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Home > List of Latin phrases

This page includes English translations of less common Latin phrases (i.e., not always found in dictionaries), some of which are themselves translations from Greek.

For a list of more formal proverbs, see: List of Latin proverbs. Note that the difference between phrases and proverbs is often subjective. Please 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. If it is in the form of an incomplete sentence or does not contain some practical truth, then it is probably a phrase.

For Latin abbreviations in medical prescriptions, see Medical prescription ( Appendix 1) or Eyeglass prescription.

For help with Latin and Greek words used in the scientific classification of biological species, see List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names.

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A bene placito

"At your pleasure."

A fortiori

"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."

A pedibus usque ad caput

"From feet to head."

A posteriori

"From the latter" — based on observation, the reverse of a priori.

A prioriA priori is a Latin phrase meaning "from the former". In much of the modern Western tradition, the term a priori is considered to mean propositional knowledge that can be had without, or "prior to", experience. It is usually contrasted with a posteriori k

"From the former" — presupposed, the reverse of a posteriori.

A priori assumption

"An assumption that something is true without proof."

Ab hinc

"From here on."

Ab imo pectore

"From the depths of (my) chest" — i.e. "from my heart". Attributed to Julius CaesarAlternative meanings: Julius Caesar (disambiguation). Gaius Julius Caesar ( Latin: C·IVLIVS·C·F·C·N·CAESAR) ( July 13, 100 BC March 15, 44 BC) was a Roman military and political leader whose conquest of Gallia Comata extended the Roman world all the way t.

Ab initioThe Latin term ab initio means from the beginning and is used in several contexts: when describing literature: told from the beginning as opposed to in medias res (meaning starting in the middle of the story . See also: List of Latin phrases as a legal te

"From the beginning" or "from the start" — compare in media res; see also List of legal termsThis is a list of legal terms often from Latin: A mensa et thoro A mensa et thoro from bed and board. A divorce a mensa et thoro is rather a separation of the parties by act of law, than a dissolution of the marriage. It may be granted for the causes of e

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)

Ab urbe conditaAb urbe condita ( AUC or a. is Latin for "from the founding of the city" (of Rome), supposed to have happened in 753 BC. It was one of several methods used for dating years in the Roman era, when the Roman calendar and the Julian calendar were in use. (A.U.C.)

"From the foundingThe founding of Rome is reported by many legends, which in recent times are beginning to be supplemented by more scientific reconstructions. Vergil's Aeneid while not definitive, is an important source for information about those early times or, at least, of the city (of RomeRome ( Italian and Latin Roma is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. It is located on the lower Tiber river, near the Mediterranean Sea, at 41°50'N, 12°15'E. The Vatican City State, a sovereign enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Roman)" — 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, applaud!" common ending phrase of ancient Roman comedies

Ad captandum vulgus

"To appeal to the crowd" — often used of politicians who make false or insincere promises appealing to popular interest.

Ad fontes

"To the sources" — a motto of Renaissance humanism.

Ad fundum

"To the bottom" or "To the end" — said during a generic toast, like "bottoms up!"

Ad hoc

"For this" — i.e. improvised, made up on the spot.

Ad hominem

"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.

Ad infinitum

"To infinity" — going on forever.

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".

Ad libitum (ad lib)

"At ease" — means "do as you please", "improvise", "just ramble on"; esp. in music partitures, theatrical scripts, etc..

Ad lucem

"Towards the light" — the motto of the University of Lisbon.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam (A.M.D.G.)

"To the greater glory of God" — motto of the Jesuits.

Ad multos annos

"To many years!" — i.e. "Many happy returns!"

Ad nauseam

"To the point of nausea".

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 (without really meaning it).

Aegri somnia

"Troubled dreams."

Alea iacta est

"The die is 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.

Alter ego

"Another I" — a pseudonym or a close associate who always acts on one's behalf.

Amicus curiae

"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"

Anno Domini (A.D.)

"In the year of the lord" — indicates a year counted from the traditional date birth of Jesus Christ; also called the Common Era (C.E.).

Anno urbis conditae (A.U.C.)

"In the year from the founding of the city ( Rome)" — see Ab urbe condita.

Annuit Cœptis

"He [God] has approved our undertaking" - motto of the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the US one dollar bill

Annus horribilis

"A horrible year" — used memorably by Queen Elizabeth II to describe what a bad year 1992 had been for her.

Ante cibum (doctor's shorthand: a.c.)

"Before meals"

Ante litteram

"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" — i.e. "The greatest jackass in eternity."

Audietur et altera pars

"Let's hear also the other party"

Aurea mediocritas

"Golden Mean" — in Horace's Odes, an ethical goal.

Auri sacra fames

"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.)

Aut vincere aut mori

"Either conquer or die".

Ave atque vale

"Hail and farewell!"

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Topics: List Of Latin Phrases I.e Greek Motto Common Roman Year Ante...

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