Quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur
'Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.'
Useful Phrases
So, you've suddenly found that you need to say a few choice words in Latin. Here are the phrases, with handy English translations.
| Nescio quid dicas | I don't know what you're talking about |
| Nemo hic adest illius nominis | There is no one here by that name |
| Ita erat quando hic adveni. | It was that way when I got here |
| Nihil declarandum | I have nothing to declare |
| Raptus regaliter | Royally screwed |
| Ut si! | As if! |
| Vescere bracis meis | Eat my shorts |
| Re vera, potas bene | Say, you sure are drinking a lot |
| Noli me vocare. Ego te vocabo. | Don't call me. I'll call you. |
| Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione | I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult |
| Canis meus id comedit | My dog ate it |
| Die dulci freure | Have a nice day |
| Fac ut vivas | Get a life |
| Fac me cocleario vomere! | Gag me with a spoon! |
| Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem | Stand aside, little people! I am here on official business |
| Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam. | I have a catapult. Unless you give me all of your money, I will fling an enormous rock at your head. |
| Utinam barbari spatioum proprium tuum invadant | May barbarians invade your personal space |
| Quo signo nata es? | What's your sign? |
| Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt... | You know, the Romans invented the art of love... |
| Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. | I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear. |
| Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant | May conspirators assasinate you in the hall |
| Magister mundi sum! | I am the master of the universe! |
| Non sum pisces | I am not a fish |
| Radix lecti | Couch potato |
| Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari? | How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? |
| Unitam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant | May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy |
| Cogito ergo sum | I think, therefore I am |
| Cogito ergo doleo | I think, therefore I am depressed |
| Senito aliquos togatos contra me conspirare | I think some people in togas are plotting against me |
| Vah! Denuone latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur. | Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out. |
| Nihili est - in vita priore ego imperator romanus fui | That's nothing; in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor |
| Aio, quantitas magna frumentorum est | Yes, that is a very large amount of corn |
| Perscriptio in manibus tabellariorum est | The cheque is in the post |
| Non illigitamus carborundum | Don't let the b'stards grind you down |
| Nonne macescis? | Have you lost weight? |
| Minime senuisti! | You haven't aged a bit! |
| Id tibi praebet speciem lepidissimam! | It looks great on you! |
| Capillamentum? Haudquaquam conieci esse! | A wig? I never would have guessed! |
| Braccae tuae aperiuntur | Your fly is open |
| Subucula tua apparet | Your slip is showing |
| In dentibus anticis frustum magnum spiniciae habes | You have a big piece of spinach in your front teeth |
| Abutebaris modo subjunctivo | You've been misusing the subjunctive |
| Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt! | Hey, we're all in line here! |
| Non, mihi ignosce, credo me insequentem esse | No, excuse me, I believe I'm next |
| Nonne de novo eboraco venis? | You're from New York, aren't you? |
Bumper Stickers and Vanity Plates
| Sona si latine loqueris | Honk if you speak Latin |
| Balaenae nobis conservandae sunt | Save the whales |
| Frena pro feris teneo | I brake for animals |
| Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt | When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults |
| Sic hoc adfixum in obice legere potes, et liberaliter educatus et nimis propinquus ades | If you can read this bumper sticker, you are both very well educated, and much too close |
| Incitatus | Speed demon |
| Vagans | Cruising |
| Litoralis | Beach bum |
| Mannus | Mustang |
| Fractum | Jalopy |
Advanced Quotations
The following phrases are for those who can speak Latin while at the
same time maintaining a cheesy accent. This is harder than you think. Despite all your best intentions to do a perfect rendition of
Clint Eastwood from the film
Dirty Harry, celebrity Latin accents invariably transform into something more akin to Manuel from
Fawlty Towers.
| Quid agis, medice? | What's up, Doc? |
| Dic mihi solum facta, domina | Just the facts, ma'am |
| Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert | Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn |
| Farrago fatigans! | Thuffering thuccotash! |
| Fac ut gaudeam | Make my day |
| Illius me paenitet, dux | Sorry about that, chief |
| Tuis pugis pignore! | You bet your bippy! |
| Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem! | The devil made me do it! |
| Osculare pultem meam! | Kiss my grits! |
| Credidi me felem vidisse! | I tought I taw a puddy tat! |
| Si fallatis officium, quaestor infitias eat se quicquam scire de factis vestris | If you fail, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your activities |
| Te capiam, cunicule sceleste! | I'll get you, you wascally wabbit! |
| Conlige suspectos semper habitos | Round up the usual suspects |
| Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse | You know, Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore |
| Me transmitte sursum, caledoni | Beam me up, Scotty |
Names and Titles
Translations of the names of some famous bands and television shows.
| Cimictus | The Beatles |
| Inlecebrae | The Temptations |
| Lapides provolventes | The Rolling Stones |
| Ille quis | The Who |
| Mortui grati | The Grateful Dead |
| Simitatores | The Monkees |
| Pueri litoris | The Beach Boys |
| Illi silices | The Flintstones |
| Insula gilliganis | Gilligan's Island |
| Zona crepusculi | The Twilight Zone |
| Opus: quod fiere non potest | Mission: Impossible |
| Dies felices | Happy Days |
| Navis amoris | The Love Boat |
| Iuvenes inquietesque | The Young and the Restless |
| Pretium iustum est | The Price is Right |
No comments:
Post a Comment