20 Examples of Latin Locutions

Latin Voiceovers

The Latin voice overs They are groups of words inherited from Latin (the language from which Spanish was formed for the most part), whose meaning remains identical or very close to the original. For example: ad honorem, in situ.

The Latin was the language of science, culture, religion and law in Europe until the 18th century, so It should not be surprising that some of its manifestations have remained in force in the Spanish language worship.

Latin phrases are turns or set phrases that are used in the cult register or in the written language. Some of them are like sentences or proverbs that express advice or a life experience, the fruit of wisdom.

They are used mainly in the legal field, perhaps under the influence of Roman law (father of modern Western law).

See also:

How are they written?

The Royal Spanish Academy of Letters indicates that they should be written in italics and without accents, since due to their character as foreigners they should receive the same treatment.

However, some Latin voices have been orthographically adapted to Spanish and are written in round letters and with the accents corresponding to the accentuation rules. For example: second prize, surplus, resume, sum, quid, ratio, lapse, status, versus or requiem.

Only a few Latin phrases became full Spanish words. For example: eccehomo (ecce homo) Y etc (et caetera).

Some Latin phrases are written or pronounced incorrectly, because they are formulated in a kind of approximate translation or transfer of prepositional uses.

For example, it is common to say “He did it out of own motus " in the sense of "he did it on his own initiative", but the correct Latin expression to express that concept is motu proprio and it does not have a preposition, for which the correct thing is to affirm “Did motu proprio” (written like this and without the preposition "of").

Also if you say “I remember roughly"A mistake is made, the correct thing is to say"I remember roughly”.

Examples of Latin phrases

Twenty Latin phrases are given below by way of example. First the locution (in bold) and then its most faithful translation in quotation marks; it is finally illustrated with a complete sentence that incorporates it:

1. a priori (previous to). It is used to unite two facts or considerations, stating that one occurred before the other. For example: We should draw an unequivocal conclusion, without prejudice or considerations about the accused a priori.
2. criminal corpus (body of crime). It is the material proof of a malicious act, not necessarily a human body in the literal sense. For example: All these bills act like criminal corpus of the huge scam that this guy has given.
3. cum laude (with praise). Merit with which a certain task has been performed. For example:Got the diploma cum laude as a doctor, the only one in his generation.
4. modus operandi (operation mode). How to proceed to achieve a certain purpose, usually criminal. For example: The modus operandi of the gang consisted of hiding the weapons inside toolboxes.
5. in situ(in the place). Explicit reference to the fact that one fact derived from another occurs in the same place as its cause. For example: The murder site remains intact since that day, so for the moment we will do the investigation. in situ.
6. common knowledge (voice of the people). Manifestation of those involved in a matter, regarding what concerns them. For example: The new candidacy is already common knowledge in the Democratic Party.
7. sine qua non (without which no). Characteristic of an essential requirement, without which something cannot be done. For example: Presenting the residence certificates in the corresponding time is a condition sine qua non in order to get the benefits.
8. ad honorem (honorific). It is used to refer to jobs that are motivated by the pride they represent. It is assumed that the jobs ad honorem they are unpaid and have become synonymous with unpaid work. For example:At that age, he changed his position on the bench to one at the university, but ad honorem.
9. ad hoc(for this). It refers to something that is created or used for a specific purpose, generally outside the norm that would not require its use. For example: The treatment of the project was in charge of a commission ad hoc.
10. Carpe Diem(seize the day). Massively disseminated Latin literary phrase that refers to the importance of taking advantage of the immediate moments and not postponing important issues. For example:Sometimes I think about how little I have left in full health, but then I tell myself Carpe Diem.
11. bona fide (good faith). Principle of law by which it is assumed that a person acted without negative intentions towards another, as long as the opposite is not proven. For example: By the beginning of bona fide, I must allow you more time to deliver the papers.
12. ad libitum (at will). Expression to say that something will be done at the will of the interested party or implicated. Often used in natural sciences to describe experiments where animals ate at will. For example:The pigs were fed with corn feed and ingestion ad libitum During two weeks.
13. urbi et orbi (blessing). Formula of blessing determined and expected by Christians given by the Pope on Easter Sunday and on Christmas Day. For example: We were in Rome during the urbi et orbi.
14. in vitro (inside the glass). It refers to experiments carried out in test tubes (which are made of glass). In general, it refers to everything that is done under controlled laboratory conditions, rather than maintaining normal natural conditions. For example: The next step is to attempt fertilization in vitro.
15. red-handed(at the right time of committing a crime). Used to imply that someone was caught in the evidence. Although it was originally applied to the law (to refer that there was evidence of a legal crime), today it is used in the face of any objectionable act. For example: They surprised the famous star in a pub red-handed with the producer.
16. mea culpa (my fault). Situation by which a person who made a mistake admits to another or others (eventually the harmed ones) her mistake, pidapologizing. For example: At this point, a simple mea culpa with so much damage that you have done us.
17. habeas corpus (that you have the body). Essential remedy in legal matters by which people have the right to corroborate the integrity of the body of a relative, protecting himself from discretionary and excessive physical actions by the forces of safety. For example: If they do not even inform you which police station it is in, you must present a habeas corpus.
18. fiat lux (let there be light). Expression from the biblical verse about the origin of the world. For example: After creation was completed, God said: fiat lux.
19. abrupt ex (suddenly). Locution that refers to decisions that surprise other people, generally causing an unpleasant situation. It is not translated as ‘outburst’ which is limited to orally expressed comments. For example: He abandoned his own birthday abrupt ex.
20. in crescendo (increasing). It is used to refer to phenomena (scientific or otherwise), which follow an increasing dynamic. For example: In the last year the prices were in crescendo and the trend is not perceived to change.

Other foreign words: