Latin words and phrases show up in English all the time—especially in law, school, science, and formal writing. Learning them won’t magically make you “sound native,” but it will help you understand articles, documents, academic texts, and professional conversations more easily.
To make these terms practical, the list below is grouped by where you’ll actually see them. Each entry includes a clear meaning and a natural example sentence.
Latin Words and Phrases Used in English
General Conversation & Everyday Writing
Alibi
- Meaning: Proof or claim that you were somewhere else (often used in crime stories and real life).
- He had a solid alibi for the night of the robbery.
Alter ego
- Meaning: A person’s “other self,” or a second side of their personality.
- On stage, she becomes her alter ego—bold, loud, and fearless.
Circa
- Meaning: Approximately (used for dates and time periods).
- The photo was taken circa 1914.
Ergo
- Meaning: Therefore (formal, often seen in writing).
- We’re out of time; ergo, we’ll continue tomorrow.
Per se
- Meaning: In itself; by itself (often used to clarify a point).
- The mistake isn’t serious per se, but it caused confusion.
Status quo
- Meaning: The current state of things; the existing situation (often about society, politics, or a workplace).
- Some people want change, while others prefer the status quo.
Vice versa
- Meaning: The other way around.
- You can travel from Cairo to Aswan, or vice versa.
Verbatim
- Meaning: Word for word; exactly as said or written.
- He repeated her message verbatim.
Terra firma
- Meaning: Solid ground (often used after flying or sailing).
- After the rough boat trip, we were happy to be back on terra firma.
Mea culpa
- Meaning: “My fault”; an admission of blame (formal or humorous).
- Mea culpa—I forgot to send the email.
Ad nauseam
- Meaning: Repeated so much that it becomes annoying.
- He talks ad nauseam about how clever his children are.
Ad infinitum
- Meaning: Forever; without limit (often used to complain about repetition or endless time).
- We could argue about this ad infinitum, but we need to decide now.
Academia, School & Work
Alma mater
- Meaning: The school, college, or university you attended.
- He donated $20 million to his alma mater, Columbia University.
Curriculum vitae
- Meaning: A CV; a document listing your education and work experience (especially formal or academic).
- Have you brought your curriculum vitae and certificates with you?
Cum laude
- Meaning: With honors (used for academic graduation).
- He graduated cum laude from Georgetown University.
Emeritus
- Meaning: Retired but keeping an honorary title (common in universities).
- He will continue as chairman emeritus.
Magnum opus
- Meaning: Someone’s greatest or most important work.
- Many consider this novel his magnum opus.
In medias res
- Meaning: Starting in the middle of the action (common in storytelling and literature).
- The film begins in medias res, with the chase already underway.
Postmortem
- Meaning: An analysis after an event is over (also medical “after death,” but common in business/tech).
- The postmortem on the campaign is underway.
In toto
- Meaning: In total; as a whole (formal).
- The available information amounts to very little in toto.
Science, Medicine, Philosophy & Formal Writing
A priori
- Meaning: Based on theory rather than experience; assumed before evidence.
- There seems to be no a priori reason why nuclear transfer should work.
In vitro
- Meaning: In a lab (literally “in glass”); outside a living organism.
- Scientists are studying these cells in vitro.
Homo sapiens
- Meaning: The scientific name for modern humans.
- The appearance of anatomically modern Homo sapiens is debated in paleoanthropology.
Ex nihilo
- Meaning: Out of nothing (often used in philosophy, religion, or theory).
- Some argue that creativity doesn’t appear ex nihilo; it builds on what we already know.
Tabula rasa
- Meaning: A “blank slate”; a mind without preconceived ideas.
- He approached the problem with a tabula rasa mindset.
Deus ex machina
- Meaning: An unexpected solution that resolves a story’s problem suddenly (often criticized in writing).
- The ending felt like a deus ex machina—everything was fixed out of nowhere.
Aurora borealis
- Meaning: The northern lights.
- The sky was aflame with the aurora borealis.
Corpus
- Meaning: A collection of written texts (also “body,” but common in linguistics/literature).
- I’ve got the corpus of Shakespeare’s works.
Law, Politics & Official Documents
Note: The terms in this section are common in legal or formal contexts, but they are not used in casual daily conversation.
Bona fide
- Meaning: Genuine; real; made in good faith.
- Make sure you are dealing with a bona fide company.
Habeas corpus
- Meaning: A legal action requiring a person in custody to be brought to court (legal term).
- His petition for a writ of habeas corpus was denied by the circuit court.
In loco parentis
- Meaning: In place of a parent (legal/educational responsibility).
- During the trip, the teachers acted in loco parentis.
Prima facie
- Meaning: Based on first impression; accepted as correct until proven otherwise.
- There is prima facie evidence that he was involved in the fraud.
De facto
- Meaning: Existing in reality (even if not legally recognized).
- He’s her de facto husband though they’re not actually married.
De jure
- Meaning: By law; legally recognized.
- The President aims to create a de jure one-party state.
Ipso facto
- Meaning: By that very fact; as a direct result (formal/legal).
- If a crime occurs, there is ipso facto a guilty party.
Quid pro quo
- Meaning: A favor exchanged for a favor; something for something (often political/legal).
- The deal looked like a quid pro quo.
Subpoena
- Meaning: A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or provide documents.
- The investigation will rely on existing powers to subpoena documents.
Ex post facto
- Meaning: Applied retroactively; after the fact (legal term).
- No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
Veto
- Meaning: To reject or forbid an official decision.
- The board can exercise its veto to prevent the decision.
Caveat emptor
- Meaning: “Let the buyer beware” (the buyer is responsible for checking quality/conditions).
- The sale is subject to the caveat emptor principle.
Persona non grata
- Meaning: An unwelcome person (often used in politics/diplomacy).
- He was declared persona non grata and forced to leave the country.
Per capita
- Meaning: Per person; for each person.
- They have one of the world’s highest per capita incomes.
Per diem
- Meaning: A daily allowance (especially for business travel).
- He received a per diem allowance to cover his travel expenses.
Work & Service
Pro bono
- Meaning: Free of charge for the public good (often legal or professional services).
- The lawyers provided pro bono support to families in need.
Ad hoc
- Meaning: For a specific purpose; not planned or permanent.
- The meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis.
Common Latin Roots
Last Updated on January 29, 2026
English Teacher | IELTS Instructor | English Learning Content Creator at ESLTeacher.org
Nhat Nhat is an English teacher and IELTS instructor specializing in grammar, academic writing, and English learning resources. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE), an IELTS 8.0 certificate, and TESOL / TEFL teaching certifications. With over 9 years of teaching experience, he creates practical lessons and educational content to help learners improve their English skills and exam performance.
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Half of them are still commonly used in French sentences and words ahah. Learn them, and you’re closer to learn French than you could imagine