Latin Words that are Commonly Used in Modern English

(with a little help from ChatGPT as a research assistant)

*Please keep in mind that GPT has been known to “hallucinate” occasionally. Please let me know if any of this seems inaccurate.

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A cappella: Singing without instrumental accompaniment.

Ad nauseam: To the point of nausea; often used to describe something repeated too much.

Alma mater: The school, college, or university that one attended.

Alumni: Graduates or former students of a particular school or college.

Bona fide: In good faith; genuine.

Carpe diem: Seize the day; make the most of the present moment.

Caveat: A warning or caution.

Circa: Approximately; about.

Credo: A set of beliefs or guiding principles.

Crescendo: A gradual increase in loudness or intensity, often used metaphorically.

Cul-de-sac: A dead-end street or a situation with no way forward.

Cumulative: Accumulated or increasing by successive additions.

De facto: In fact; in reality.

Enigma: A mysterious or puzzling situation; something difficult to understand.

Et cetera (etc.): And so on; and others.

Ergo: Therefore; used to indicate logical consequence.

Ex nihilo: Out of nothing; created from scratch.

Faux pas: A social blunder or mistake.

Fiduciary: A person or entity entrusted with managing assets or funds on behalf of another.

Gratis: Without charge; free of cost.

Habeas corpus: A legal order requiring a person to be brought before a court or judge.

In loco parentis: In the place of a parent; often used in educational settings.

In medias res: In the middle of things; starting a narrative in the middle of the action.

Interim: In the meantime; meanwhile.

Ignoramus: A person who is ignorant or lacks knowledge.

Ipso facto: By the very fact; as a result of the action itself.

Lien: A legal right or interest in another's property until a debt is paid.

Magnum opus: A great work, especially the most significant achievement of an artist or writer.

Memento mori: Remember that you will die; a reminder of human mortality.

Modus operandi (M.O.): Method of operation; a person's usual way of doing things.

Non sequitur: It does not follow; a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument.

Per capita: Per person; used to express rates or averages on an individual basis.

Per se: In itself; inherently.

Persona: A person's perceived or outward personality.

Postmortem: After death; also used to refer to a review or analysis conducted after an event.

Pro rata: In proportion; according to a specific rate or proportion.

Quasi: As if; resembling; somewhat.

Quid pro quo: Something given in exchange for something else.

Securities: Financial instruments representing ownership or debt.

Status quo: The existing state of affairs.

Subpoena: A legal order requiring someone to attend a court proceeding or produce evidence.

Tabula rasa: A blank slate; referring to the idea that something is unmarked or uninfluenced.

Tempo: The speed or pace at which something progresses.

Ultimatum: A final demand or statement of terms.

Vesting: The granting or bestowing of authority or power.

Vicinity: The area near or surrounding a particular place.

Versatile: Capable of adapting to various tasks or functions.

Versus (vs.): Against; in contrast to.

Veto: A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Vice versa: The other way around; in reverse order.

Vox populi: The voice of the people; public opinion.

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There are many Latin words that native English speakers use regularly without consciously recognizing their Latin origins. Some examples may surprise you:

Avenue: Derived from "avenire" (to come to), meaning a way of approach or access.

Balcony: From "balcone" in Italian, ultimately coming from the Latin "balcus" (scaffolding).

Companion: Originating from "companionem" in Latin, meaning one who shares bread with another.

Doctor: From "doctor" in Latin, meaning teacher or instructor.

Exit: Comes from the Latin verb "exire," meaning to go out.

Facility: Derived from "facilis" in Latin, meaning easy to do.

Giraffe: From the Arabic word "zarāfa," which has roots in the Latin "giraffa."

Incognito: Meaning in disguise or using a false identity, from the Latin "incognitus" (unknown).

Jovial: Derived from "Jovialis," pertaining to the Roman god Jupiter, associated with joy and joviality.

Library: From "libraria" in Latin, meaning bookshop.

Maternity: Coming from the Latin "maternitas," meaning motherhood.

Nausea: From the Latin "nausea," meaning seasickness.

Omnipotent: Derived from "omnipotens" in Latin, meaning all-powerful.

Pacify: From "pacificare" in Latin, meaning to make peace.

Refrigerate: From "refrigerare" in Latin, meaning to make cool or cold.

Solar: Pertaining to the sun, from the Latin "solaris."

Tentacle: Derived from "tentaculum" in Latin, meaning a feeler or a probe.

Ultimate: Coming from "ultimus" in Latin, meaning the last or furthest.

Vaccine: From "vaccinus" in Latin, meaning pertaining to cows, as the first vaccines were developed using cowpox.

Zone: From "zona" in Latin, meaning belt or girdle.

Accordion: From the German word "Akkordion," which is derived from the Latin "acchordium."

Crisis: From the Greek "krisis," influenced by the Latin "crisis," meaning a decisive moment.

Biscuit: Derived from the Latin "bis coctus," meaning twice-baked.

Cello: Shortened from "violoncello," where "violone" is Italian for a large viol, and "cello" means small.

Fascinate: From the Latin "fascinare," meaning to bewitch or enchant.

Agenda: The plural of "agendum" in Latin, meaning things to be done.

Census: From the Latin "censere," meaning to assess or estimate.

Navy: Derived from the Latin "navis," meaning ship.

Flamboyant: From the Old French "flambe," influenced by the Latin "flamma," meaning flame.

Gymnasium: From the Greek "gymnasion," influenced by the Latin "gymnasium."

Inflammable: Meaning easily set on fire, from the Latin "inflammare."

Caucus: From the Algonquian language, via the Latin "caucus," meaning a meeting or gathering.

Irritate: From the Latin "irritare," meaning to excite or provoke.

Nostril: From the Old English word "nosthyrl," influenced by the Latin "naris," meaning nose.

Quart: From the Middle English "quarte," influenced by the Latin "quartus," meaning fourth.

Radius: In anatomy, the bone on the thumb side of the forearm, from the Latin "radius."

Semester: From the Latin "semestris," meaning six months.

Versatile: Derived from "versatilis" in Latin, meaning turning easily.

Anniversary: From the Latin "anniversarius," meaning returning yearly.

Circulate: From the Latin "circulatus," meaning to move in a circle.

Fact: A statement that can be proven to be true; from Latin "factum," meaning something done.

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Have any to add to these lists? Please leave a note in the comments.