Latin Words and Phrases List

by Barbara Casey | Oct 27, 2015 | Latin Phrases + Numerals, Tutorials

Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of Latin words and phrases that writers might find useful in their articles, blog posts and books.

Here’s the whole list of Latin words, phrases and sayings:

a cappella – in church (vocal music only)

adeste fideles – come, faithful people

ad hoc – for a particular purpose (only)

ad infinitum – to infinity (without end)

ad nauseum – to a sickening degree

alma mater – fostering mother (a school or university you attended or from which you graduated)

a mari usque ad mare – from sea to sea (motto of Canada)

annus horribilis – a horrible year

ante – before

antebellum – before the war

a posteriori – from the latter

a priori – from the former

arcana – secrets (mysterious knowledge known only to initiates)

ars gratia artis – art for art’s sake

ave atque vale – hail and farewell

beatae memoriae – of blessed memory

bene – good

bis in die – twice a day

bona fide – (adjective) in good faith, well-intentioned, fairly

bona fides – (noun) honest intention

bona fortuna – good luck!

bovina sancta – holy cow!

carpe diem – seize the day

caveat emptor – let the buyer beware (i.e. – take the risk)

cave canem – beware of the dog

cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I am

commune bonum – the common good

corpus christi – the body of Christ

crux – puzzle

cum laude – with praise

de facto – something that is automatically accepted

de novo – anew

Dei Gratia – by the grace of God

Deus vobiscum – God be with you

dramatis personae – characters of the play

ecce homo – behold the man

emeritus – honorary, by merit

eo ipso – by that very act

e pluribus unum – out of many, one

ergo – therefore

errata – a list of errors

et cetera – and the rest (etcetera, etc.)

ex cathedra – from the chair (of authority)

ex libris – from the library (of)

ex tempore – off the cuff, without preparation

fiat lux – let there be light

finis – the end

Gloria in excelsis Deo – Glory to God in the highest

habeas corpus – you must have the body (you must justify an imprisonment)

hic et nunc – here and now

in absentia – in one’s absence

in extremis – in extreme circumstances (e.g. – at point of death)

in loco parentis – in the place of a parent

in perpetuum -forever

in toto – totally, entirely

modus operandi – a way of operating

omnia vincit amor – love conquers all

post mortem – after death

post partum – after childbirth

pro bono publico – for the public good

quater in die (Q.I.D.) – take 4 times a day

qui bono? – who benefits?

quid pro quo – something for something

quo vadis? – where are you going?

regina – queen

rex – king

rigor mortis – the rigidity of death

tabula rasa -a clean slate

tempus fugit – time flees (more common: time flies)

terra firma – solid ground

And let’s not forget…

“Illegitimi Non Carborundum” – fake Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

a cappella – in church (vocal music only)

adeste fideles – come, faithful people

ad hoc – for a particular purpose (only)

ad infinitum – to infinity (without end)

ad nauseum – to a sickening degree

alma mater – fostering mother (a school or university you attended or from which you graduated)

a mari usque ad mare – from sea to sea (motto of Canada)

annus horribilis – a horrible year

ante – before

antebellum – before the war

a posteriori – from the latter

a priori – from the former

arcana – secrets (mysterious knowledge known only to initiates)

ars gratia artis – art for art’s sake

ave atque vale – hail and farewell

beatae memoriae – of blessed memory

bene – good

bis in die – twice a day

bona fide – (adjective) in good faith, well-intentioned, fairly

bona fides – (noun) honest intention

bona fortuna – good luck!

bovina sancta – holy cow!

carpe diem – seize the day

caveat emptor – let the buyer beware (i.e. – take the risk)

cave canem – beware of the dog

cogito, ergo sum – I think, therefore I am

commune bonum – the common good

corpus christi – the body of Christ

crux – puzzle

cum laude – with praise

de facto – something that is automatically accepted

de novo – anew

Dei Gratia – by the grace of God

Deus vobiscum – God be with you

dramatis personae – characters of the play

ecce homo – behold the man

emeritus – honorary, by merit

eo ipso – by that very act

e pluribus unum – out of many, one

ergo – therefore

errata – a list of errors

et cetera – and the rest (etcetera, etc.)

ex cathedra – from the chair (of authority)

ex libris – from the library (of)

ex tempore – off the cuff, without preparation

fiat lux – let there be light

finis – the end

Gloria in excelsis Deo – Glory to God in the highest

habeas corpus – you must have the body (you must justify an imprisonment)

hic et nunc – here and now

in absentia – in one’s absence

in extremis – in extreme circumstances (e.g. – at point of death)

in loco parentis – in the place of a parent

in perpetuum -forever

in toto – totally, entirely

modus operandi – a way of operating

omnia vincit amor – love conquers all

post mortem – after death

post partum – after childbirth

pro bono publico – for the public good

quater in die (Q.I.D.) – take 4 times a day

qui bono? – who benefits?

quid pro quo – something for something

quo vadis? – where are you going?

regina – queen

rex – king

rigor mortis – the rigidity of death

tabula rasa -a clean slate

tempus fugit – time flees (more common: time flies)

terra firma – solid ground

And let’s not forget…

“Illegitimi Non Carborundum” – fake Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”