A sortable, searchable table of Latin phrases in common English use.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A Mari Usque Ad Mare | From sea to sea (Motto of Canada) |
| A Posteriori | Reasoning from effects to causes |
| A Priori | Reasoning from causes to effects |
| Ad Astra | To the stars |
| Ad Eundem | Of admission to the same degree at a different university |
| Ad Hoc | For this purpose |
| Ad Hominem | To the individual. Relating to the principles or preferences of a particular person, rather than to abstract truth. Often used to describe a personal attack on a person. |
| Ad Libitum | At one's pleasure, usually abbreviated ad lib |
| Ad Litem | For a lawsuit or action |
| Ad Nauseum | To a sickening extent |
| Ad Referendum | Subject to reference |
| Ad Rem | To the point |
| Ad Vitam | For life |
| Ad Vitam Aeternam | For all time |
| Ad Vitam Paramus | We are preparing for life |
| Agnus Dei | Lamb of God |
| Anno Domine | In the year of our Lord. Usually abbreviated A.D. |
| Annuit Coeptis | He (God) has favoured our undertakings (part of the great seal of the United States, usually seen on the back of a U.S one dollar bill) |
| Annus Bisextus | Leap year |
| Ante Bellum | Before the war. Usually used to describe the United States before the U.S. Civil War (1861-65). Typically spelled antebellum in English. |
| Ante Meridiem | Before noon. Usually abbreviated A.M. |
| Armis Exposcere Pacem | They demanded peace by force of arms. An inscription seen on medals. |
| Ars Gratia Artis | Art for art's sake. The motto of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. |
| Audere Est Facere | To dare is to do. Motto of the British football team, Tottenham Hotspur |
| Bona Fide | In good faith, sincerely |
| Carpe Diem | Enjoy the day; pluck the day when it is ripe. Seize the day. |
| Caveat Emptor | Let the buyer beware |
| Ceteris Paribus | All things being equal |
| Cogito Ergo Sum | I think, therefore I am (Rene Descartes) |
| Corpus Delicti | Literally the body of the crime. The substance or fundamental facts of crime. |
| De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum | Of the dead say nothing but good. |
| Dei Gratia | By the grace of God. This appears on all British, Canadian, and other British Commonwealth coins and is usually abbreviated D.G. (see Fidei Defensor and Indiae Imperator) |
| Deus Ex Machina | Literally God from a machine. Describes a miraculous or fortuitous turn of events in a work of fiction. |
| Deus Vobiscum | God be with you. |
| Dies Irae | Day of wrath; Day of judgement |
| Dies natalis | Birthday |
| Discere Docendo | To learn through teaching |
| Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus | Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon. This is the motto of Harry Potter’s alma mater, Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry |
| Dum spiramus tuebimur | While we breathe, we shall defend. Motto of the U.S 133rd Field Artillery Regiment. |
| E Pluribus Unum | From many, one (Motto of United States of America) |
| Errare Humanum Est | To err is human |
| Et Alia | And others |
| Et Cetera | And the rest. Often abbreviated etc. or &c. |
| Ex Cathedra | From the chair, i.e. Speaking from a Bishop's seat or professional chair, speaking with authority. A Cathedra is the seat reserved for a Bishop in a cathedral. |
| Ex Gratia | Done or given as a favour and not under any compulsion |
| Ex Libris | From the Library (of). |
| Ex Officio | According to Office |
| Ex Post Facto | After the fact |
| Ex Tempore | Off the cuff, without preparation |
| Exampli Gratia | For the sake of example, for instance. Usually abbreviated e.g. |
| Exeunt Omnes | All go out. A common stage direction in plays |
| Facta Non Verba | Deeds not words |
| Fide Suorum Regnat | "He reigns by the faith of his people" Inscription on the 1939 Canadian silver dollar, minted to commemorate the 1939 Royal tour. |
| Fidei Defensor | Defender of the Faith. This is usually abreviated F.D. or Fid. Def. and appears on the obverse of British coins. (see Dei Gratia) |
| Flagrante Delicto | Literally while the crime is blazing. Caught red-handed, in the very act of a crime. |
| Floreat Regina | Regina, may it flourish. The motto of the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. |
