Latin is an ancient Indo-European language that spread throughout the Roman Empire, originating the Romance languages. Although today Latin might be considered a dead tongue, its legacy has endured through the ages in various fields of knowledge, from the foundations of law and medicine to religion and philosophy.
Here are the essential Latin phrases that every beginner should know. These expressions reflect the richness of the language and offer a fascinating insight into Roman civilization. Are you ready to decipher what the most famous Latin phrases in history mean? Let's get down to business! Would you like to discover why learning Latin improves your grammar and more?
What are some famous Latin phrases?
Instructions: Venture into the linguistic legacy left to us by Ancient Rome and select the correct Latin phrase for each context.
- English speakers adapted this Latin phrase as saying something is created or done for a particular purpose. For example, "We need an ___________ ___________ committee to handle this issue immediately."
- VENI, VIDI, VICI
- AD HOC
- MEA CULPA
- It stands for the Latin phrase "For the sake of example." In English, it introduces a list of examples instead of the phrase "such as."
- EXEMPLI GRATIA
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
- AD HOMINEM
- It is a popular term in psychology and the Latin equivalent of the first-person pronoun: I. It also refers to an individual's sense of self-worth or self-esteem.
- PER SE
- AD HOC
- EGO
- The Latin phrase that means "nourishing mother." In English is often used to denote the school, college, or university that one has attended or from which one has graduated.
- ALMA MATER
- VICE VERSA
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
- It is a Latin phrase that, in English, it is commonly used to indicate that two things are interchangeable.
- QUID PRO QUO
- VICE VERSA
- VENI, VIDI, VICI
- It means the "course of life" and is a detailed document highlighting your professional and academic history.
- CURRICULUM VITAE
- VENI, VIDI, VICI
- QUID PRO QUO
- A Latin phrase that means "eye-for-an-eye" and used in English as a famous saying that means "something for something."
- QUID PRO QUO
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
- AD HOC
- Latin phrase used at the end of a list to indicate that further items could be included. It literally translates to "and the rest" or "and so on."
- ET CETERA
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
- EXTRA
- A common English adjective and prefix that could also work as a preposition that means in addition, additional, or to a greater extent.
- MODUS OPERANDI
- EXTRA
- VENI, VIDI, VICI
- In Latin, it means the "method of operating." Example: "The chef's ___________ ___________ for preparing a meal always began with laying out all of the ingredients and tools needed on the counter."
- VENI, VIDI, VICI
- MODUS OPERANDI
- CARPE DIEM
- It is a common phrase used to emphasize the importance or connection of something. Example: "It was not the book ___________ ___________ that was important, but the message the author tried to get across."
- AD HOC
- EGO
- PER SE
- It is a Latin phrase that means "seize the day," made famous by the famous poet Horace. It motivates others to make the most of the present and stop worrying about the future.
- CARPE DIEM
- STATUS QUO
- ALTER EGO
- This Latin phrase translates to "the state in which" and describes an existing state of affairs, usually related to political or social issues.
- STATUS QUO
- ALTER EGO
- MODUS OPERANDI
- When a character has a secret identity or takes on more than one personality. For example, Spider-Man, who is the ___________ ___________ to Peter Parker.
- CURRICULUM VITAE
- ALTER EGO
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
- It refers to a group discussion where everyone's opinions are heard and understood to create a solution. It results in the best solution that the group can achieve at the time.
- CONSENSUS
- CURRICULUM VITAE
- COGITO, ERGO SUM
Is Latin considered a dead language?
A language is considered dead or extinct when no speaker uses it in regular communication in a community of speakers. There are three main processes by which a language dies:
- Linguistic substitution or shift;
- Linguistic evolution or shift;
- The disappearance of speakers due to physical factors: diseases or catastrophes, economic factors, or socio-political factors: wars, repression, or discrimination, among others.
Some examples are Elamite, Hittite, Akkadian, Classical Chinese, Ancient Sanskrit, Classical Egyptian, Ancient Greek, and Latin. And at least 43% of the 6,000 languages spoken in the world are in danger of disappearing.
Although Latin is sometimes considered a dead language, it is essential to note that until the 17th century, it was an essential part of the international scientific community. And today, the Vatican continues to use it in its official documents and, for example, Christian theology. Latin could still be considered a living tongue because it is used in sciences such as biology and legal terminology, and many Latin expressions are still used daily.
Why is Latin no longer used?
The term "dead language" refers to a tongue with no speakers, particularly if it has no descendants. Here are some reasons why Latin could be considered a dead language:
- Lack of native speakers: Latin was spoken by the ancient Romans; however, the political crisis, the tension, and the succession of various emperors led to the collapse of the Empire in 476. After the fall of the Roman Empire, written Latin was still used for several centuries; however, its decline was eminent, leading to the emergence of vulgar forms of the language and the future Romance languages.
- Evolution into other tongues: The spread of the Roman Empire resulted in the fragmentation of Vulgar Latin, giving rise to various dialects and subsequently to different languages, such as Italian, French, and Spanish. Today, the number of Romance languages is more than 20, although only 6 have several million speakers worldwide.
- Limited use of the language: Although Latin ceased to be spoken, it continued to be used for many centuries as a lingua franca, which functioned as a vehicle of communication when more than one language was possible in the fields of education, science, philosophy, religion, and diplomacy in Europe. However, the use of Latin ceased in everyday life.
In short, although Latin is no longer spoken as a mother tongue by any community in the world, its legacy and influence will endure in humanity through time. Would you like to know more about Latin grammar for beginners?
Where can you learn more about Latin in Canada?
If you are living in Canada and you feel curious about learning Latin language? Have you thought about private tutoring to learn more about Latin? You can always seek private tutoring to excel in studying anything you have in mind. Proper learning reinforcement will be achieved with the best Latin tutors and by integrating the study methods that are more convenient for you.
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Where can you start?
- Go to the Superprof Canada site.
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- And last but not least, click on "Book a class!"
- Start the best Latin journey with the best Latin tutors in Canada!
Five good reasons to look for a Latin Tutor!
Well, it is always possible for you to learn Latin by yourself. However, do you want to discover which are the benefits of having a private tutor from Superprof?
- Choose the perfect match. Select the profile of the private tutor you like the most and go through their qualifications and experience to choose the one that best suits you.
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Answers! Discover the meaning of the most famous Latin phrases!
- AD HOC
- EXEMPLI GRATIA
- EGO
- ALMA MATER
- VICE VERSA
- CURRICULUM VITAE
- QUID PRO QUO
- ET CETERA
- EXTRA
- MODUS OPERANDI
- PER SE
- CARPE DIEM
- STATUS QUO
- ALTER EGO
- CONSENSUS
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