I leave you a list of Latin phrases and their meaning, of historical and religious figures such as Seneca, Cicero, Jesus Christ, Saint Augustine, Horace, Julius Caesar, Juvenal, Descartes and many more.
Latin can be used today to study history, and it is also the official language of the Catholic Church and the Vatican. On the other hand, the nomenclatures of many species are in Latin.
List with expressions and proverbs in Latin
- Ama et quid vis fac.- Love and do what you want.- Saint Augustine.
- Bene qui latuit, bene vixit.- He who lives well, lives unnoticed.- Ovid.
- Consuetudo quasi altera natura.- Custom is our second nature.- Cicero.
- Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt.- Fate guides those who are willing and drag those who are unwilling.-Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
- Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. - I will find a way or I will do it myself.-Hannibal.
- Flectere si nequeo suros, acheronta movebo.- If I cannot move heaven, then I will raise hell.-Virgil.
- Historia vitae magistra.- History is the teacher of life.-Cicero.
- Quam bene vivas referre, non quam diu. - What matters is how well you live, not for how long.-Seneca.
–Qui totum vult totum perdit.- Who wants everything loses everything.-Seneca.
–Non est ad astra mollis e terris via.- There is no easy way to get to the stars from earth.-Seneca.
- Pulvis et umbra sumus.- We are dust and shadow.-Horacio.
- Non nobis solum nati sumus.- We were not born only for ourselves.-Marco Tulio Cicero.
- Fas est ab hoste doceri.- One should learn from enemies.-Ovid.
- Omnia mutantur, nihil interit.- Everything changes, nothing dies.-Ovid.
- Saepe creat molles aspera spina roses.- Sometimes the roughest spines produce the softest flowers.-Ovid.
–Aquila non capit muscas.- The eagle does not catch flies.-Latin proverb.
- Divide et impera.- Divide and conquer.-Julius Caesar.
- Potius sero quam nunquam.- Better late than never.- Tito Livio.
- Possunt quia posse videntur.- They can, because they believe power.-Virgilio.
- Nihil eripit fortuna nisi quod dedit.- Fortune does not take away but what it gave.- Publilio Siro.
- Labor omnia vincit improbus.- Constant work overcomes all difficulties.-Virgilio.
- Manus manum lavat.- One hand washes the other.-Seneca.
- Medice, cure you ipsum! - Doctor: heal yourself! -Jesus of Nazareth.
- Memento homo quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris.- Remember man, what dust you are and to dust you will return ».- Genesis 3,19.
- Memento mori.- Remember that you are mortal.- Roman proverb.
-Mens Sana in corpore healthy.- A healthy mind in a healthy body.-Juvenal.
- Militiae species love est.- Love is a kind of war.-Ovid.
- Non facit ebrietas vitia, thirst protrahit.- Drunkenness does not create vices, it only makes them evident.-Seneca.
- Carmina coelo possunt deducere lunam.- Magic words can bring the moon from heaven to earth.-Publio Virgilio Marón.
- Optimum cibi condimentum fame.- The best seasoning of food is hunger.-Cicero.
- Experientia docet.- Experience teaches.-Tacit.
- Abeunt studia in mores.- What is pursued with zeal becomes custom.- Publio Ovidio Nasón.
- Gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus.- Let us enjoy ourselves, while we are still young.- First verse of the student hymn Gaudeamus igitur.
- Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo. -The drop digs into the stone, not because of its strength, but because of its constancy falling.- Ovid.
- Homines, dum docent discunt.- Men learn while teaching.- Seneca.
- Homo homini lupus est.- Man is a wolf to man.- Plautus.
- Acta est fabula.- The story is over.- Last words of César Augusto.
- Honest vivere, naeminem laedere et jus sum cuique tribuere.- Live honestly, do not harm the other and give each one what is due. -Ulpiano.
- Ad astra per aspera.- To the stars by the hard way.- Motto of the Apollo spaceships.
- Pedes in terra ad sidera visus. - The feet on the ground, the gaze in the sky.- Motto of the National University of Tucumán, Argentina.
- Carpe diem.- Seize the moment.- Horacio.
- Nemo patriam quia magna est amat, sed quia sua. - Nobody loves his country because it is great, but because it is his.-Seneca.
- Bis orat qui bene cantat. - He who sings well, prays twice.- Saint Augustine.
- Cane muto et aqua silente cave tibi.- Beware of the dog that does not bark and the silent water.-Francisco Luis Moreira.
- Cedant weapon togae.- Let the weapons yield to the toga.- Cicero.
- A capillo usque ad ungues.- From the hair to the nails (of the feet).- Petronius.
