Latin isn’t just the language of senators and philosophers. The streets of Rome were alive with slang - some of it crude, some clever, all of it more fun than declensions. Here’s your guide to the colloquial Latin you won’t find in textbooks (unless your teacher has a sense of humour).
1. Insults That Would Make a Gladiator Blush
Romans loved a good insult. Forget 'stultus' (stupid) - here’s the good stuff:
Fellator
/fɛlˈlaː.tor/Cinaedus
/kiˈnae̯.dus/2. Street Haggling & Market Banter
Ever tried bargaining for a toga? Here’s how the pros did it:
Nugas!
/ˈnuː.ɡas/“Nonsense!”
Da mihi melius!
/daː ˈmi.hi ˈmɛ.li.us/“Give me better!”
3. Drinking & Partying Like a True Roman
Romans loved a good symposium (read: boozy orgy). Here’s the vocab you’d need:
Ebrius acervus
/ˈeː.bri.us aˈker.wus/“Drunk heap”
Bibo, ergo sum
/ˈbiː.boː ˈɛr.ɡoː sum/“I drink, therefore I am”
For more Latin that’s actually useful in daily life, check out our guide to Essential Latin for the Modern Chef.
4. Pet Names (and Not the Furry Kind)
Romans had terms of endearment that ranged from sweet to… questionable:
Mea lux
/ˈmɛ.a luks/“My light”
Pulchra es
/ˈpul.kʰra es/“You’re beautiful”
5. The Roman Equivalent of 'OMG'
Because even ancients needed dramatic exclamations:
Di immortales!
/diː imˈmor.ta.leːs/“Immortal gods!”
Vah!
/waː/“Wow!”
Final Thoughts: Why Bother?
Because 'Carpe diem' is overrated. Next time you’re in a Latin class, drop a 'Nugas!' when someone mispronounces a verb. Just don’t blame us if you get sent to the principal’s office - or the Colosseum.
