Latin was a fun addition to our school curriculum this year. Though Latin is no longer spoken as a native language, there are many benefits to studying Latin including improved language skills (numerous languages—including English—derive a significant amount of their grammar from Latin) and an increased appreciation for Western literature, history, and culture. Approximately 50-60% of English words are derived from Latin, and many Latin phrases are so naturalized that we hardly recognize their Latin origins when we come across them.

The Latin guide we used for school this year introduced us to many Latin expressions. Most of these were familiar, but it was fascinating to learn the exact translations and origins of these fairly common words and phrases. I had so much fun with this aspect of our Latin study that I wanted to share the expressions here.

1. cogito ergo sum — I think, therefore I am. (The phrase comes from French philosopher René Descartes, who reasoned that by his own act of doubting he could be sure of his own existence.)

2. vacate et scire — be still and know

3. et cetera — and the rest or and so on

4. i.e. (short for id est.) — that is to say or in other words

5. e.g. (short for exempli gratia) — for the sake of an example

6. memento vivere — remember to live

7. A.M. (ante meridiem) — before midday

7b. P.M. (post meridiem) — after the middle of the day

8. per capita — by heads (used to show how something averages out on a person-by-person basis)

9. non sequitur — it does not follow (when a conclusion drawn from the facts presented is not logically supported by the facts)

10. carpe diem — seize the day (literally pluck the day; this phrase comes from a poetry line that reads pluck the day, entrusting as little as possible in the future.)

11. semper fideles — always faithful

12. semper paratus —nalways prepared

13. ad hoc — for this purpose

14. cave canem — beware of the dog

15. caveat emptor — let the buyer beware

16. A. D. (anno domini) — in the year of the Lord (Its counterpart B. C. is an abbreviation of the expression before Christ and is NOT Latin. This system of dating, with years reckoned from the date of Jesus’ birth, was invented in Rome in the sixth century by the monk Dionysius Exiguus and was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church in the tenth century.)

17. ex libris — out of the books or from the library of (also a synonym for bookplate)

18. summa cum laude — with highest praise

19. magna cum laude — with great praise

20. salutatorian (from the greek salutare) — one who greets (since the salutatorian traditionally is the first person to speak at a graduation ceremony)

21. valedictorian (from the Latin roots valē and dictus) — one who says goodbye (since the valedictorian usually gives the final speech of a graduation ceremony)

22. alumnus — nursling or foster child (used to refer to a graduate or former student of a school)

23. alma mater — nurturing mother (refers to the college or university from which a person graduated)

24. N.B. (nota bene) — take note!

25. bona fide — in good faith or genuinely

26. e pluribus unum — out of many, one (appears on the Great Seal of the United States and on the $1 bill and probably means one nation out of many peoples or one country made up of many states; this was the traditional motto of the United States until it was changed to “In God We Trust” in 1956)

27. annuit coeptīs — smile on or approve (also appears on the Great Seal of the United Sates and on the $1 bill and refers to God)

28. novus ordo seclorum — a new order of the ages (also appears on the Great Seal of the United Sates and on the $1 bill)

Bonus: P.S. (post scripturum)—after that which has been written

Have you studied Latin? If so, I would love to hear about your experience. Our family will be continuing with our Latin studies in the coming years and I’m looking forward to learning more!