Latin might be a ‘dead’ language, but it’s basically the ghost that haunts English. From courtroom dramas to your morning coffee, Latin words are everywhere. Here are 12 that refuse to stay buried.
1. Et cetera (etc.)
Et cetera
/ɛt ˈkɛtərə/“And so on”
The lazy writer’s best friend. Used when you can’t be bothered to list everything. ‘I need eggs, milk, bread, etc.’ translates to ‘I’ve run out of ideas, but you get the point.’
2. Per se
Per se
/pɜːr ˈseɪ/“By itself”
The phrase people use to sound smart while arguing. ‘The movie wasn’t bad per se, but the plot was nonsense.’ Classic hedge.
3. Status quo
Status quo
/ˈsteɪtəs ˈkwəʊ/“The existing state”
Fancy Latin for ‘how things are right now.’ Politicians love it when they don’t want to change anything but need to sound profound.
4. Vice versa
Vice versa
/ˈvaɪs ˈvɜːrsə/“The other way around”
The ultimate ‘no, you’ phrase. ‘I hate you, and vice versa.’ Efficient and dramatic.
5. Ad hoc
Ad hoc
/ˌæd ˈhɒk/“For this purpose”
Corporate speak for ‘we made this up as we went along.’ ‘The committee was formed ad hoc’ means ‘nobody planned this, but here we are.’
6. Alibi
Alibi
/ˈælɪbaɪ/“Elsewhere”
The go-to defence for anyone caught in a lie. ‘I couldn’t have stolen the cookies - I have an alibi!’ (Spoiler: the alibi is your dog.)
7. Bona fide
Bona fide
/ˈbəʊnə faɪd/“In good faith”
Used to describe anything that’s legit - or at least pretending to be. ‘He’s a bona fide expert’ either means he has a PhD or a convincing Wikipedia page.
8. Carpe diem
Carpe diem
/ˈkɑːpeɪ ˈdiːɛm/“Seize the day”
The motto of motivational posters and people who quit their jobs to ‘find themselves.’ Usually followed by regret.
9. De facto
De facto
/deɪ ˈfæktəʊ/“In fact”
What everyone knows is true, even if it’s not official. ‘She’s the de facto leader’ means ‘the boss is useless, so we listen to her instead.’
10. In vitro
In vitro
/ɪn ˈviːtrəʊ/“In glass”
Science jargon for ‘we did this in a lab, not a person.’ Popularised by test-tube babies and petri dish drama.
11. Per capita
Per capita
/pɜːr ˈkæpɪtə/“Per head”
The phrase economists use to make numbers sound fair. ‘GDP per capita’ means ‘if we split the money evenly, which we won’t.’
12. Quid pro quo
Quid pro quo
/ˌkwɪd prəʊ ˈkwəʊ/“Something for something”
The foundation of all human interaction. ‘I’ll do this if you do that.’ Also the plot of every political scandal ever.
Latin isn’t just for dusty old books - it’s alive in your everyday speech. Next time you drop a ‘vice versa’ or ‘et cetera,’ remember: you’re basically a Roman now.
For more linguistic fun, check out our guide on Latin in medicine or Homeric Greek vs Latin.
