - Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum (The Peace of the Gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the Gods). Earthquakes, floods, famine, etc..
Ita vero
"Thus indeed". A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes".
Ite, missa est
"Leave, the mass is finished" — the final words of the Roman Missal (literally "go, it is dismissed", i.e. the congregation is dismissed, or "go, this is the mass", i.e. there is no more mass to be said)
A mangled fragment from Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum ("On the Ends (Limits) of Good and Evil," 45 BC), used as typographer's filler to show fonts (a.k.a greeked text).
"The word for 'grove' is lucus (=light) because it is not light in a grove" ? etymology by opposites. Or possibly: The light shineth not into the grove.
Lupus in fabula
"Wolf from the fable." — i.e. "Speak of the wolf, and he will come". Occurs in Terence's play Adelphoe.
"Prohibited wrong" — something that society decided to forbid, but is not inherently evil.
Manu propria (m.p.)
"Done with one's own hand"
Mea (maxima) culpa
"By my own (very great) fault" — used in Christian prayers and confession.
Melita, domi adsum.
"Honey, I'm home." (from the joke phrasebook, Latin Language for All Occasions; grammatically correct, but the phrase would be anachronistic in ancient Rome)
"Method of subtracting" — loosely "method of denying", a logicalrule of inference, saying that from propositions not Q and if P then Q one can conclude not P.
Modus morons
Not actually Latin, but a wordplay on the above two, referring to the oft-made logical fallacy that from if P then Q and not P, one would conclude not Q.
Modus vivendi
"Way of living" — i.e. an accommodation between disagreeing parties to allow life to go on.
Morituri te salutant
"They who are about to die salute you!"
Multum in parvo
"Much in little" — e.g. "Latin phrases are often multum in parvo, because they convey much in few words."
Mutatis mutandis
"Changing what is to be changed" — i.e., "with the appropriate changes".
N
Natura non contristatur
"Nature isn't sentimental"
Nemine contradicente (nem. con.)
"Without contestation" — literally, "with no one speaking against;" used especially in committees, where a matter may be passed nem. con..
"No one can pass better title than they have;" literally, "no one gives what he doesn't possess."
Nemo me impune lacessit
"No-one provokes me with impunity" — Motto of The Order of the Thistle, found stamped on the milled edge of certain UK Pound coins.
Ne plus ultra (also nec plus ultra, non plus ultra)
"nothing more beyond" literally, but figuratively it is a descriptive phrase meaning the best or most extreme example of something. The Pillars of Hercules, for example, were the ne plus ultra (in the literal sense) of the ancient Mediterranean world. Charles V's heraldic emblem reversed this idea, using a depiction of this phrase inscribed on the Pillars—without the negation. This represented Spain's expansion into the New World.
Nihil obstat
"Nothing prevents" — a notation, usually on a title page, indicating that a Catholiccensor has reviewed the book and found nothing objectionable to faith or morals in its content. See also imprimatur.
"Willing or not," comparable with "willy-nilly", though that is derived from Old English will-he nil-he (i.e., [whether] he will or [whether] he will not).
"No Contest" a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states the accused doesn't admit guilt but will accept punishment for a crime. Nolo contendere pleas cannot be used as evidence in another trial.
Nomen nescio (N. N.)
"Name unknown" — literally, "I do not know the name", implying an unknown person.
"Notwithstanding the verdict" — a legal motion asking the court to reverse the jury's verdict on the grounds that the jury could not reasonably have reached such a verdict.
"No thing born" — i.e. "nothing". It has been claimed that this expression is the origin of Italiannulla, Frenchrien, and Spanish/Portuguesenada, all with the same meaning.
"With peace" — used to indicate that the speaker contradicts someone else: "...but acquired characteristics are not inherited, paceLamarck..."
Pace tua
"With your permission."
Panem et circenses
"Bread and circus plays" — Juvenal, Satires 10, 81, describing all that was needed for the emperors to placate the Roman mob, and today used to describe any public entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters.
"Throughout", "here and there", "frequently" — of a word that occurs several times in a cited texts; also, in proof reading, of a change that is to be repeated everywhere needed.
"Peace of the Gods" — Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of Pax Deorum (The Peace of the Gods) instead of Ira Deorum (The Wrath of the Gods). Earthquakes, floods, famine, etc..
Pax et bonum
"Peace and goodness". The motto of St. Francis of Assisi and, consequently, the motto of his monastery in Assisi, in the Tuscany region of Italy. Italian translation: pace e bene.
Through the agency (of) — used to indicate that a person is signing a document on behalf of another person (correctly placed before the name of the person signing, but often placed before the name of the person on whose behalf the document is signed, sometimes through incorrect translation of the alternative abbreviation "per pro." as "for and on behalf of").
Per se
"By itself" or "in itself" — i.e. without referring to anything else, intrinsically, taken without qualifications, etc.; for instance, negligence per se.
"The greatest high priest" — a traditional epithet of the pope and previously of the Roman emperors. The pontifices were the most important priestly college of the ancient Roman religion; their name is usually thought to derive from pons facere, 'to make a bridge', which in turn is usually linked to their religious authority over the bridges of Rome, especially the Pons Sublicius .
