ECCE HOMO II

Many Latin phrases are part of everyday language. More often used than understood, the following Latin expressions should sound familiar. But can you translate them?

1. Ad lib

2. Caveat

3. Bona fide

4. Per capita

5. Status quo

6. Mea culpa

7. Vice versa

8. Alma mater

9. Et tu, Brute?

10. Caveat emptor 

 

Answers:

 

1. Ad lib - Ad libitum - At one's pleasure - Without advance preparation

 

2. Caveat - Let him beware - Condition, warning

 

3. Bona fide - In good faith -  Without fraud or deception/authentic, genuine

 

4. Per capita - By head - Average per person 

 

5. Status quo - The state in which - Existing state of affairs,  the way things are now 

 

6. Mea culpa - Through my fault - My mistake, I'm to blame

 

7. Vice versa - And the other way around - The reverse of something someone said is also true

 

8. Alma mater - Nourishing mother - A school, college, or university one has attended

 

9. Et tu, Brute? - And (even) you, Brutus? - Used to mean betrayal by a friend

 

10.  Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware - Buy something at your own risk - It's the buyer's responsibility to do research and ask questions before making a purchase