CJS EFL - Latin Phrases

Latin Expressions

An educated native-English speaker knows - and will occasionally use
- a number of latin expressions handed down over the centuries.

Using these appropriately will make your language
more elegant and YOU sound more educated!

ergo (therefore) the more you know the better ....

CLICK ANYWHERE LEFT TO START

SAY OUT LOUD what each latin phrase means, then hit "TOGGLE" to check.

Make a note of any you got wrong and do them AGAIN once you finish the exercise.

HINT: REPETITION is the key to learning vocabulary, so do the test:

at least twice NOW
again TOMORROW
in four days time
in a week's time
in two weeks time

Latin Expressions
a priori
??????????

Latin Expressions
a priori
reasoning or knowledge based on hypothesis, theory and assumption rather than observation, evidence and/or experience

Haller's views did not rest on a priori speculation, but on numerous experiments.

Latin Expressions
ad hoc
??????????

Latin Expressions
ad hoc
one-off - formed or used for a specific or immediate problem or need

We need to set up an ad hoc committee to deal with this unusual problem.

Latin Expressions
ad infinitum
??????????

Latin Expressions
ad infinitum
forever - to infinity - endless

Examples of human stupidity can be listed ad infinitum.

Latin Expressions
casus belli
??????????

Latin Expressions
casus belli
a cause of war and/or excuse to go to war

The shooting down of one of their planes was a casus belli for the Russians.

Latin Expressions
caveat emptor
??????????

Latin Expressions
caveat emptor
buyer beware - the buyer is responsible for making sure the purchase is legal and in working order

He found a major fault in the foundations of the house he bought, but as I told him, the private sale of houses is subject to the doctrine of caveat emptor.

Latin Expressions
compos mentis
??????????

Latin Expressions
compos mentis
of healthy mind - sane

As far as I can see, Joe Biden is not fully compos mentis.

Latin Expressions
1) per se	2) bona fide
??????????	??????????

Latin Expressions
1) per se	2) bona fide
by itself - intrinsically	in good faith/honest

Exercise per se will not necessarily bring weight loss! It was a bone fide offer.

Latin Expressions
de facto
??????????

Latin Expressions
de facto
by the very fact - something that happens in practice but is not necessarily official or legal

The City of London is becoming the de facto financial centre of Europe.

Latin Expressions
in extremis
??????????

Latin Expressions
in extremis
in a desperate or extreme situation

In future, direct payments will be reduced or even - in extremis - completely withdrawn in cases of non-compliance. Cannibalism is rare in humans, but may be resorted to in extremis: cases of extreme starvation for example.

Latin Expressions
in flagrante delicto
??????????

Latin Expressions
in flagrante delicto
caught red-handed/in the act

Her husband came home early and caught her in flagrante delicto with the neighbour!

Latin Expressions
1) in situ	2) status quo
??????????	??????????

Latin Expressions
1) in situ	2) status quo
in (its original) place	as things stand / the current situation

After the excavation was finished the mosaics and frescoes were left in situ. A good company is never content with the status quo, but always seeks to do better.

Latin Expressions
in toto
??????????

Latin Expressions
in toto
in total - in its entirety - in all - as a whole

Only a few countries have adopted the Human Rights Convention in toto.

Latin Expressions
1) ipso facto	2) Carpe diem.
??????????	??????????

Latin Expressions
1) ipso facto	2) Carpe diem.
by the/this very fact	Seize the day.

The enemy of one's enemy is ipso facto one's friend. Don't procrastinate; seize the day - you might not get another chance.

Latin Expressions
inter alia
??????????

Latin Expressions
inter alia
among other things

The museum exhibits include inter alia planes, boats and trains.

Latin Expressions
mea culpa
??????????

Latin Expressions
mea culpa
my blame - my fault - my responsibility

The magazine issued a mea culpa after they cited an incorrect statistic.

The colloquial expression "my bad" has now become popular, even among well-spoken people!

Latin Expressions
incognito
??????????

Latin Expressions
incognito
unknown - unrecognized - under cover

He hoped to pass incognito in the crowded night club.

Latin Expressions
modus operandi (M.O.)
??????????

Latin Expressions
modus operandi (M.O.)
working method

This particular thief's M.O. was to dress up as a gentlemen and seduce older women. The police often use the abbreviation M.O. as in: "What's his M.O.?"

Latin Expressions
nec plus ultra
??????????

Latin Expressions
nec plus ultra
the absolute best - apex

Oxbridge is the nec plus ultra of university education in Britain.

Latin Expressions
non sequitur
??????????

Latin Expressions
non sequitur
it doesn't follow - it's not logical

Biden's speech was a weird combination of vagueness and non sequiturs.

Latin Expressions
sine qua non
??????????

Latin Expressions
sine qua non
"without which nothing" - an essential condition

Empathy is a sine qua non for the profession of trauma counsellor.

Latin Expressions
prima facie
??????????

Latin Expressions
prima facie
at first sight

It was a prima facie suicide, but Colombo was not so sure ......

Latin Expressions
quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.)
??????????

Latin Expressions
quod erat demonstrandum (Q.E.D.)
there - that proves it - end of argument

You eat less; you lose weight - Q.E.D.

Latin Expressions
quid pro quo
??????????

Latin Expressions
quid pro quo
this for that - a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something

OK - that's doable, but what's the quid pro quo? What do I get out of it?

Latin Expressions
de jure
??????????

Latin Expressions
de jure
by law - legal (opposite of de facto)

Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to fighting for civil rights and justice for America’s black victims of de jure and de facto discrimination.

Latin Expressions
pro forma
??????????

Latin Expressions
pro forma
for the sake of appearances or form

used to describe financial results which are not final, but give an idea of what is expected before the real results are known a pro forma invoice: a list of things that have been ordered, sent with their prices to a customer so that the things can be paid for before they are delivered

Latin Expressions
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
??????????

Latin Expressions
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Who watches the watchers?

Who will protect us from those who are supposed to protect us?

Latin Expressions
sui generis
??????????

Latin Expressions
sui generis
in its own class - unique - a "one-off"

Among history's greats Leonardo da Vinci is often considered sui generis - a man of such stupendous genius that the world may never see his like again.

Latin Expressions
primus inter pares
??????????

Latin Expressions
primus inter pares
first among equals

typically used as an honorary title for someone formally equal to other members of a group but accorded unofficial respect, usually owing to their seniority in office

Latin Expressions
tempus fugit
??????????

Latin Expressions
tempus fugit
time flies

Come on! Hurry up! Tempus fugit; our plane leaves in an hour .....

Latin Expressions
Veritas vincit omnia. Amor vincit omnia.
??????????

Latin Expressions
Veritas vincit omnia. Amor vincit omnia.
Truth conquers all. - Love conquers all.