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Latin phrases and mottos with meanings

Latin was the language of ancient Rome, and for many centuries the common language of European law, science, medicine and universities. Hundreds of its phrases are still used in English every day, often without anyone noticing. Each entry below gives the phrase, where it comes from when that is known, and what it means.

Famous sayings

  • Carpe diem.

    "Seize the day." Make good use of today.

    Horace, Odes, Book 1

  • Veni, vidi, vici.

    "I came, I saw, I conquered." Said of a quick and complete victory.

    Julius Caesar, as reported by Plutarch and Suetonius

  • Alea iacta est.

    "The die is cast." A step has been taken that cannot be taken back.

    Julius Caesar, as reported by Suetonius

  • Cogito, ergo sum.

    "I think, therefore I am."

    Rene Descartes, Principles of Philosophy (1644)

  • Ars longa, vita brevis.

    "Art is long, life is short." There is more to learn than one lifetime allows.

    Latin form of a saying of Hippocrates

  • Mens sana in corpore sano.

    "A sound mind in a sound body."

    Juvenal, Satires, 10

  • Omnia vincit amor.

    "Love conquers all."

    Virgil, Eclogues, 10

  • Labor omnia vincit.

    "Work conquers all."

    From Virgil, Georgics, Book 1

  • Audentes fortuna iuvat.

    "Fortune favours the bold."

    Virgil, Aeneid, Book 10

  • Tempus fugit.

    "Time flies."

    From Virgil, Georgics, Book 3

  • Nil desperandum.

    "Never despair."

    Horace, Odes, Book 1

  • Sapere aude.

    "Dare to be wise", or "dare to think for yourself".

    Horace, Epistles, Book 1

  • Festina lente.

    "Make haste slowly." Work quickly, but with care.

    Latin saying, a favourite of the emperor Augustus according to Suetonius

  • Errare humanum est.

    "To err is human." Everyone makes mistakes.

    Latin saying

  • Dum spiro, spero.

    "While I breathe, I hope."

    Latin saying

  • Per aspera ad astra.

    "Through hardships to the stars."

    Latin saying

  • In vino veritas.

    "In wine there is truth." People speak freely when they have been drinking.

    Latin saying

  • Memento mori.

    "Remember that you must die." A reminder that life is short.

    Latin saying

  • Veritas.

    "Truth."

    Latin word, used as a motto

  • Citius, Altius, Fortius.

    "Faster, Higher, Stronger." In 2021 the word "Communiter", "Together", was added.

    The Olympic motto

  • E pluribus unum.

    "Out of many, one."

    Motto on the Great Seal of the United States

  • Semper fidelis.

    "Always faithful."

    Latin motto

Phrases used in everyday English

  • Ad hoc.

    "For this." Made or done for one particular purpose, as in an ad hoc committee.

    Latin phrase

  • Ad infinitum.

    "To infinity." Again and again, without end.

    Latin phrase

  • Alma mater.

    "Nourishing mother." The school, college or university where a person studied.

    Latin phrase

  • Bona fide.

    "In good faith." Genuine, real.

    Latin phrase

  • Caveat emptor.

    "Let the buyer beware." The buyer should check the goods before buying.

    Latin phrase

  • De facto.

    "In fact." Existing in practice, whether or not by law.

    Latin phrase

  • Et cetera.

    "And the rest." And other similar things. Written etc.

    Latin phrase

  • Ex officio.

    "From the office." Because of the position a person holds.

    Latin phrase

  • In toto.

    "In the whole." Completely, as a whole.

    Latin phrase

  • Magnum opus.

    "Great work." The greatest work of a writer or artist.

    Latin phrase

  • Per annum.

    "By the year." For each year, as in interest per annum.

    Latin phrase

  • Per capita.

    "By heads." For each person.

    Latin phrase

  • Per cent.

    "By the hundred." Out of every hundred.

    From Latin per centum

  • Persona non grata.

    "An unwelcome person."

    Latin phrase

  • Prima facie.

    "At first sight." As it appears before closer study.

    Latin phrase

  • Pro bono.

    "For the public good." Professional work done without a fee.

    Short for pro bono publico

  • Pro rata.

    "According to the rate." In proportion.

    Latin phrase

  • Quid pro quo.

    "Something for something." A thing given in return for another.

    Latin phrase

  • Status quo.

    "The state in which." The existing state of affairs.

    Latin phrase

  • Verbatim.

    "Word for word." In exactly the same words.

    Latin word

  • Vice versa.

    "The position being reversed." The other way round.

    Latin phrase

  • Vox populi.

    "The voice of the people." Public opinion.

    Latin phrase

Abbreviations in every notebook

  • e.g. (exempli gratia)

    "For example."

    Latin abbreviation

  • i.e. (id est)

    "That is." In other words.

    Latin abbreviation

  • etc. (et cetera)

    "And the rest."

    Latin abbreviation

  • a.m. (ante meridiem)

    "Before midday."

    Latin abbreviation

  • p.m. (post meridiem)

    "After midday."

    Latin abbreviation

  • N.B. (nota bene)

    "Note well." Take special notice.

    Latin abbreviation

  • P.S. (post scriptum)

    "Written after." A note added after the end of a letter.

    Latin abbreviation

  • vs. (versus)

    "Against."

    Latin abbreviation

  • CV (curriculum vitae)

    "The course of one's life." A written record of education and work.

    Latin abbreviation

  • A.D. (anno Domini)

    "In the year of the Lord." Used with years of the common calendar.

    Latin abbreviation

  • R.I.P. (requiescat in pace)

    "May he or she rest in peace."

    Latin abbreviation

  • et al. (et alii)

    "And others." Used after the first name in a list of authors.

    Latin abbreviation

Why Latin is still everywhere

Law courts, doctors' prescriptions, scientific names of plants and animals, university degrees, mottos on school badges and the small abbreviations in every textbook: all of these still carry Latin. When you write "e.g." or "etc.", sign a letter with "P.S.", note the time as "a.m." or send a "CV", you are using Latin. Knowing what the words stand for helps you use them correctly, and is a common topic in general knowledge quizzes.

e.g. and i.e. are not the same

A quick test: if you can replace it with "for example", write e.g. If you can replace it with "in other words", write i.e. Do not put "etc." at the end of a list that began with "e.g.", since "for example" already tells the reader that the list is not complete.

How to say them

English speakers pronounce Latin phrases in an English way, and no one way is the only correct one. "Carpe diem" is usually said "KAR-pay DEE-em", "veni, vidi, vici" as "VAY-nee, VEE-dee, VEE-chee" or "WAY-nee, WEE-dee, WEE-kee", and "et cetera" as "et SET-er-uh". In speech, use them sparingly: a Latin phrase should make your point clearer, not harder to follow.

Using a Latin motto

Many schools, colleges, regiments and families have Latin mottos, and they are popular for class mottos, yearbooks and farewell pages. Choose a short one, give its meaning beside it, and check the spelling letter by letter, because a small slip changes the grammar. The sayings below marked with an author can be quoted with the author's name. The everyday phrases have no author at all.

Good to know

Questions

What does carpe diem mean?

"Seize the day", or more exactly "pluck the day". It is from a poem by the Roman poet Horace, who advises making use of today and not counting on tomorrow.

What is the full form of e.g. and i.e.?

e.g. is exempli gratia, "for example". i.e. is id est, "that is".

What do a.m. and p.m. stand for?

Ante meridiem, "before midday", and post meridiem, "after midday".

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