100 Examples of Latinisms

Latinisms

The latinisms are words and idioms that come from Latin and are used in our language. For example: aka, ditto, ultimatum.

Latin is the language that was used in Ancient Rome and that expanded as a scientific language and as an official language in the masses of the Catholic Church.

Many modern languages ​​derive from Latin, such as Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan and Italian. Many Latinisms are used in various languages, even those that are not derived from Latin, such as English.

Are considered foreigners since they are terms that come from a foreign language and are adopted in other languages.

How are they written?

Although the Latin is not used accent mark, Latinisms that have been incorporated into Spanish adhere to the rules of accentuation and incorporate accents when appropriate. For example: surplus (amount of income that exceeds expenses), quorum (proportion of attendees needed to start a group session), requiem (musical composition for the mass of the dead).

On the other hand, Latinisms that are not part of everyday speech must be written in italics or in quotation marks.

Examples of Latinisms

Latin words (with their definition)

1. On the contrary: On the contrary (it is used in philosophical discourse).
2. On the contrary sensu: For the opposite reason, in the opposite direction.
3. A divinis: Far from the divine (used in the context of the Catholic Church and is a type of penalty imposed by the institution).
4. A fortiori: With more reason.
5. A posteriori: Later, after the events.
6. A priori: Prior to the experience.
7. Ab aeterno: Since eternity, since ancient times.
8. Ab initio: From the beginning.
9. Ab intestate: Without having made a will. It is used in the field of law, even forming a single word: intestate. An intestate heir is one who inherits the property of someone who has not made a will, following the provisions of the law of each country for these cases.
10. Second prize: It has come close (it is an award that recognizes merit without offering the jackpot).
11. Ad calendas graecas: For the Greek calends, for an indeterminate date, for never.
12. Ad eternum: Forever.
13. Ad hoc: For this (it is used to indicate what has been created for a specific purpose).
14. Ad hominem: Directed to the person (it is used to refer to the arguments that, instead of contradicting the opponent's sayings in a debate, are dedicated to criticizing the opponent).
15. Ad honorem: Position whose only benefit is honor (used in common language to characterize jobs for which no financial compensation is charged).
16. Ad infinitum: Forever.
17. Ad interim: Temporarily, provisional situation.
18. Ad libitum: At will, actions that are done freely (it is used in the field of culture to refer to free interpretations that have little to do with the intentions of the authors).
19. Ad litteram: Literally.
20. Ad nauseam: Ad nauseam.
21. Ad personam: In person (used to send messages that must be delivered to the recipient in person).
22. Ad portas: At the door, something is about to happen.
23. Addenda et corrigenda: What should be added and corrected (used in the editing of academic books or texts).
24. Alias: Known as.
25. Alma mater: Nurturing mother (used to refer to the houses of study in which a person has been trained).
26. Alter ego: Another self (used primarily in fiction to refer to multiple personalities or characters that are psychologically similar).
27. Auditorium: Space prepared for the attendance of an audience (the auditorium form is also used).
28. Bis: Twice (used in musical shows to request a replay).
29. Campus: Field (refers to the facilities of educational institutions, mainly universities).
30. Carpe Diem: Seize the day.
31. Circa: AAround (used to mark dates that are not exactly known).
32. Cogito ergo sum: I think, therefore I am (it is the principle of the philosophy of Descartes).
33. Against nature: Contrary to nature (also used as against nature, it is used both in religion, to refer to the most serious sins, and in medicine, for certain surgical interventions).
34. Corpus: Set (used to designate the complete set of objects to be studied).
35. Corpus delicti: The body of the crime (refers to all the elements and factors involved in a criminal act).
36. Creed: Religious beliefs.
37. Cum laude: With praise (used in academia as the highest grade).
38. Curriculum vitae: Life career (also used as a resume or resume, is the name given to a person's list of professional and educational experiences, also known as CV).
39. De facto: In fact (it is used to designate governments, borders or even interpersonal relationships that, although not legally established, exist for all practical purposes).
40. De jure: By law (indicates a legal situation, contrary to "de facto").
41. Desideratum: Maximum wish (in its plural, desiderata, means a wish list).
42. Deus ex machina: God from the machine (in the theater a god supported by a crane used to solve problems magically, it is currently used in literary analysis to qualify external solutions to the conflict central).
43. Dixit: Has said.
44. Ego: I (used in psychology).
45. Ergo: Therefore.
46. Etc: And the rest.
47. Ex nihilo: Created from scratch (used in religion and philosophy).
48. Ex novo: Again.
49. Expressly: That it has been done intentionally.
50. Extra walls: Outside the walls (used to designate what happens outside an institution).
51. Factotum: Does everything (used to refer to the person who takes care of all the tasks).
52. Roughly speaking: Without much accuracy.
53. Habeas corpus: Owner of a body (used in law as the guarantee of every citizen to appear before a judge or court).
54. Hic et nunc: Here and now (used to say that an event takes place in certain current circumstances).
55. Homo erectus: Upright man (he is one of the ancestors of homo sapiens).
56. Homo sapiens: Man who knows (it is the scientific name of the human race).
57. Honoris causa: An honorary title.
58. Ibid: Right there (it is used in the notes of the writings so as not to repeat the references of the citations).
59. Idem: The same.
60. Imago: Image (used in psychoanalysis to designate an identification with the collective unconscious).
61. In absentia: In absentia (used in law when a defendant is tried who has not appeared before the judge in absentia).
62. On site: In the place.
63. In vitro: On glass (used to designate some laboratory procedures).
64. Incognito: Knowing or thinking (refers to showing up in a place or performing an action without anyone else knowing).
65. Ipso facto: By the fact itself.
66. Magister: Master (currently used as an expert).
67. Tidal wave: Big sea (used to point out a major problem or confusion).
68. Memento mori: Remember you will die.
69. Memorandum: What to remember (designate the notes used as a file for future reference).
70. Mens healthy in healthy body: A healthy mind in a healthy body.
71. Modus operandi: Mode of operation.
72. Modus vivendi: Way of living.
73. Own motu: Own initiative.
74. Nunc et Semper: Now and always.
75. Opus: Construction site.
76. Per capita: Per head (used as "per person").
77. Per se: By itself.
78. Postscript: After the have been dated.
79. Post meridiem(P.M): After the midday.
80. Post mortem: After death.
81. Power: Can.
82. Quid pro quo: Reciprocity, that something has been given in exchange for something else.
83. Rare avis: Scarce bird (used to designate everything strange or out of the ordinary).
84. Referendum: To consult (refers to the popular consultation that takes place before a decision).
85. Requiescat in pace(RIP): Rest in peace.
86. Res non verba: Facts, not words.
87. Rictus: Stiffness (refers to a grimace of the mouth).
88. Sic: Thus (it is used with the sense "literally" after quoting someone's words).
89. Status quo: The current state.
90. Strict sensu: Strictly speaking.
91. Sui generis: Own genre (used to indicate that something is too exceptional to be classified).
92. Tabula rasa: Plain, unmarked, unwritten table (may refer to someone's knowledge before starting to learn or the individual's soul at birth).
93. Ultimatum: Final warning.
94. Retro wade: Back off.
95. For example: For example.
96. Vice versa: On the contrary, in the opposite direction.
97. Vox populi: Voice of the people (used to indicate a popular rumor or something known not officially by all).

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