Latin Phrases that are used in English

Latin Phrases

Here's a list of Latin phrases and sayings that are used in English often enough to have become part of the language.

A priori		From what comes before.
Ad absurdum		To the point of absurdity.
Ad hoc		For this purpose.
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Ad infinitum		Without limit - endlessly.
Ad nauseam		To a sickening extent.
Alma Mater		One's old school (literally 'bounteous mother').
Alter ego		Other (alternative) self.
Annus horribilis		A horrible year.
Agnus Dei		Lamb of God.
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Aqua pura		Pure water.
Aqua vitae		Alcoholic spirit, e.g. brandy/whisky. Literally 'water of life'.
Ars longa, vita brevis		Skill takes time to acquire, but life is short.
Ave Maria		Hail Mary.
Carpe diem		Seize the day (More literally translated as 'enjoy the day, pluck it when it is ripe').
Caveat emptor		Let the buyer beware.
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Cogito ergo sum		I think, therefore I am.
Corpus Christi		The body of Christ.
De facto		In fact - in reality.
Dei Gratia		By the grace of God.
E Pluribus Unum		One from many.
Et cetera (etc.)		And the rest.
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Et tu, Brute		And you, Brutus.
Ex libris		'Out of the books', that is, from the library.
Gloria in excelsis deo		Glory to God in the highest.
Habeas corpus		You must have the body (in court).
In absentia		In one's absence.
In camera		In private chamber.
In flagrante delicto		In the act of committing an offence.
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In loco parentis		In the place of a parent.
In vitro		In a test tube (literally 'in glass').
Ipso facto		By that very fact.
Magnum opus		A great work.
Mea culpa		My fault.
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Modus operandi (m.o.)		Mode of operating.
Nolens volens		Willingly or unwillingly (see also, willy-nilly).
Persona non grata		An unacceptable or unwelcome person, especially a foreign diplomat.
Post partum		After childbirth.
Praemonitus, praemunitus		Forewarned is forearmed.
Prima facie		At first sight; on the face of it.
Pro bono		Without charge - for the public good.
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Opus Dei		The work of God.
Quid pro quo		Something for something, that is, a favour for a favour.
Quo vadis?		Where are you going?
Rigor mortis		The rigidity of death.
Semper fidelis		Always faithful.
Sine qua non		Indispensable.
Status quo		The current state of affairs.
Sub judice		Before a court.
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Tempus fugit		Time flees.
Terra firma		Solid ground.
Urbi et orbi		To the city and to the globe.
Veni vidi vici		I came, I saw, I conquered.
Vice versa		The other way around.
Vivat Regina		Long live the queen.
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Vox populi		The voice of the people.

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The meaning and origin of the expression: Latin Phrases

Latin Phrases