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.
Great list. I am always intrigued re how far back our words go. Was just looking into the word "metaphor" and found that the "phor" part goes back all the way to the PIE days 5000ya when it mean "to bear or carry" - as regarding a child.
I'd be interested in such a list that address old Anglo-Saxon words .
Love this I study Latin intermittently when I need a good humbling experience.