Comments on: 10 Latin Phrases You Pretend to Understand

By: Schweinhund!

Schweinhund! — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:33:01 +0000

Now I hope that this won’t get me on the boo list, by my favourite Latin saying is “penis bonus, pax in domus”.

Yeah I know, guttermind at work. ;-)

By: Steph

Steph — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:56:10 +0000

I wish I could like some of your comments.

Per aspera ad astra is a fav, but mostly because of Harper Lee, not Vergil!

By: Wren

Wren — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:22:17 +0000

There used to be a catalog that sold t-shirts that said in Latin (I never took Latin so I don’t remember how to say it):
“If you can read this, you’re overeducated.”

By: jill

jill — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:37:52 +0000

and “et cetera” (“and other things”) of course! one used by everyone probably at least once a day. Even though technically it should be pronounced with a hard c–et ketera. one of my favorite things to explain when I use this in lieu on writing it out: &c. (& just being a stylized ‘et’) :)

By: Cory

Cory — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:09:12 +0000

Here is some classic Latin from “Life of Brian”.

[Brian is writing graffiti on the palace wall. The Centurion catches him in the act]
Centurion: What’s this, then? “Romanes eunt domus”? People called Romanes, they go, the house?
Brian: It says, “Romans go home. ”
Centurion: No it doesn’t ! What’s the latin for “Roman”? Come on, come on !
Brian: Er, “Romanus” !
Centurion: Vocative plural of “Romanus” is? Brian: Er, er, “Romani” !
Centurion: [Writes "Romani" over Brian's graffiti] “Eunt”? What is “eunt”? Conjugate the verb, “to go” !
Brian: Er, “Ire”. Er, “eo”, “is”, “it”, “imus”, “itis”, “eunt”.
Centurion: So, “eunt” is…?
Brian: Third person plural present indicative, “they go”.
Centurion: But, “Romans, go home” is an order. So you must use…? [He twists Brian's ear]
Brian: Aaagh ! The imperative !
Centurion: Which is…?
Brian: Aaaagh ! Er, er, “i” !
Centurion: How many Romans?
Brian: Aaaaagh ! Plural, plural, er, “ite” ! Centurion: [Writes "ite"] “Domus”? Nominative? “Go home” is motion towards, isn’t it?
Brian: Dative ! [the Centurion holds a sword to his throat]
Brian: Aaagh ! Not the dative, not the dative ! Er, er, accusative, “Domum” !
Centurion: But “Domus” takes the locative, which is…?
Brian: Er, “Domum” !
Centurion: [Writes "Domum"] Understand? Now, write it out a hundred times.
Brian: Yes sir. Thank you, sir. Hail Caesar, sir. Centurion: Hail Caesar ! And if it’s not done by sunrise, I’ll cut your balls off.

By: William

William — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:23:28 +0000

More accurately “To whom the good”
best paired with Prestidigitation “people are sneaky”

By: William

William — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:18:47 +0000

Cui Bonum?Who Profits.Definitely something that should always be considered.

By: Veritas

Veritas — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:40:35 +0000

As far as “mispronunciations” are concerned, sung Latin–ecclesiastical, I believe–has skewed the acceptable pronunciations so much (and is heard so much more commonly) that “incorrect” is often more appropriate. Singing long E/A sounds or W in lieu of V is aurally painful. The sole purpose of changing the originally pronunciations was to make the language sound more beautiful when drawn out and sustained.

By: Zooph

Zooph — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:09:26 +0000

How about ‘Vici, Veni, VD.

By: Bama

Bama — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:01:52 +0000

I’ve been an actor for 35 years; an all time personal favorite quote of mine is “Ars est celare artem” (the art is to hide the art). The older I get the more things I realize that’s appropriate for.