Common Latin Expressions in Modern Language

Common Latin Phrases and Expressions

• Access: Approaching.
• Alea iacta est: The die is cast (luck is thrown).
• Audentes fortuna iuvat: Fortune favors the bold.
• Ars longa, vita brevis: Art is long, life is short.
• Cedant arma togae: Let the weapons yield to the toga.
• Carthago delenda est: Carthage must be destroyed.
• Dura lex sed lex: The law is harsh, but it is the law.
• Deficit: An economic term to denote a passive balance or losses.
• Ex aequo: Equally.
• Ex professo: Expressly.
• Ex cathedra: Used when someone speaks with great authority or very cultured language.
• Tempus fugit: Time flies, unrecoverable.
• Habitat: The natural environment that determines where a species lives.
• Homo homini lupus: Man is a wolf to man.
• In dubio pro reo: When in doubt, favor the accused.
• In vino veritas: In wine, there is truth.
• In extremis: At the last moment.
• Ipso facto: By the fact itself.
• Lapsus calami: An error in writing (from lapsus meaning failure and calamus meaning reed for writing).
• Lapsus linguae: An error in speaking (from lapsus meaning failure and lingua meaning language).
• Motu proprio: Willingly, voluntarily.
• Maremagnum: Confusion or a great sea.
• Memorandum: A document written to remember something.
• Nulla dies sine linea: No day without a line.
• Numerus clausus: A limited number of vacancies in schools, universities, or other institutions.
• Non plus ultra: Nothing further beyond.
• Opera prima: The first work of an author.
• Quorum: The minimum number of members present at a meeting necessary for the validity of decisions.
• Ratio: An index that indicates the comparison between different related elements.
• Referendum: A public vote to approve or reject political agreements.
• Surplus: An economic term indicating an excess of income over expenditure.
• Status quo: From status (situation) and quo (in which); it means the current state of things.
• Sine die: Without a certain date.
• Stricto sensu: In the strict sense.
• Sub iudice: Under trial.
• Si vis pacem, para bellum: If you want peace, prepare for war.
• Sic transit gloria mundi: So passes the glory of the world.
• Sit tibi terra levis: May the earth be light upon you.
• Verba volant, scripta manent: Words fly, writings remain.
• Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered.

Additional Latin Terms and Legal Concepts

• Referendum: Making the people vote to approve or reject political agreements.
• Surplus: An economic term indicating an excess of income over expenditure.
• Status quo: From status (situation) and quo (in which); it means the current state of things.
• Sine die: Without a certain date.
• Stricto sensu: In the strict sense.
• Sub iudice: Under trial.
• Si vis pacem, para bellum: If you want peace, prepare for war.
• Sic transit gloria mundi: So passes the glory of the world.
• Sit tibi terra levis: May the earth be light upon you.
• Verba volant, scripta manent: Words fly, writings remain.
• Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered.