45+ Common Latin Words & Phrases in English (IPA & Examples)

Latin words and phrases used in English still appear in modern communication—especially in school, science, formal writing, business, and official documents. Learning them won’t magically make you “sound native,” but it will help you understand articles, academic texts, workplace language, and professional conversations more easily.

To make these terms practical, the guide below is grouped by where you’ll actually see them. Each entry includes an easy meaning, IPA pronunciation, and a natural example sentence so you can learn useful Latin expressions in context.

Latin Words and Phrases Used in English

Everyday Latin Phrases in English

These are some of the most common Latin phrases in English that appear in daily conversation, general writing, media, and informal professional contexts.

Word / Phrase	IPA (US)	Meaning	Example
Alibi	/ˈæləˌbaɪ/	Proof or a claim that you were somewhere else	He had a solid alibi for the night of the robbery.
Alter ego	/ˌɔːltər ˈiːɡoʊ/	A person’s other self or different side of personality	On stage, she becomes her alter ego—bold, loud, and fearless.
Circa	/ˈsɜːrkə/	Approximately; around a certain date or time	The photo was taken circa 1914.
Ergo	/ˈɜːrɡoʊ/	Therefore; for that reason	We’re out of time; ergo, we’ll continue tomorrow.
Per se	/pər ˈseɪ/	In itself; by itself	The mistake isn’t serious per se, but it caused confusion.
Status quo	/ˌsteɪtəs ˈkwoʊ/	The current state of things	Some people want change, while others prefer the status quo.
Vice versa	/ˌvaɪs ˈvɜːrsə/	The other way around	You can travel from Cairo to Aswan, or vice versa.
Verbatim	/vɜːrˈbeɪtɪm/	Word for word; exactly as said or written	He repeated her message verbatim.
Terra firma	/ˌterə ˈfɜːrmə/	Solid ground	After the rough boat trip, we were happy to be back on terra firma.
Mea culpa	/ˌmeɪə ˈkʊlpə/	My fault; an admission of blame	Mea culpa—I forgot to send the email.
Ad nauseam	/æd ˈnɔːziəm/	Repeated so much that it becomes annoying	He talks ad nauseam about how clever his children are.
Ad infinitum	/æd ˌɪnfɪˈnaɪtəm/	Forever; without limit	We could argue about this ad infinitum, but we need to decide now.

Phrases like per se, vice versa, and status quo are common in modern English. They sound natural when used sparingly and in the right context.

Latin in Academia, School, and Work

These Latin expressions often appear in education, literature, academic writing, and professional settings.

Word / Phrase	IPA (US)	Meaning	Example
Alma mater	/ˌælmə ˈmɑːtər/	The school, college, or university you attended	He donated $20 million to his alma mater, Columbia University.
Curriculum vitae	/kəˌrɪkjələm ˈviːtaɪ/	A CV; a document listing education and work experience	Have you brought your curriculum vitae and certificates with you?
Cum laude	/kuːm ˈlaʊdeɪ/	With honors	He graduated cum laude from Georgetown University.
Emeritus	/ɪˈmerətəs/	Retired but keeping an honorary title	He will continue as chairman emeritus.
Magnum opus	/ˌmæɡnəm ˈoʊpəs/	Someone’s greatest or most important work	Many consider this novel his magnum opus.
In medias res	/ɪn ˌmiːdiəs ˈreɪs/	Starting in the middle of the action	The film begins in medias res, with the chase already underway.
Postmortem	/ˌpoʊstˈmɔːrtəm/	An analysis after an event is finished	The postmortem on the campaign is underway.
In toto	/ɪn ˈtoʊtoʊ/	In total; as a whole	The report was rejected in toto.
Ad hoc	/æd ˈhɑːk/	For a specific purpose; not planned or permanent	The meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis.
Pro bono	/proʊ ˈboʊnoʊ/	Free of charge for the public good	The lawyers provided pro bono support to families in need.

In academic and professional English, Latin terms are often used for precision. They are especially common in resumes, university settings, literature discussions, and workplace reviews.

Latin in Science, Medicine, and Formal Writing

These terms are more formal, but they still appear in science, medicine, philosophy, and advanced writing.

Word / Phrase	IPA (US)	Meaning	Example
A priori	/ˌɑː praɪˈɔːri/	Based on theory rather than experience	There seems to be no a priori reason why the method should fail.
In vitro	/ɪn ˈviːtroʊ/	In a lab; outside a living organism	Scientists are studying these cells in vitro.
Homo sapiens	/ˌhoʊmoʊ ˈseɪpiənz/	The scientific name for modern humans	The appearance of anatomically modern Homo sapiens is still debated.
Ex nihilo	/eks ˈniːhɪloʊ/	Out of nothing	Some argue that creativity does not appear ex nihilo.
Tabula rasa	/ˌtæbjələ ˈrɑːzə/	A blank slate; a mind without preconceived ideas	He approached the problem with a tabula rasa mindset.
Deus ex machina	/ˌdeɪəs eks ˈmækɪnə/	An unexpected solution that suddenly fixes everything	The ending felt like a deus ex machina.
Aurora borealis	/əˌrɔːrə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs/	The northern lights	The sky was glowing with the aurora borealis.
Corpus	/ˈkɔːrpəs/	A collection of written or spoken texts	The researchers built a large corpus of news articles.

Useful Latin Terms in Law, Politics, and Official English

These terms are still useful in news, government, business, and formal documents. The list below focuses on the most practical and widely recognized ones.

Word / Phrase	IPA (US)	Meaning	Example
Bona fide	/ˌboʊnə ˈfaɪdi/	Genuine; real; made in good faith	Make sure you are dealing with a bona fide company.
Prima facie	/ˌpraɪmə ˈfeɪʃi/	Accepted as true at first sight unless proven otherwise	There is prima facie evidence that he was involved.
De facto	/deɪ ˈfæktoʊ/	Existing in reality, even if not officially recognized	He became the de facto leader of the group.
Quid pro quo	/ˌkwɪd proʊ ˈkwoʊ/	A favor exchanged for another favor	The arrangement looked like a quid pro quo.
Veto	/ˈviːtoʊ/	To reject or block an official decision	The board can use its veto power to stop the decision.
Caveat emptor	/ˌkæviæt ˈemptɔːr/	Let the buyer beware	In some private sales, caveat emptor still applies.
Persona non grata	/pərˌsoʊnə nɑːn ˈɡrɑːtə/	An unwelcome person	He was declared persona non grata and asked to leave the country.
Per capita	/pər ˈkæpɪtə/	Per person; for each person	They have one of the world’s highest per capita incomes.
Per diem	/pər ˈdiːem/	A daily allowance, especially for travel	He received a per diem allowance for the trip.

Top Latin Abbreviations You Should Know

Many of the most common Latin abbreviations in English appear in emails, essays, textbooks, articles, and reports. These are especially important because learners often confuse them.

Abbreviation	Latin Origin	Meaning	How It Is Used
e.g.	exempli gratia	For example	Use it to give examples: Bring something warm, e.g., a jacket or sweater.
i.e.	id est	That is; in other words	Use it to clarify meaning: He is a polyglot, i.e., he speaks several languages.
etc.	et cetera	And so on	Use it when continuing a list: We bought bread, milk, eggs, etc.
vs.	versus	Against; compared with	Common in comparisons: The debate is online learning vs. classroom learning.
N.B.	nota bene	Note well; pay attention	Used to highlight an important note in formal writing.

Use e.g. when you want to give examples, but use i.e. when you want to explain or restate something more clearly.

Tips for Using Latin Phrases Naturally

• Use Latin phrases only when they make your meaning clearer.
• Do not overuse them in casual conversation, or your writing may sound too formal.
• Start with common expressions like per se, vice versa, status quo, and e.g.
• In academic or professional contexts, make sure you understand the exact meaning before using a phrase.

In most cases, Latin phrases work best when they are short, familiar, and easy for the reader to understand.

Common Latin Roots in English

Many English words come from Latin roots. Learning these roots can help you guess the meanings of unfamiliar words more easily.

Latin Root	Meaning	Common English Words
Audi-	Hear	Audio, audience, audible
Dict-	Say; speak	Dictionary, dictate, prediction
Spect-	Look; see	Inspect, spectator, respect
Port-	Carry	Transport, portable, import
Script- / Scrib-	Write	Script, describe, manuscript
Vid- / Vis-	See	Video, vision, visible
Ject-	Throw	Reject, inject, project

FAQ About Latin Words in English

Is Latin still useful in modern English?

Yes. Latin is still useful because many English words, phrases, abbreviations, and technical terms come from Latin. You will often see them in school, law, science, medicine, and formal writing.

What does per se mean?

Per se means in itself or by itself. It is used to clarify that you are talking about the thing alone, not its effects or related issues.

What is the difference between e.g. and i.e.?

e.g. means for example, while i.e. means that is or in other words. Use e.g. to give examples and i.e. to explain something more clearly.

Conclusion:

Latin words and phrases used in English are still everywhere—from everyday writing to academic texts and professional communication. By learning the most common expressions, abbreviations, and roots, you can understand formal English more easily and use it more confidently.

Start with practical terms like per se, vice versa, bona fide, and e.g., then build from there. Little by little, these expressions will feel much more natural.

Last Updated on March 20, 2026