National Latin Exam Study Guide: A Journey Through Ancient Rome

Animals:

 

Equus, equi m. - horse.

 

Canis, canis m. or f. - dog or hound (gender is either masculine or feminine depending on the context)

 

Porcus, porci m. - pig or hog

 

Feles, felis f. - cat

 

 

 

 

 

Oral Latin

 

Salve - Welcome or Hello

Quid agis? - How are you?

Valeo - I'm fine

Quid est nomen tibi? - What is your name?

Mihi nomen est - My name is

Quis est? - Who is it?

Quid est? - What is wrong? or What is the matter?

Quid est tibi? - What's wrong with you?

Salve! - Hello!

Salvete! - Hello! (when speaking to multiple people)

Vale! - Goodbye!

Valete! - Goodbye! (when speaking to multiple people)

Ita vero - Yes

Minime - By no means or No

Quota hora est? - What time is it?

Quid novi? - What is new?

Nihil novi - Nothing's new

Habesne? - Do you have?

Sane, habeo - Yes, I do have

 

 

 

Expressions, Mottoes, Abbreviations:

 

E pluribus unum - One out of many or One from many 

• It is the motto of the United States, featured on the penny, and it shows that we came together to became one country from many states.

 

Tempus fugit - Time flies 

• In other words, it means that everyone has limited time in their life and should be spending it wisely. For example, a commonly used phrase is “time flies when you’re having fun”.

 

N.B. nota bene - Note well, Take careful notice, or Take notice 

• It is used when talking about something important or noteworthy.

 

Carpe diem - Seize the day

• It means who knows what tomorrow will bring, so live every day to the fullest and enjoy the present.

 

A.m. ante meridiem - Before noon or Before the middle of the day 

• It is used to indicate the morning.

 

Etc. et cetera - And so forth or And the other things

• It could be used at the end of a list to shorten it, meaning “...and other related things”.

 

Ad nauseam - To a sickening, ridiculous, or disgusting degree

• Something that is endless or goes on forever.

 

Quid pro quo - This for that

• Something given in return for something else; a fair exchange.

 

P.S. Post Scriptum - Anything that is written after the main message of a letter, an afterthought

 

Persona non grata - An undesirable, unacceptable person

• A person, especially a diplomat, whose presence is not welcome in a country.

 

Terra incognita - An unknown land, an unexplored region

 

Post mortem - Done after death

• It could mean an autopsy or an analysis of a past event.

 

Ad infinitum - Without limit, endlessly

 

 

 

Latin 1 Exam

 

 

Parts of the Body:

 

Caput, capitis n. - head

Oculus, oculi m. - eye

Manus, manus f. - hand

Pes, pedis m. - means foot

Os, oris n. - mouth

Auris, auris f. - ear

Nasus, nasi m. - nose

 

 

 

 

 

Oral Latin:

 

Gratias tibi ago - Thank you

Sol lucet - The sun is shining

Adsum - I am present

Es bene paratus, a, um - You are well prepared

Magnificus, a, um - Fantastic

Veni mecum - Come with me

Libenter - Gladly

 

 

 

 

Expressions, Mottoes, Abbreviations:

 

Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered 

• It was first said by Julius Caesar after winning a battle in Asia Minor, (modern day Turkey). It is used in a victorious situation.

 

Summa cum laude - With the highest praise

• It is usually said in reference to highschool, college, or graduate school graduates who obtained high grades.

 

Per annum - By the year

• It is used when talking about rates.

 

I.e. Id est - That is… (to say)

• It is simmilar to “for example”, but it indicates that a clear explaination will follow.

 

A.D.  anno Domini - In the year of the Lord

• It means the year that Jesus Christ was born, and it is used in the calendar system to show the number of years after Jesus was born. It is written before or after the year number.

 

E.g. exempli gratia - For the sake of example, or For example 

• It is used at the beginning of a short explaination or example.

S.P.Q.R. Senatus Populusque Romanus - The Roman Senate and People

• It is often seen written on Roman military flags or political buildings, and it is the Roman government.

 

Sine qua non - Without which nothing, a necessity

 

Antebellum - Before the war

• Specifically referring to the time period before the American Civil War

 

Ab ovo usque ad mala - From the egg to the apples

• It means from start to finish: Roman dinners usually started with eggs and ended with fruit.