Latin is dead. But it lives in legal documents, science, slogans, and 60% of English vocabulary.
How to Play: Each question shows a Latin phrase. Pick its English translation from 4 options. 10 random per round.
Result
Top 13 Latin Phrases in Modern English
Latin was the language of European education, science, and law for 1,500 years. It died as a spoken language around 600 AD but continued in written form into the 1700s. Today, Latin phrases survive in courtrooms (‘habeas corpus’), academia (‘cum laude’), medicine (‘pro re nata’), and everyday speech (‘et cetera’).
| # | Latin Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carpe diem | Seize the day |
| 2 | Et cetera | And so forth |
| 3 | Ad infinitum | Forever |
| 4 | Per se | By itself |
| 5 | Vice versa | The other way around |
| 6 | Status quo | Existing state of affairs |
| 7 | Bona fide | In good faith |
| 8 | Pro bono | For the public good |
| 9 | Veni vidi vici | I came, I saw, I conquered |
| 10 | Cogito ergo sum | I think therefore I am |
| 11 | Quid pro quo | Something for something |
| 12 | Ad hoc | For this purpose |
| 13 | Caveat emptor | Buyer beware |
Why Latin Survives in Modern English
Latin entered English in three waves. The first wave came with the Romans themselves (43 AD invasion of Britain), leaving city names like London (Londinium). The second came with the Norman Conquest of 1066, when Latin-derived French became the language of England’s nobility — adding hundreds of legal and political terms. The third came during the Renaissance (1400s–1600s), when scholars deliberately imported Latin words for scientific and philosophical concepts.
Modern English has roughly 60% of its vocabulary from Latin, directly or via French. Words like ‘animal,’ ‘video,’ ‘vacuum,’ ‘omnibus’ came directly. Words like ‘mountain’ (Latin: mons) came via French. Even ordinary words like ‘street’ (Latin: strata, from a paved Roman road) trace to Latin origins.
Latin phrases survived intact in two domains. The first is law — ‘habeas corpus,’ ‘pro bono,’ ‘caveat emptor,’ ‘quid pro quo’ — preserved because legal precedent depends on consistent terminology and Latin was the universal legal language for 1,000 years. The second is science — ‘genus species’ nomenclature, anatomical terms (cerebellum, vertebra), pharmaceutical labels (per os = orally) — preserved because Latin avoids translation drift.
Carpe diem (‘seize the day’) is from Horace’s Odes, written around 23 BC. Cogito ergo sum (‘I think therefore I am’) is from Descartes (1637) — a French philosopher writing in Latin, which was still the standard for serious thought. Veni vidi vici is from Julius Caesar’s report to the Roman Senate after his 47 BC victory at Zela.
~60% of English words derive from Latin (directly or via French).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Latin still spoken anywhere?
Vatican City is technically Latin-speaking, with Latin as one of its official languages. Some Catholic ceremonies and academic events still use it. As a community native language, Latin died around 600 AD.
Why is Latin used in science?
Scientific names (Felis catus for the domestic cat) need to be unambiguous globally. Latin avoids translation issues — a French and Japanese biologist both recognize the term. Linnaeus formalized this binomial nomenclature in 1735.
What's the difference between 'e.g.' and 'i.e.'?
Both are Latin abbreviations. e.g. = exempli gratia (‘for example’ — listing some examples, not all). i.e. = id est (‘that is’ — restating, clarifying).
How many English words come from Latin?
Roughly 60% of English vocabulary derives from Latin (directly or via French). Almost all formal/scientific/legal vocabulary is Latin-derived.
Are Latin phrases used in everyday English?
Yes — et cetera, vice versa, status quo, ad hoc, per capita all appear in casual conversation. Each was once ‘foreign’ but has been absorbed into standard English usage.
Note: Latin phrase translations per the Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Modern usage may diverge slightly from classical meaning.
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