While Wall Street may have told us that greed is good, the Latin language begs to differ. “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.”įinding yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place? Pump yourself up by letting forth an “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.” This phrase, which translates to, “I will either find a way or make one,” is famously attributed to Carthaginian general Hannibal, one of history’s most famous military leaders. This phrase, which means “It is impossible for a deed to be undone,” also serves as a grave reminder for your friends when they say they’re about they’re about to do something rash. “Factum fieri infectum non potest.”įor those eager to make it clear that they don’t give second chances, keep “Factum fieri infectum non potest” in your back pocket. Want some inspiration to kill it on an upcoming job interview? Repeat “Audentes fortuna iuvat” (“Fortune favors the bold”) to yourself a few times in the mirror before heading out the door. Instead, hit them with a quick “Condemnant quo non intellegunt.” This phrase, meaning “They condemn that which they do not understand,” is the perfect burn for those who proudly espouse their less-than-logic-backed views and offer little supporting evidence. If your conspiracy theorist friend needs a good talking to, there are plenty of hilarious words to describe their condition other than asking how that tinfoil hat works. Meaning, “Deeds, not words,” this phrase is an easy way to make it clear that you don’t kindly suffer those whose behavior doesn’t match their words. If you want to make it clear that you won’t stand for lip service, toss “acta non verba” into your everyday language. Meaning, “Danger is sweet,” dropping this phrase in casual conversation certainly lets people know what you’re about. Of course, it works equally well when you’ve got the wheels in motion for a brilliant plan that doesn’t involve civil war, too.ĭo you live life on the edge? Then “dulce periculum” might just be your new motto. Latin phrases don’t get much more iconic than “Alea iacta est,” or “The die is cast,” an expression reportedly uttered by Julius Caesar as he crossed Italy’s Rubicon river with his army. We’ve all heard the phrase “carpe diem” a million times, but we’ll do you one better: “carpe vinum.” Of all the Latin phrases to master, this one, which translates to “Seize the wine,” will certainly come in handy when you’re eager to impress your waiter with a fancy foodie phrase or are doing your best Caligula impression after a few glasses of pinot noir.
Meaning “Mortal actions never deceive the gods,” this Latin phrase certainly fits the bill.
If you’ve ever wanted to strike fear into the heart of your enemies (or just want a good comeback for when you catch someone cheating on game night), try out this expression. For instance, this common state motto-which also happens to adorn the memorial plaque for the astronauts who died on Apollo 1-can be used in conversation when you’re having a terrible go of things, but you’re confident a greater outcome awaits you. One of the most poular Latin phrases, meaning, “Through adversity to the stars,” this utterance is generally used to describe the overcoming of adversity resulting in a favorable outcome. With that in mind, we’ve compiled 30 genius Latin phrases you could and should be using on a daily basis. That said, we can do better than exclaiming “veni, vidi, vici” following a win at Scrabble or whispering “in vino veritas” before spilling a secret over a few drinks. Whether you’re launching an ad hominem attack or adding etcetera to the end of a list, it’s likely you’re peppering your speech with Latin phrases without even knowing it.
While Latin hasn’t been regularly spoken or written for hundreds of years, save for the occasional scholarly text, its legacy is still felt throughout the lexicon of both Romance and Germanic languages today.