"That which was to be demonstrated" — often written (abbreviated) at the bottom of a mathematical proof.
Quo errat demonstrator
"Where the prover errs" — a pun on Quod erat demonstrandum.
Quo usque tandem?
"For how much longer?" — from Cicero's speech to the Roman senate regarding the conspiracy of Catiline: Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?i.e. "For how much longer, Catilina, will you abuse our patience?".
R
Rara avis
"A rare bird" — i.e. an extraodinary or unusual thing (from Juvenal's Satires: rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno, "a rare bird on the earth, and very like a black swan").
"Reduction to absurdity" — a technique of argument that proves the thesis by showing that its opposite is absurd or logically untenable. This is an oft-used method of proof in mathematics and philosophy.
Regnat populus
"The People rule."
Repetitio est mater studiorum
"Repetition is the mother of study"
Requiescat in pace (R.I.P.)
"May he rest in peace" — a benediction for the dead. Often inscribed on tombstones or other grave markers.
"The thing speaks for itself" — a phrase from the common law of torts that means negligence can be inferred from the fact that such an accident happened, without proof of exactly how.
Res ipsa loquitur, sed quid in infernos dicit?
"The thing speaks for itself, but what the hell does it say?" — a sarcastic pseudo-Latin commentary on res ipsa loquitur, reminding the listener that we must still interpret the significance of events that "speak for themselves."
Literally, "Judged thing" — i.e. matter which has been decided by a court. Commonly, the legal concept that once a matter has been finally decided by the courts it cannot be litigated again. See also Double jeopardy
"The Senate and the People of Rome" — i.e. "The Aristocrats and the Commoners", the official name of the Roman Republic. "SPQR" was carried on battle standards by the Roman Legions.
Sesquipedalia verba
"Words a foot and a half long" — long and complicated words that are used without necessity.
Sic
"Thus", "just so" — states that the preceding quoted material appears exactly that way in the source, usually despite errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or fact.
Sic itur ad astra
"Thus to the stars" — that's how to achieve fame.
Sic passim
"thus in various places" — used when referencing books; see passim.
"Without year" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the date of publication of a document is unknown.
Sine die
"Without a (set) day" — originally from old common law texts, where it indicates that a final, dispositive order has been made in the case: there is nothing left for the court to do, so no date for further proceedings is set.
Sine ira et studio
"Without anger or bias" — impartially. From Cornelius Tacitus, Annals 1,1.
Sine loco (s.l.)
"Without place" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the place of publication of a document is unknown.
Sine nomine (s.n.)
"Without name" — used in bibliographies to indicate that the publisher of a document is unknown.
"Scraped tablet" — i.e. "a blank slate". Romans used to write on wax-covered wooden tablets, which were erased by scraping with the flat end of the stylus. John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth before it had acquired any knowledge.
"Truce of God" — a decree by the medieval Church that all feuds should be cancelled during the Sabbath (effectively from Wednesday or Thursday night until Monday).
"I was you, you will be me" — i.e. "What you are, I was; what I am, you will be."; a gravestone inscription to remind the reader that death is unavoidable.
"Where they make a wasteland, they call it peace" — Tacitus, Agricola, ch. 30.
ult.
abbreviation for ultimo. Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the previous month. Compare with inst. and prox.
Ultima ratio
"Last argument" — the last resort. Louis XIV, King of France, had Ultima Ratio Regum ("The last resort of kings") engraved on the cannons of his armies.
"To the city (of Rome) and to the globe" — standard opening of Roman proclamations; also a traditional blessing by the Pope.
Ut biberent, quando (or quoniam) esse nollent
"So that they might drink, since they refused to eat" — from a story by Suetonius (Vit. Tib. 2.2) and Cicero (De Natura Deorum, 2.3). The phrase was said by Roman admiral Publius Claudius Pulcher, right before the battle of Drepana, as he threw overboard the sacred chickens which had refused to eat the grain offered them — an unwelcome omen of bad luck. So the sense is "if they do not perform as expected, they must suffer the consequences".
Ut infra
"As below."
Ut retro
"As backwards" or "as on the back side" — i.e. "as above" or "as on the previous page".
"Go with me" — a vade-mecum or vademecum is an item one carries around, especially a handbook.
Vade retro!
"Go back!" — i.e. "step back!", "begone!" Publius Terent, Formio I, 4, 203.
Vade retro Satana!
"Go back, Satan!" or "Go back, Lucifer!"— implied meaning "go away, do not dare to tempt me!". From a popular Medieval Catholic exorcism formula, apparently based on a rebuke by Jesus to Peter in the Vulgate, Mark 8:33: vade retro me, Satana. ("step back from me, Satan!").
"I came, I saw, I conquered" — the full text of a message sent by Julius Caesar to the Roman Senate, to describe his battle against King Pharnakles of Pontus near Zela in 47 BC.
Vera causa
"The true cause (of)"
Verba ita sunt intelligenda, ut res magis valeat quam pereat
Legal phrase meaning "Words are to be so understood that the subject-matter may be preserved rather than destroyed."
