Latin phrases are common in the English language. In fact some of them are so deeply entrenched we think of them as English.
Here are Thirteen Latin Phrases
1. Curriculum vitae – a history of work and school qualifications.
2. Carpe diem – seize the day!
3. Circa – approximately
4. Versus – against. Often abbreviated to v or vs
5. Status quo – the existing state of affairs
6. Modus operandi – method of operation
7. Ergo – therefore
8. Post mortem – after death
9. Terra firma – solid ground
10. Persona non grata – an unwelcome person
11. Stet – let it stand. Most writers know this one.
12. In flagrante delicto – caught in the act. Often used in relation to sex.
13.Veni, vidi, vici – I came, I saw, I conquered. Said b y Julius Caesar after a rebellion in Greece.
Source: The Dangerous Book for Boys (NZ Edition) by Gonn Iggulden & Hal Iggulden
Are you familiar with these? Can you add any others?
Wow. I’ve used these so often, I’d forgotten they were Latin. It’s funny how we adopt words as part of our native vocabulary.
by Maria Zannini October 13th, 2011 at 5:28 amIt’s always crazy to realize how much of our language is pieced together from other languages.
by Sidney October 13th, 2011 at 6:32 amCool TT!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
by Paige Tyler October 13th, 2011 at 7:51 amI didn’t realize that number eight was Latin. Interesting! Thanks for this.
by Darla October 13th, 2011 at 8:22 amYou mean it’s not all English? Oh.
by Alice Audrey October 13th, 2011 at 8:31 amI love these posts! (I’m such a language geek!)
Happy TT!
by Kimberly Menozzi October 13th, 2011 at 9:43 amThis was a fun post. I love Latin though I never studied it. Maybe I should find an online course…
by Lydia K October 13th, 2011 at 9:58 amFun post, Shelley! And drat it, now I’m wanting to watch Dead Poets Society again. Carpe…Carpe Diem… :)
by Heather October 13th, 2011 at 11:36 amThe last one is the name of restaurant in Fresno.
Janice~
by Janice Seagraves October 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pmThis list is like a humbling reminder of how our world, our language, the the way we communicate has changed and yet, in some ways, stayed the same.
by Angela Brown October 13th, 2011 at 1:44 pmAll of them still sound Latin to me, but I’m strange that way! :)
Although Versus and Post Mortem are the two I would likely not have come up with if asked for Latin phrases in daily English, especially versus!
Happy T13,
~Xakara
by Xakara October 13th, 2011 at 4:20 pmFood For Breast Health
Great list, Shelley! I only recognized three of them. LOL I really need to study up on other languages. :) Happy Thursday!
by Stephanie Adkins October 13th, 2011 at 4:37 pmSome of these surprised me too. I recognized all the words but had no idea they were actually Latin.
by Shelley Munro October 13th, 2011 at 7:21 pmI’m familiar with a few of them. Thanks for sharing Shelley.
by angel October 13th, 2011 at 8:23 pmLOL! The only one I didn’t know was stet. What kind of writer does that make me?
by Robin L. Rotham October 13th, 2011 at 11:37 pmI think it’s interesting that a language that is that old still has words we use today.
by Jennifer Leeland October 14th, 2011 at 4:23 amIt’s fascinating that we’ve incorporated them into our daily language.
Great TT, Shelley.
I only recognized Carpe diem..and only because one of my friends had it in her forum signature.
by Mary Kirkland October 15th, 2011 at 7:37 amSo many of these we use everyday and I had no idea they were Latin.
by Sandra Cox October 15th, 2011 at 2:01 pm