Latin Phrases

Sanctum sanctorum

"Holiest of the Holy".

In media res

"In the middle of things".

De facto

In Latin this means "from the fact" and in use in English it is often used to distinguish was is supposed to be the case from what is actually the reality.

Alea jacta est

"The die is cast" or there is no going back.

Cum grano salis

"With a grain of salt" or don't take it seriously.

Magna cum laude

"With great honor".

Summa cum laude

"With highest honor".

Ibidem

Another abbreviated term, this word is more commonly seen in research writing in the form of "ibid." From the Latin for "in the same place" it is found in footnotes and bibliographies to designate that the same source has been cited twice in succession.

Ex libris

Back in the days when books were rarer and more expensive commodities than they were today, it was common to mark your books with a label bearing your own name and this phrase which means "from the library of." While not as common today, some true bibliophiles still use the labels.

Alter ego

Cicero coined this term, most likely taken from the Greek, to mean "a second self" or "another I" and its modern meaning hasn't changed much today.

Et cetera

Few out there aren't familiar with this term but may not know it as well when it's spelled out like this and not abbreviated as etc. Meaning "and the others" it is used to denote that a list of things could continue ad infinitum (see below for definition) and that for the sake of brevity it's better to just wrap things up with a simple etc.

Sic

Found in writing, this Latin word most commonly finds a home in brackets when quoting a statement or writing. It indicates that there is a spelling or grammar error (or just something out of the ordinary) in the original quotation and that the publication has only reproduced it faithfully, not made an error of their own.

Status quo

From the Latin meaning "the state in which" this term is used today to designate the existing state or condition of things.

Vice versa

From the Latin meaning "to change" or "turn around," this term means to reverse the order of something.

Persona non grata

From the Latin meaning an "unacceptable person" this term designates someone who's no longer welcome in a social or business situation.

Alma mater

If you don't know this term already, you'll become quite familiar with it once you graduate from college. The literal translation is "dear/bountiful mother" but you'll find it used in everyday language to denote the college or university from which one has graduated.

Verbatim

If you repeat something _________ you repeat it in exactly the same words, word for word with no changes and no improvisation.

Mea culpa

If you want to admit your own guilt or wrongdoing in a situation, use this Latin phrase that translates literally to "my fault." It's a bit like a fancier, less outdated way of saying "my bad."

Quasi

In Latin, this word means as if or as though and in English it is used as both an adjective in its own right and as a part of a compound word. It simply designates something that resembles something else but doesn't quite have all the same features.

Deus ex machina

In direct translation, this term means, "God out of a machine" and it harkens back ancient Greek and Roman plays. When the plot would become too tangled or confusing, the writers would simply bring in God, lowered in via a pulley system (the machine) and he would wrap it all up. Today, it's still used in literature to describe a plot where an artificial or improbable means of resolving a conflict is used.

Per se

The direct translation of this term is "by itself" and it means just that when used in English as well.

Tabula rasa

This Latin phrase means "clean slate" and denotes something or someone not affected by experiences and impressions.

Terra firma

Those who hate to fly or get seriously seasick will be able to put this term to good use. It means firm ground, and you might be thanking your lucky stars to be back on it after a trip through the air or rough waters.

Magnum opus

Whether it's in writing, painting, sculpture or music, this Latin term denotes the greatest work done by an artist-- a true masterpiece.

Bona fide

While it's literal translation means "good faith" this term has a few different shades of meaning in modern language. In legal terms, it is used to represent something that is presented without deception or fraud, or literally in good faith, honest, sincere and lawful. It is more commonly used to mean something that's the real deal or truly authentic.

Ad infinitum

You might be able to guess what this phrase means simply through its similarity to the word we use in English. It means "to infinity" and can be used to describe something that goes on, seemingly or actually endlessly, as some students might feel about certain classes.

Exempli gratia

You'll often see this term abbreviated to e.g. in writing. It means "for the sake of example" and when it see it in a sentence you can expect that is will be followed by some examples.

Et alii

You're unlikely to encounter this Latin phrase in its unabbreviated form, and will most likely only ever see it as et al when included. This is also a term that is found in footnotes and bibliographies which allows writers to refer to a large number of authors without having to write each name out.

Id est

You've likely seen this term in writing before, even if you weren't aware as it is commonly abbreviated to i.e. In Latin, it means "that is" and is used in English when the speaker or writer wants to give an example or explanation that specifies a statement.