Despite my Latin professor having been struck by lightning twice (true story) I learned quite a bit from him, so know first hand what an asset Latin is to study. Not only has it allowed me to read the original works of renowned poets such as Ovid and Vergil but it’s helped immensely with other languages, whether it be French, Italian or my own native English.
After all, there is a reason they are called Latin languages i.e. romance languages. “Romance” means they originated from a language spoken by Romans. The root words of these languages often trace back to the original Latin words.
For example the Latin word “nova” means “new” and is used to create the english words “novice,” “novel” or “novelty.”
There are also Latin phrases that have made it into our everyday language. For example” i.e.” used earlier in this article stands for “id est” meaning “that is” or “in other words.” Latin also provides the root words for modern science, law, theology and government.
By gaining a basic knowledge of Latin roots, prefixes and phrases you are able to decipher and learn what a word means even if it’s complex or you have never heard it before.
It also just makes you sound incredibly smart. I highly suggest memorizing the following list.
It’s not hard to do and once it’s engrained in your memory I guarantee there will be numerous times when it will come in handy and make you feel like the most intelligent person in the room.
HOMEWORK: Select your favorite Latin word or phrase and share it in the comments below.
Latin Abbreviations
A.D. (anno domino): in the year of the Lord- ad inf., ad infin. (ad infinitum): to infinity, forever
- ad int. (ad interim): in the meantime
- A.M. (ante meridian): before midday, before noon
- c. (cum): with
- e.g. (exempli gratis): for example
- et al. (et alii, et alia): and other things
- etc. (et cetera): and the rest, and so forth
- ib., ibid. (ibidem): in the same place
- i.e. (id est): that is, in other words
- M.O. (modus operandi): method of operating, way of doing things
- N.B. (nota bene): note well, pay attention to
- P.M. (post meridiem): after midday, after noon
- pro tem. (pro tempore): for the time, temporarily
- P.S. (post scriptum): written after
- R. (regina, rex): Queen, King
- R.I.P. (Requiescat in pace): May he rest in peace
- S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populusque Romanus): The Senate and the Roman People
- stat. (statim): immediately
- vs. (versus): against
Latin Prefixes
- ad: towards
- ambi: both
- extra: in addition to
- exo: outside
- hyper: over
- hypo: under
- infra: below
- inter: between
- intro: within
- iso: equal
- liber: free
- macro: large
- micro: small
- mono: single
- multi: many
- omni: all
- proto: first
- poli: many
- tele: distant
- trans: across
Latin Root Words
- alter: another
- bonus: good
- corpus: body
- derma: skin
- domus: home/house
- ego: I/me
- erectus: upright
- gens: family
- homo: human
- malus: bad
- magnus: great
- nemo: nobody
- omnis: everything
- pax: peace
- qui: who
- sapiens: wise
- terra: earth
- virtus: virtue
- vivo: live
- vox: voice
Latin Phrases
- quid pro quo: something for something else
- rara avis: rare bird
- status quo: the way things are
- veni vidi vici: I came, I saw, I conquered
- tempus fugit: time flies
- summa cum laude: with highest praise
- per se: in itself, by itself
- in vino veritas: in wine there is truth
- ante bellum: before the war
- carpe diem: seize the day
- e pluribus unum: from many come one
- ad nauseam: to the point of disgust
- ab ovo: from the beginning
- ars gratia artis: art for the sake of art
- de facto: in fact
- cum grano salis: with a grain of salt
- mirabile dictu: a remarkable thing to talk about
- O Tempora! O Mores!: O’ the times! O’ the customs!
- alma mater: school, foster mother
- alumnus(m.), alumni (m. pl.), alumna (f.) alumnae (f. pl.): graduate, foster child
Photo Courtesy: telegraph.co.uk
