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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.

Note: Please don't mail us with requests for translations to/from Latin - we don't do Latin translations.

A cappella	[Music] in church [style], i.e. unacompanied voices.
A priori	From what comes before.
Ad absurdum	To the point of absurdity.
Ad hoc	For this purpose.
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.
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 ('enjoy the day, pluck it when it is ripe').
Caveat emptor	Let the buyer beware.
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.
Et tu, Brute	And you, Brutus.
Ex libris	'Out of the books', i.e. 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.
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.
Modus operandi (m.o.)	Mode of operating.
Nolens volens	Willingly or unwillingly (see also, willy-nilly).
Post partum	After childbirth.
Prima facie	At first sight; on the face of it.
Pro bono	Without charge - for the public good.
Opus Dei	The work of God.
Quid pro quo	Something for something, i.e. 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.
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.
Vox populi	The voice of the people.

See also - French phrases in English.