- At the cross salus.- Salvation by the cross.- Ecclesiastical term.
- Cogito ergo sum.- I think, therefore I am.- Descartes.
- Copia ciborum, subtilitas impeditur.- Large meals dull the intelligence.-Seneca.
- Facilius est fine facere quam diu.- It is easier to do many things than to do one for a long time.-Quintilian.
- Da mihi animas, caetera tolle.- Give me souls and take the rest.- Salesian Congregation.
- Clavum clavo expellere.- A nail is removed with another nail.-Cicero.
- To Deo rex, to rege lex.- From God the king, from the king the law.- Motto of the absolute monarchy.
- A mari usque ad mare.- From sea to sea.-Motto of Canada.
- Coniecturalem artem esse medicinam.- Medicine is the art of supposing.- Aulio Cornelio Celso.
- Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.- Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. -Motto of the Catholic Church.
- Do ut des.- I give so that you give me.-Code of Justinian I.
- Concordia parvae res crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur.- Through concord small things grow; through disunity, the greatest things collapse.- Salustio.
- Bellaque matribus detestata.- War, hated by mothers.- Horacio.
- A Mensa et thoro.- Table and bed.- Legal term.
- Ab alta cuncta.- From all high.- Belloch family motto.
- Ex nihil nihil fit.- Out of nowhere, nothing can come out.- Persio.
- Ab Ordine Libertas.- Freedom from order.- Latin version of the national motto of Colombia.
- Ab ovo usque ad mala.- From the egg to the apple.- Fifth Horacio Flaco.
- Et lux in tenebris Lucet.- And the light shines in the darkness.-Gospel of Saint John.
- Ab uno disce omnes.- By one you learn to know everyone.-Publio Virgilio Marón.
- Atum Fatis ego perea.- Let destiny be done even if I perish.- Sacha Passy.
- Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit.- He has gone, escaped, evaded, and disappeared.- Marco Tulio Cicero.
- Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit. -Perhaps, one day, even this will be enlivened by the memory.- Virgilio, The Divine Comedy.
- A bove ante, ab asino retro, a muliere undique caveto. - Beware of the ox in front, the donkey behind, and the woman on all sides.-Mani Moreira.
- Ablata causa tollitur effectus.- Withdrawn the cause, the effect disappears.- Medical maxim.
- Abscedo turpis Diabolus pario.- Go impure spawn of Satan.-The Exorcist.
- Abyssus abyssum vocat in voce.- An abyss summons another abyss.- Vulgate, Psalms 41, 8.
- Access candidates. - Approach the candidates. - Ceremonial phrase.
- Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus pontificem.- I announce a great joy to you: we have a Pontiff. -Phrase of the Catholic Church.
- Habemus confitentem reum.- We have a prisoner who has confessed.-Cicero.
- Acerba semper et immatura mors eorum qui immortale aliquid parant.- The death of those who prepare something immortal is always hard and premature.- Pliny the Younger, Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus.
- Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto.- I am a man: nothing human is alien to me.-Terence.
- Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.- Ignorance of the law does not excuse anyone.-Pope Boniface VIII.
- Ad augusta per angusta.- To the heights by narrow roads.-Motto of the city of Irapuato, Mexico.
- In dubio, pro reo.- In case of doubt, in favor of the accused.- Legal principle.
- Saecula saeculorum.- For centuries and centuries.- Christian liturgy.
- Ad nocendum potentes sumus.- We have the power to harm.-Lucio Anneo Seneca.
- Labor lætitia nostra.- Our joy is at work.- Motto of the shield of the University of Santiago de Chile.
- Lege, lege, lege, ora, labora et invenies.- Read, read, read, pray, work and you will find.- Mutus Liber, Plate XIV.
- Canis et coluber.- The dog and the serpent.- Motto of Pope Leo XII.
- Ne te quaesiveris extra.- Do not try to look outside yourself.- Persio.
- Non omnis moriar.- I will not die at all.-Horacio.
- Odi et amo.- I hate and love.- Catulus.
- Plumbum aurum fit.- Lead becomes gold.-Petronium.
- Um est quia impossible est.- It is true because it is impossible.- Tertullian.
- Amor vincit omnia.- Love conquers all.
- Astra inclinant, sed non obligant.- The stars do not incline, they do not bind us.
- Audemus jura nostra defendere.- We dare to defend our rights.-Motto of the state of Alabama, United States.
- Audere est facere.- To dare is to do.
- Auribus teneo lupum.- I hold the wolf by the ears.- Ancient proverb.
