Ad Hoc To Vice Versa: List Of Most Common Latin Phrases Used In English. Their Meaning, Usage, Context

Many Latin words have been integrated into English, especially in areas like law, science, medicine, and academia, reflecting the historical dominance of Latin in these fields. Here is a list:

The use of Latin in English serves various purposes, ranging from academic and legal terminology to everyday expressions.

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The English language has a rich and diverse heritage, and it owes a significant portion of its lexicon to Latin, which was historically spoken by the inhabitants of the Roman Empire. Latin has a profound influence on English, extending beyond mere vocabulary to impact grammar, syntax, and linguistic conventions. Many Latin words have been integrated directly into English, especially in areas like law, science, medicine, and academia, reflecting the historical dominance of Latin in these fields. 

The use of Latin in English serves various purposes, ranging from academic and legal terminology to everyday expressions. This adoption reflects not only the historical influence of Latin on the English language but also the precision, nuance, and authority that Latin terms can convey. For example, legal documents frequently utilise Latin to succinctly articulate complex concepts and with established meaning, such as "habeas corpus" (literally, "that you have the body") to refer to the right to appear before a court following arrest.

In academic contexts, Latin is used to maintain a connection with historical texts and scholarship, as Latin had been the lingua franca of educated Europeans for centuries. Terms like "alma mater" or "curriculum vitae" have thus found a permanent place in the academic vocabulary.

List of Latin Words Used In English

Here is a non-exhaustive list of Latin words that are commonly used in the English language, often retaining their Latin form:

1. Ad Hoc: Literally means "for this", indicating something formed or used for a specific and immediate purpose. The word refers to solutions or arrangements that are temporary and designed for a particular problem or task, without considering wider application.
Usage: "My small-town college functioned mainly with ad hoc teachers."

2: Ad Infinitum: Translates from Latin as "to infinity", where "ad" means "to" and "infinitum" means "infinity" or "endless". The expression describes something that continues without limit or end. It is often used to express the idea of something going on forever or being repeated endlessly.
Usage: "The conversation could go on ad infinitum as the session was very engaging."

3: Ad Nauseam: From Latin, "ad nauseam" translates to "to sickness", where "ad" means "to" and "nauseam" is derived from "nausea," meaning "seasickness" or "sickness." It refers to an action or discussion repeated to such an extent that it becomes tedious and irritating. It is often used to indicate that a topic has been discussed or an action has been performed to the point of exhaustion.
Usage: "The argument over who was at fault went on ad nauseam, with neither party willing to let it go."

4: Alma Mater: Means "nourishing mother", used to refer to a school, college, or university where one has studied. It refers to the institution from which one graduated.
Usage: "Coming back to my alma mater as a teaching faculty is a matter of pride for me."

5: Ante Bellum: "Ante bellum" comes from Latin words "ante", which means "before", and "bellum" meaning "war". It literally translates to "before the war". Most often, the phrase "ante bellum" is used to describe the period before a specific war, especially the American Civil War in the United States. It refers to the conditions, culture, and society in the southern United States before the outbreak of the Civil War.
Usage: "The mansion, preserved in its original state, offers a glimpse into the opulent ante bellum lifestyle of the South."

6: Bona Fide: Means "in good faith", implying sincerity, honesty, and good intention without deceit. The expression is used to describe actions or persons that are genuine or conducted without intention to defraud.
Usage: "The buyer was considered a bona fide purchaser, having bought the property without knowledge of the existing dispute."

7: Carpe Diem: Literally translates to "seize the day", encouraging the use of opportunities without delay. The expression is used to express the idea of enjoying the present and not relying too much on the future.
Usage: "Realising life is short, he decided to travel the world now, embracing the philosophy of carpe diem."

8: Curriculum Vitae (CV): Translates to "course of life", detailing a person's educational background and work experience. It’s a document used to apply for jobs, grants, or academic positions, summarising one's professional history.
Usage: "Please prepare your curriculum vitae as you finish your post graduation."

9. De Facto: Translates to "of fact", which means something that exists in fact, even if not legally established. The word describes practices or conditions that exist in reality, regardless of official recognition.
Usage: "Her nephew became the de facto leader of her theatre group after her accident."

10: Etc. (Et Cetera): Means "and the rest" or "and other things" — from et ("and") and cetera ("the rest"). It indicates the continuation of a list without stating all items explicitly.
Usage: "I can speak various Indian languages, like Assamese, Hindi, Telugu, Bangla, etc."

11. Exempli Gratia (e.g.): Meaning "for the sake of Usage", with exempli being the genitive of exemplum ("Usage") and gratia ("for the sake of"). The term is used to introduce one or more Usages without presenting all possibilities.
Usage: "There are many ways to cook food, e.g., baking, steaming, boiling, or frying."

12: Ex Gratia: Means "from grace" or "as a favour”. In legal and financial contexts, it refers to payments made or actions taken that are not required by legal obligation or liability but are done voluntarily or as a goodwill gesture. An ex gratia payment is often made to rectify a complaint or as a concession to maintain good relations, without the payer admitting any fault or responsibility. 
Usage: “The government announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of each accident victim.” 

13: Habeas Corpus: Means "you shall have the body", a legal principle requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court. A habeas corpus protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment.
Usage: "The attorney filed a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the legality of his client's detention."

14: i.e. (Id Est): Translates to "that is" or "in other words" — from id ("it") and est ("is"). The term is used to provide a clarification, explanation, or restatement.
Usage: "Our strategy meeting decided to prioritise customer satisfaction, i.e., ensuring timely support and personalised services."

15. In Situ: Means "in position", with situ being an ablative of situs ("site, position"). The term describes something located in its original or natural position or place.
Usage: "The archaeologists found the pottery in situ, undisturbed for centuries."

16. Mea Culpa: Literally "my fault" — from mea ("my") and culpa ("fault, blame"). The expression is an acknowledgment of one's mistake or error, often used in formal apologies.
Usage: "I have to say, it was mea culpa. I should have included this detail in my notes."

17. Per Capita: Per means "by" or "for each", and capita is the ablative singular of caput, meaning "head". It is a statistical measure that divides an aggregate by the number of units, often used in economics to express averages per person.
Usage: "Our per capita expenditure on food has significantly increased over the last 5 years."

18: Per se: Translates to "by itself" or "in itself" — from per ("through", "by") and se ("itself"). The expression is used to indicate something considered in its own nature, without considering external factors.
Usage: "The movie wasn't bad per se, but it lacked originality."

19. Persona Non Grata: Translates to "an unwelcome person". It is used in diplomatic and official contexts to describe someone who is no longer accepted or welcomed in a particular place or social circle, often due to their behaviour, actions, or policies that are found to be objectionable or offensive.
Usage: "After violating diplomatic protocols, the ambassador was declared persona non grata and given 48 hours to leave the country." 

20: Pro Bono: Short for pro bono publico, meaning "for the public good". The expression describes work undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service, often legal work.
Usage: "The architect offered her services pro bono to design a community center for her hometown, showcasing her commitment to giving back."

21. Quid Pro Quo: Translates to "something for something", indicating an exchange or substitution. The term describes a situation where something is given in return for something else, often used in legal and business contexts.
Usage: "In the realm of workplace negotiations, a quid pro quo can manifest as extra hours of service in exchange for additional days off."

22. Sine Qua Non: Means "without which not", implying an essential condition or element. The expression refers to something absolutely indispensable or necessary.
Usage: "Access to clean water is the sine qua non for the health and development of communities around the globe."

23. Status Quo: From status ("standing, condition") and quo ("in which"), it originally referred to the existing state of affairs. The word describes the current situation or condition, and is used while referring to maintaining a certain situation or condition.
Usage: "The court ordered for the status quo to be maintained until the next hearing as students demanded withdrawal of the decision on syllabus change."

24: Suo Motu: Translates to "on its own motion", indicating an action taken by an authority on its own initiative. It is usually used in legal contexts where a court takes action in a case without being prompted by either party.
Usage: "In response to the widespread public concern, the regulatory body, suo motu, initiated an investigation into the utility company's billing practices."

25. Vice Versa: Literally translates to "the position being reversed" from vice ("in place of") and versa, the feminine past participle of vertere ("to turn"). The term indicates that the opposite of a statement is also true.
Usage: "You can wear the dress with sneakers or, vice versa, with high heels."

Rules To Follow When Using Latin Words In English 

Latin phrases used within an English text were traditionally italicised to denote their origin and distinction from the primary language. This practice, however, varies with the writer's preference.

Hyphens are not used with Latin expressions. ‘Ex-President’ is hyphenated in the English language, but ex gratia is not.