January Cool Latin Words that will Make You Sound Smarter
– Cool Latin Words –
We can find cool Latin words all over the place from mottos to car stickers and so if you’re looking for some Cool Latin words and sayings to use yourself, then you’ve come to the right place.
Latin is a beautiful Romance language from which many of our languages in Europe stem today.
Well Selected Cool Latin Words for You
Below we’ve put together a list of Latin words and phrases to help pique your interest in learning this classical language.
This list isn’t exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination. We’ve included some of the most common Latin words and phrases that you still see today, which are helpful to know in boosting your all-around cultural literacy.
We’ve also included some particularly virile sayings, aphorisms, and mottos that can inspire greatness or remind us of important truths.
Perhaps you’ll find a Latin phrase that you can adopt as your personal motto. Semper Virilis!
1. a posteriori — from the latter; knowledge or justification is dependent on experience or empirical evidence
2. a priori — from what comes before; knowledge or justification is independent of experience
3. acta non verba — deeds, not words
4. ad hoc — to this — improvised or made up – Cool Latin Words
5. ad hominem — to the man; below-the-belt personal attack rather than a reasoned argument
6. ad honorem — for honor
7. ad infinitum — to infinity
8. ad nauseam — used to describe an argument that has been taking place to the point of nausea
9. ad victoriam — to victory; more commonly translated into “for victory,” this was a battle cry of the Romans
10. alea iacta est — the die has been cast
11. alias — at another time; an assumed name or pseudonym
12. alibi — elsewhere
13. alma mater — nourishing mother; used to denote one’s college/university
14. amor patriae — love of one’s country
15. amor vincit omnia — love conquers all
16. annuit cœptis –He (God) nods at things being begun; or “he approves our undertakings,” motto on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States and on the back of the United States one-dollar bill
17. ante bellum — before the war; commonly used in the Southern United States as antebellum to refer to the period preceding the American Civil War
18. ante meridiem — before noon; A.M., used in timekeeping
19. aqua vitae — water of life; used to refer to various native distilled beverages, such as whisky (uisge beatha) in Scotland and Ireland, gin in Holland, and brandy (eau de vie) in France
20. arte et marte — by skill and valour
21. astra inclinant, sed non obligant — the stars incline us, they do not bind us; refers to the strength of free will over astrological determinism
22. audemus jura nostra defendere — we dare to defend our rights; state motto of Alabama
23. audere est facere — to dare is to do
24. audio — I hear
25. aurea mediocritas — golden mean; refers to the ethical goal of reaching a virtuous middle ground between two sinful extremes
26. auribus teneo lupum — I hold a wolf by the ears; a common ancient proverb; indicates that one is in a dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go could be deadly; a modern version is, “to have a tiger by the tail”
27. aut cum scuto aut in scuto — either with shield or on shield; do or die, “no retreat”; said by Spartan mothers to their sons as they departed for battle
28. aut neca aut necare — either kill or be killed
29. aut viam inveniam aut faciam — I will either find a way or make one; said by Hannibal, the great ancient military commander
30. barba non facit philosophum — a beard doesn’t make one a philosopher
31. bellum omnium contra omnes — war of all against all
32. bis dat qui cito dat — he gives twice, who gives promptly; a gift given without hesitation is as good as two gifts
33. bona fide — good faith
34. bono malum superate — overcome evil with good
35. carpe diem — seize the day
36. caveat emptor — let the buyer beware; the purchaser checks whether the goods suit his need
37. circa — around, or approximately
38. citius altius forties — faster, higher, stronger; modern Olympics motto
39. cogito ergo sum — “I think therefore I am”; famous quote by Rene Descartes
40. contemptus mundi/saeculi — scorn for the world/times; despising the secular world, the monk or philosopher’s rejection of a mundane life and worldly values
41. corpus christi — body of Christ
42. corruptissima re publica plurimae leges — when the republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous; said by Tacitus
43. creatio ex nihilo — creation out of nothing; a concept about creation, often used in a theological or philosophical context
44. cura te ipsum — take care of your own self; an exhortation to physicians, or experts in general, to deal with their own problems before addressing those of others – Cool Latin Words
45. curriculum vitae — the course of one’s life; in business, a lengthened resume
46. de facto — from the fact; distinguishing what’s supposed to be from what is reality
47. deo volente — God willing
48. deus ex machina — God out of a machine; They resolved a term meaning a conflict in implausible ways.
