15 May, 2020

50 Common latin words in english you should know

Latin is one of the oldest and most ancient languages to exist in history. While there may not be cities and countries full of people speaking Latin these days, that doesn’t mean the ancient language is something you can just forget about. Not only are many of our words in English (not to mention many other languages) derived from Latin, but many of its words and phrases are still used in today’s daily speaking and writing.

About sixty percent of the English language comes from Latin. You would be surprised the number of words, and which words exactly have their origins from Latin. Out of the large number, we compiled quite a few. Here are 50 Latin words in English translation, their definitions and the English derivatives.

If you’re interested in more about the connection of the English language and Latin, check out this article on Latin prefixes.

You can as well challenge yourself further to think of more English words that may have come from these Latin roots, and then check a dictionary to confirm the derivation.

Latin Words in English Language

Latin Word	Definition	English Derivatives
Villa	villa, house	villa, village, villager
Alta	tall, high, deep	altitude, altimeter, alto
Antiqua	antique, old	antique, antiquity, ancient
Longa	Long	longitude, longevity, long
Magna	large, great	magnify, magnificent, magnitude
Picture	Picture	picture, picturesque, pictorial
Nova	New	novice, novel, novelty, nova, Nova Scotia
Terra	land, earth	terrier, terrace, terrestrial, terrain
Prima	First	prime, primary, primitive, primeval
Sub	Under	subway, subterranean, suburban
Corna	Horn	cornucopia, cornet, clavicorn
Est	Is	estate, establish, essence
Habere	Have	have, habit, habitual
Casa	small house	Casino
Via	Street	via
Parva	Small	parval, parvanimity
Lata	wide, broad	latitude, lateral, latitudinal
Bona	Good	bonus, bonanza, bona fide
Copia	Plenty	copious, cornucopia, copiously
Fama	Fame	fame, famous, infamous
Provincial	Province	province, provincial, provincialism
Multa	Many	multitude, multiple, multiplex
Nominare	to name	nominate, nominal, name, nominative
Postea	Later	postlude, postgraduate, posthumous
Non	Not	nonfction, nonmetal, nonexistent
In	In	In
Aqua	Water	aquatics, aquarium, aqueduct, aqueous
Agricola	Farmer	Agriculture
Bestia	Beast	bestial, bestiality
Figura	figure, shape	figure, figurine, figment, figurative
Flamma	Flame	flame, flamboyant, flambeau
Herba	Herb	herb, herbivorous, herbage
Insula	Island	insular, insulate, insularity
Lingua	Language	language, lingual, linguistics
Nauta	Sailor	nautical, nautilus
Pirate	Pirate	pirate, piratical
Schola	School	scholar, school, scholastic
Alba	White	albino, albinism albumen
Amica	Friendly	amicable, amicability, amity
Beata	Happy	beatific, beatify, beatitude
Maritima	Sea	Maritime
Mea	Me	me, my
Mira	Strange	miracle, miraculous, mirage
Nota	Noted	noted, note, notice, notable, noticeable
Obscura	Dark	obscure, obscured, obscurity
Periculosa	Dangerous	perilous, peril
Propinqua	near to	propinquity
Pulchra	Beautiful	pulchritude
Quieta	Quiet	quiet, quietude, disquiet
Circum	Around	circumstance, circumnavigate, circumspect

Here are a few more words to add to the list;

Latin Word	Definition	English Derivatives
folium	leaf	foliage, foliaceous, foliar
aureus	golden	aurorial, aurorean, aurous
plumbeus	leaden	plumbing, plumbous, plumbic, plumbeous
mutare	to change	mutation, commute, transmute
vulnerare	to wound	vulnerable, invulnerable, vulnerary
vitare	to avoid	inevitable, inevitably, inevitability
morbus	disease	morbid, morbidity, morbific
populus	people	populous, population, popular
radius	ray	radius, radial, radiation
arma	arms (weapons)	arms, armed, armament, army
saxum	rock	saxatile, saxicoline, saxifrage

SOURCES

• 50 Common Latin Phrases Every College Student Should Know. https://practicalpages.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/50-common-latin-phrases-every-college-student-should-know.pdf

• English Vocabulary Derived from Latin – Page 4. http://www.enhancemyvocabulary.com/word-roots_latin_4.html

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50 Common latin words in english you should know

Latin Words in English Language

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