| Gloria In Exelsis Deo | Literally, Glory to God in the highest. Highest in this phrase means heaven, i.e. Glory to God in Heaven |
| Habeas Corpus | Literally that you have a body. A writ requiring that a detained individual be brought before a court to decide the legality of that individual's detention. |
| Habemus Papam | We have a father. The cheer raised by the waiting crowds when a pope is elected. |
| Homo nudus cum nuda iacebat | Naked they lay together, man and woman. Quoted in The Name of the Rose, First day, Sext. |
| Ibid. | In the same place (in a book). Abbreviation for ibidem. |
| Ibidem | See ibid. |
| Id Est | That is to say. Usually abbreviated i.e. |
| Iesus | Jesus. There is no 'J' in classic Latin. |
| Iesus Hominum Salvator | Usually abbreviated IHS this means Jesus is the saviour of all people. |
| Iesus Nazerenus Rex Iudaeorum | Usually abbreviated INRI. The title card placed on Christ's cross by Pontius Pilate (John 19:19), it means Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. |
| In Absentia | In their absence |
| In Actu | In practice |
| In Camera | In secret or private session; not in public |
| In Capite | In chief |
| In Extenso | At full length |
| In Extremis | In the last agonies |
| In Forma Pauperis | In the form of a poor person; in a humble or abject manner |
| In Infinitum | To infinity; without end |
| In Limine | On the threshold, at the very outset |
| In Loco | In the place of |
| In Loco Parentis | In the place of a parent |
| In Medias Res | Into the midst of affairs |
| In Memoriam | To the memory of |
| In Nubibus | In the clouds; not yet settled |
| In Partibus Infidelium | In parts inhabited by unbelievers |
| In Perpetuum | To all time |
| In Pontificalibus | In the proper vestments of a pope or cardinal |
| In Propria Persona | In his or her own person |
| In Situ | In its original place; in position |
| In Statu Quo | In the same state |
| In Terrorem | As a warning; in order to terrify others |
| In Toto | As a whole, absolutely, Completely |
| In Transitu | In passing, on the way |
| In Utero | In the uterus |
| In Vacuo | In a vacuum or empty space |
| In Vino Veritas | Truth comes out under the influence of alcohol. |
| In Vitro | In a test tube (literally glass) |
| In Vivo | Within the living organism |
| Indiae Imperator | Emperor of India. Usually abbreviated Ind. Imp. Appeared on the obverse of British and British Empirecoins before 1948. |
| Infra Dignitatem | Abbreviated to Infra Dig. Beneath one's dignity. |
| Integer Vitae Scelerisque Purus | Blameless of life and free from crime |
| Inter Alia | Amongst other things |
| Inter Alios | Amongst other persons |
| Inter Caesa et Porrecta | There's many a slip twixt cup and lip |
| Inter Nos | Between ourselves |
| Inter Partes | Made between two parties |
| Inter Se | Between or among themselves |
| Inter Vivos | Between living persons |
| Ipse Dixit | Unproven assertion resting on the speaker's authority (literally He himself said) |
| Lapsus Linguae | A slip of the tongue |
| Lingua Franca | A common language |
| Lupus in Fabula | Speak of the devil |
| Lux Mea Christus | Christ is my light |
| Manus in Mano | Hand in hand |
| Manus Manum Lavat | Literally Hand washes Hand. Taken to mean One hand washes the other or scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. |
| Margaritas ante Porcos | Pearls before swine |
| Mea Culpa | Through my own fault |
| Mea Maxima Culpa | Through my very great fault |
| Melitae Amor | Love of Malta |
| Membrum Virile | The virile member; penis. |
| Memento Mori | A reminder of death, such as a skull (literally remember that you have to die) |
| Memento Vivere | A reminder of life (literally remember that you have to live) |
| Missa Solemnis | Literally, Solemn Mass. The High Mass. |
| Mitto tibi navem prora puppiquecarentem | I send you a ship without a bow or a stern. This is a rebus puzzle by Cicero. A ship, navem, without it’s first and last letter spells ave, which means greetings in Latin. |
| Mollia Tempora Fandi | Times favourable for speaking |
| Mutatis Mutandis | With the necessary changes |
| Nihil Sub Sole Novum | Nothing new under the sun |
| Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum | Don't let the bastards grind you down. Not true Latin, as the word Carborundorum is not true Latin, like copacetic. |
| Non Compos Mentis | Not of sound mind. |
| Non Sequitur | An inference or conclusion which doesn't follow from its premises (literally It Does Not Follow) |
| Non Timetis Messor | Don't Fear the Reaper |
| Nosce te ipsum | Know thyself |
| Novus Ordo Seclorum | A new order for the ages (appears on the U.S. one-dollar bill) |
| Nunc Dimittis | Literally Now you send forth. Abbreviation of Luke 2:29. |
| Omnia Mihi Lingua Graeca Sunt | It's all Greek to me. |
| Optimus Parentibus | To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book. |
| Pater Noster | Our Father. The first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin. |
| Per Accidens | By Accident |
| Per Annum | By the Year |
| Per Ardua Ad Astra | Through Difficulty To The Stars. Motto of the RCAF, RAF and RAAF. |
| Per Capita | By heads |
| Per Consequens | By Consequence |
| Per Contra | On the other side |
| Per Diem | By the day |
| Per Fas et Nefas | By right and wrong |
| Per Incurium | Through carelessness |
| Per Mensem | Every Month |
| Per Pares | By his peers |
| Per Procurationem | By Proxy or Deputy |
| Per Saltum | By a leap or all at once |
| Per Se | By or in itself |
| Per Stirpes | By stocks or families |
| Persona non Grata | Unacceptable Person |
| Post Coitem | After sexual intercourse |
| Post Mortem | After death |
| Post Partum | After childbirth |
| Post Scriptum | Written later. A postscript, usually abbreviated P.S. |
| Post Tenebras, Lux | After darkness, light |
| Praemonitus, Praemunitus | Forewarned is Forearmed |
| Prima Facie | At first sight; on the face of it. |
| Primus Inter Pares | First Among Equals |
| Pro Bono Publico | For the public good |
| Pro Forma | For form's sake |
| Pro Hac Vice | For this occasion only |
| Pro Rata | Proportionally |
| Pro Re Nata | For an occasion as it arises |
| Pro Tanto | So far |
| Pro Tempore | Temporarily |
| Quid Pro Quo | One thing for another; something for something |
| Quis Custodiet ipsos custodes | Who shall guard the guards? |
| Quo Vadis, Domine | Where are you going, Lord? |
| Quod Vide | Which See, usually abbreviated q.v. |
| Quod Erat Demonstrandum | Which was to be demonstrated. Usually abbreviated Q.E.D. |
| Quod Erat Faciendum | Which was to be done. |
| Quod Erat in Veniendum | Which was to be found. |
| Requiscat in Pace | May he rest in peace. Usually abbreviated R.I.P. |
| Romani Ite Domum | Romans go home! |
| Semper Fidelis | Always Faithful. Motto of the United StatesMarine Corps and H.M.S. Exeter |
| Semper Paratus | Always Prepared |
| Senatus Populusque Romanus | For the senate and people of Rome. Often abbreviated SPQR. Seen as a tattoo on Russell Crowe's left arm in the movie, Gladiator. |
| Sic Semper Tyrannis | Thus ever to tyrants. The motto of the State ofVirginia. John Wilkes Booth is supposed to have shouted this phrase as he jumped to stage of Ford's Theater after shooting Abraham Lincoln. |
| Sic Transit Gloria Mundi | Thus passes away the glory of the world. |
| Sine Die | Without a day being specified |
| Sine Qua Non | Indispensable |
| Sperate Miseri Caveat Felices | When miserable, hope; When happy beware |
| Sub Poena | Under penalty of …. The source of the English word subpoena which is a writ issued by a court requiring one's attendance at that court. |
| Sub Rosa | Secretly or in confidence. Literally means under the rose. |
| Tempus Fugit | Time flies |
| Ultima Ratio | Final sanction |
| Ultra Vires | Beyond the powers or legal authority |
| Ut humiliter opinor | In my humble opinion |
| Veni, Vidi, Vici | I came, I saw, I conquered |
| Ventis Secundis | Literally with winds aft. With a favourablewind. The motto of H.M.S. Hood. These words were supposedly spoken by Admiral Sir Samuel Hood during the battle of Martinique. |
| Via Dolorosa | The way of sorrow. The route in Jerusalemfollowed by Jesus Christ to his crucifixion. |
| Vice Versa | The positions being reversed |
| Videlicet | That is to say; To wit; Namely |
| Vita mutatur, non tollitur | Life is changed, not taken away |
| Vivat Regina | Long live the queen |
| Vivat Rex | Long live the king |
| Viz. | Abbreviation of Videlicet |