49. dictum factum — what is said is done
50. disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus — learn as if you’re always going to live; live as if tomorrow you’re going to die
51. discendo discimus — while teaching we learn
52. docendo disco, scribendo cogito — I learn by teaching, think by writing
53. ductus exemplo — leadership by example
54. ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt — the fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling; attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca
55. dulce bellum inexpertis — war is sweet to the inexperienced
56. dulce et decorum est pro patria mori — it is sweet and fitting to die for your country
57. dulcius ex asperis — sweeter after difficulties
58. e pluribus unum — out of many, one; on the U.S. seal, and was once the country’s de facto motto
59. emeritus — veteran; retired from office
60. ergo — therefore
61. et alii — and others; abbreviated et al.
62. et cetera — and the others
63. et tu, Brute? — last words of Caesar after being murdered by friend Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, used today to convey utter betrayal
64. ex animo — from the heart; thus, “sincerely”
65. ex libris — from the library of; to mark books from a library
66. ex nihilo — out of nothing
67. ex post facto — from a thing done afterward; said of a law with retroactive effect
68. faber est suae quisque fortunae — every man is the artisan of his own fortune; quote by Appius Claudius Caecus
69. fac fortia et patere — do brave deeds and endure
70. fac simile — make alike; origin of the word “fax”
71. flectere si nequeo superos, acheronta movebo — if I cannot move heaven I will raise hell; from Virgil’s Aeneid
72. fortes fortuna adiuvat — fortune favors the bold
73. fortis in arduis — strong in difficulties
74. gloria in excelsis Deo — glory to God in the highest
75. habeas corpus — you should have the body; a legal term from the 14th century or earlier; commonly used as the general term for a prisoner’s right to challenge the legality of their detention
76. habemus papam — we have a pope; used after a Catholic Church papal election to announce publicly a successful ballot to elect a new pope
77. historia vitae magistra — history, the teacher of life; from Cicero; also “history is the mistress of life”
78. hoc est bellum — this is war
79. homo unius libri (timeo) — (I fear) a man of one book; attributed to Thomas Aquinas
80. honor virtutis praemium — esteem is the reward of virtue
81. hostis humani generis — enemy of the human race; Cicero defined pirates in Roman law as being enemies of humanity in general – Cool Latin Words
82. humilitas occidit superbiam — humility conquers pride
83. igne natura renovatur integra — through fire, nature is reborn whole
84. ignis aurum probat — fire tests gold; a phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances
85. in absentia — in the absence
86. in aqua sanitas — in water there is health
87. in flagrante delicto — in flaming crime; caught red-handed, or in the act
88. in memoriam — into the memory; more commonly “in memory of”
89. in omnia paratus — ready for anything
90. in situ — in position; something that exists in an original or natural state
91. in toto — in all or entirely
92. in umbra, igitur, pugnabimus — then we will fight in the shade; made famous by Spartans in the battle of Thermopylae and by the movie 300
93. in utero — in the womb
94. in vitro — in glass; biological process that occurs in the lab
95. incepto ne desistam — may I not shrink from my purpose
96. intelligenti pauca — few words suffice for he who understands
97. invicta — unconquered
98. invictus maneo — I remain unvanquished
99. ipso facto — by the fact itself; something is true by its very nature
100. labor omnia vincit — hard work conquers all – Cool Latin Words
101. laborare pugnare parati sumus — to work, (or) to fight; we are ready
102. labore et honore — by labor and honor
103. leges sine moribus vanae — laws without morals [are] vain
104. lux brumalis — Directly translated, “lux brumalis” means “the light of winter.” There’s no corresponding English word.