- Aut cum scuto aut in scuto. -With shield or without shield (do or die, do not retreat).- Said Spartan.
- Aut neca aut necare.- Kill or be killed.
- Bis dat qui cito dat.- Who gives without hesitation gives twice.
- Bono malum superate.- Overcome evil with good.
- Citius altius fortius.- Faster, higher, stronger.-Motto of the Olympic Games.
- Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges.- When the republic is at its most corrupt, the laws are more numerous.-Tacit.
- Creatio ex nihilo.- Creation from nothing. -Concept of creation in the theological context.
- Deus ex machina.- The god of the machine. A term that means that a conflict is resolved in an improbable or implausible way.
- Dictum factum.- What is said is done.
- Disce quasi semper victurus vive quasi cras moriturus.- Learn as if you were to live forever. Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
- Discendo discimus.- While we teach, we learn.
- Twelve disc, writing cogito.- When I teach others, I learn. When I write, I think.
- Sweet bellum inexpertis.- War is sweet for the inexperienced.
- E pluribus unum.- Of many, one.-One of the first mottos of the United States.
- Fac fortia et patere.- Take courageous actions and endure.
- Fortes fortuna adiuvat.- Fortune favors the strong.
- Fortis in arduis.- Strong in adversity.
- Hoc est bellum.- This is war.
- Honor virtutis praemium.- Esteem is the reward of virtue.
- Humilitas occidit superbiam.- Humility conquers pride.
- Igne natura renovatur integra.- Through fire, nature is reborn.
- Ignis aurum probat.- Fire tests gold.
- In umbra, igitur, pugnabimus.- Then we will fight in the shade.-Spartan saying.
- Incept and desistam.- That I do not give up my purpose.
- Intelligenti pauca.- Whoever understands does not need many words.
- Laborare pugnare parati sumus.- Work or fight, we are prepared.
–Leges sine moribus vanae.- Laws without morals are vain.
–Lex talionis.- The law of talion (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth).
–Magna est vis consuetudinis.- Great is the power of habit.
- Memores acti prudent futuri.- Keep in mind what has happened, be aware of what will happen.
- Morituri te salutant.- Those who are about to die salute you.- Salute of the Roman soldiers to the emperor.
- Mulgere hircum.- Milking a male goat (trying the impossible).
- Nanos gigantum humeris insidentes.- Dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.-Popularized in the letters of Isaac Newton: "If I have been able to go this far, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants."
- Nil volentibus arduum.- Nothing is arduous for those who have the will.
- Non ducor, duco.- I am not guided, I lead.
- Non progredi est regredi.- Not going forward is going backwards.
- Non scholae, sed vitae discimus.- We do not learn from school but from life.-Seneca.
- Non sum qualis eram.- I'm not the kind of person I used to be.
- Nulla tenaci invia est via.- For the tenacious, no path is impossible to cross.
- Obliti privatorum, publica curate.- Forget private matters. Worry about public affairs.-Said of Roman politics.
- For bellum.- Prepare for war.
- Pecunia, si uti scis, ancilla est; Si nescis, dominate.- If you know how to use money, money will be your slave. If you don't know, money will be your master.
- Praesis ut prosis ne ut imperes.- Guide to serve, not to command.
- Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? - Who is going to take care of the guards? - Attributed to Plato.
- Requiescat in pace.- May he rest in peace (RIP).
- Scientia ac labore.- Knowledge comes through hard work.
- Semper fidelis.- Always faithful.-Motto of the US Navy.
- Semper fortis. - Always strong.
- If you are worth it, I am worth it.- If you are strong, then I am strong.
- Si vis pacem, para bellum.- If you want peace, prepare for war.
- Tempus edax rerum.- Time devours everything.
- Tempus fugit. - Time flies.
- Veni vidi vici.- I came, I saw, I conquered.-Julius Caesar.
–Vincit qui patitur.- Conquer who endures.
–Vincit qui se vincit.- Conquers who conquers himself.
- Live memor leti.- Live remembering death.
- Nescire autem quid antequam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum.- To be ignorant of what happened before our birth is to remain as a child forever.-Marco Tulio Cicero.
- Vi veri universum vivus vici. - By the power of truth, I who live, I have conquered the universe.-Attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- Ut haec ipsa qui non sentiat deorum vim habere is nihil omnino sensurus esse videatur. - If a man cannot feel the power of God when he looks up at the stars, then I doubt he can feel at all.-Horacio.
- Haec ego non multis (scribo), sed tibi: satis enim magnum alter alteri theatrum sumus.- I write this not for many but for you. Certainly, we are a sufficient audience for the other.-Epicurus.