However, everyone who has noticed the way light changes with the seasons can understand the beauty and usefulness of this term.
105. lex parsimoniae — law of succinctness; also known as Occam’s Razor; the simplest explanation is usually the correct one
106. lex talionis — the law of retaliation – Cool Latin Words
107. magna cum laude — with great praise
108. magna est vis consuetudinis — great is the power of habit
109. magnum opus — great work; said of someone’s masterpiece
110. mala fide — in bad faith; said of an act done with the knowledge of its illegality, or with the intention to defraud or mislead someone; opposite to bona fide
111. malum in se — wrong; a legal term meaning that something is inherently wrong
112. malum prohibitum — wrong due to being prohibited; a legal term meaning that something is only wrong because it is against the law
113. mea culpa — my fault
114. meliora — better things; carrying the connotation of “always better” – Cool Latin Words
115. memento mori — remember that [you will] die; was whispered by a servant into the ear of a victorious Roman general to check his pride as he paraded through cheering crowds after a victory; a genre of art meant to remind the viewer of the reality of his death
116. memento vivere — remember to live
117. memores acti prudentes future — mindful of what they have done, aware of what will be
118. modus operandi — method of operating; abbreviated M.O.
119. montani semper liberi — mountaineers [are] always free; state motto of West Virginia
120. morior invictus — death before defeat
121. morituri te salutant — those who are about to die salute you; popularized as a standard salute from gladiators to the emperor, but only recorded once in Roman history
122. morte magis metuenda senectus — old age should rather be feared than death
123. mulgere hircum — to milk a male goat; to attempt the impossible
124. multa paucis — say much in few words
125. nanos gigantum humeris insidentes — dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants; commonly known by the letters of Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
126. nec aspera terrent — they don’t terrify the rough ones; frightened by no difficulties; less literally “difficulties be damned” – Cool Latin Words
127. nec temere nec timide — neither reckless nor timid
128. nil volentibus arduum — nothing [is] arduous for the willing
129. nolo contendere — I do not wish to contend; that is, “no contest”; a plea that can be entered on behalf of a defendant in a court that states that the accused doesn’t admit guilt, but will accept punishment for a crime
130. non ducor, duco — I am not led; I lead
131. non loqui sed facere — not talk but action
132. non progredi est regredi — to not go forward is to go backward
133. non scholae, sed vitae discimus — we learn not for school, but for life; from Seneca
134. non sequitur — it does not follow; in general, a comment which is absurd due to not making sense in its context (rather than due to being inherently nonsensical or internally inconsistent); often used in humor
136. non sum qualis eram — I am not such as I was; or “I am not the kind of person I once was”
137. nosce te ipsum — know thyself; from Cicero
138. novus ordo seclorum — new order of the ages; from Virgil; motto on the Great Seal of the United States – Cool Latin Words
139. nulla tenaci invia est via — for the tenacious, no road is impassable
140. obliti privatorum, publica curate — forget private affairs, take care of public ones; Roman political saying which reminds that common good should be given priority over private matters for any person having a responsibility in the State
141. panem et circenses — bread and circuses; originally described all that was needed for emperors to placate the Roman mob; today used to describe any entertainment used to distract public attention from more important matters
142. para bellum — prepare for war; if you want peace, prepare for war; if a country is ready for war, its enemies are less likely to attack
143. parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus — when you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things; sometimes translated as, “once you have accomplished small things, you may attempt great ones safely”
144. pater familias — father of the family; the eldest male in a family
145. pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; si nescis, domina — if you know how to use money, money is your slave; if you don’t, money is your master
146. per angusta ad augusta — through difficulties to greatness
147. per annum — by the year
148. per capita — by the person
148. per diem — by the day
149. per se — through itself
150. persona non grata — person not pleasing; an unwelcome, unwanted or undesirable person
151. pollice verso — with a turned thumb; used by Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator
152. post meridiem — after noon; P.M.; used in timekeeping
153. post mortem — after death
154. postscriptum — thing having been written afterward; in writing, abbreviated P.S.
155. praemonitus praemunitus — forewarned is forearmed
156. praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes — lead in order to serve, not in order to rule
157. primus inter pares — first among equals; a title of the Roman Emperors
158. pro bono — for the good; in business, refers to services rendered at no charge
159. pro rata — for the rate
160. quam bene vivas referre (or refert), non quam diu — it is how well you live that matters, not how long; from Seneca
161. quasi — as if; as though
162. qui totum vult totum perdit — he who wants everything loses everything; attributed to Seneca
163. quid agis — what’s going on; what’s up, what’s happening, etc. – Cool Latin Words
164. quid pro quo — this for that; an exchange of value
165. quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur — whatever has been said in Latin seems deep; or “anything said in Latin sounds profound”; a recent ironic Latin phrase to poke fun at people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more important or “educated”
166. quis custodiet ipsos custodes? — who will guard the guards themselves?; commonly associated with Plato
167. quorum — of whom; the number of members whose presence is required under the rules to make any given meeting constitutional
168. requiescat in pace — let him rest in peace; abbreviated R.I.P.
169. rigor mortis — stiffness of death
170. scientia ac labore — knowledge through hard work
171. scientia ipsa potentia est — knowledge itself is power
172. semper anticus — always forward
173. semper fidelis — always faithful; U.S. Marines motto
174. semper fortis — always brave
175. semper paratus — always prepared
176. semper virilis — always virile
177. si vales, valeo — when you are strong, I am strong
178. si vis pacem, para bellum — if you want peace, prepare for war
179. sic parvis magna — greatness from small beginnings — the motto of Sir Frances Drake
180. sic semper tyrannis — thus always to tyrants; attributed to Brutus at the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and to John Wilkes Booth at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
181. sic vita est — thus is life; the ancient version of “it is what it is”
182. sola fide — by faith alone
183. sola nobilitat virtus — virtue alone ennobles
184. solvitur ambulando — it is solved by walking
185. spes bona — good hope
186. statim (stat) — immediately; medical shorthand
187. status quo — the situation in which; current condition
188. subpoena — under penalty
189. sum quod eris — I am what you will be; a gravestone inscription to remind the reader of the inevitability of death
190. summa cum laude — with highest praise
191. summum bonum — the supreme good
192. suum cuique — to each his own
193. tabula rasa — scraped tablet; “blank slate”; John Locke used the term to describe the human mind at birth, before it had acquired any knowledge
194. tempora heroic — Heroic Age
195. tempus edax rerum — time, devourer of all things
196. tempus fugit — time flees; commonly mistranslated “time flies”
197. terra firma — firm ground
198. terra incognita — unknown land; used on old maps to show unexplored areas
199. vae victis — woe to the conquered
200. vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas — vanity of vanities; everything [is] vanity; from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1)
201. veni vidi vici — I came, I saw, I conquered; famously said by Julius Caesar
202. verbatim — repeat exactly
203. veritas et aequitas — truth and equity
204. versus — against
205. veto — I forbid
206. vice versa — to change or turn around
207. vincit qui patitur — he conquers who endures
208. vincit qui se vincit — he conquers who conquers himself
209. vir prudens non contra ventum mingit — [a] wise man does not urinate [up] against the wind
210. virile agitur — the manly thing is being done
211. viriliter agite — act in a manly way
212. viriliter agite estote fortes — quit ye like men, be strong
213. virtus tentamine gaudet — strength rejoices in the challenge
214. virtute et armis — by virtue and arms; or “by manhood and weapons”; state motto of Mississippi
215. vive memor leti — live remembering death – Cool Latin Words
216. vivere est vincere — to live is to conquer; Captain John Smith’s personal motto
217. vivere militare est — to live is to fight
218. vox populi — the voice of the people
When you look at how beautiful the Latin language is, it’s easy to see why it has had such an influence on other languages of the world.
Even though Latin is no longer spoken and is technically a dead language, you can see Latin root words in English and many other languages still spoken today.
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CSN Team.