You Speak More Latin Than You Think

You Speak More Latin Than You Think

According to a study by Dimitrije Curcic (2023), the average person speaks about 16,000 words daily. Some chatterboxes we are! However, did you know some of these words come from Latin? Let's explore how Latin has impacted words we use in our daily vocabulary!

So On and So Forth: Et Cetera

One of the most common Latin words used by English speakers is et cetera. However, the common pronunciation we use today is vastly different from how it is pronounced in Classical Latin, and would surely cause the Ancient Greeks and Romans to double-take! They actually pronounced this phrase as "et-ket-era", with the Latin meaning "and so on", which is equal to the English meaning we know and love today!

The Mysterious: Alter Ego

Another familiar phrase is alter ego. Personally, I imagine a mysterious spy whenever I hear it! While we typically use it to describe a second personality, in ancient times it referred to a trusted best friend, someone so close they were considered “another I.” This is an amazing way to refer to a friend, or an amica (Latin for friend)!

A New Plan: Agenda

Do you have a full agenda today? Did you know the word agenda is actually Latin? Agenda is the plural form of the Latin word agendum, meaning, "to get things done," which is used widely by us, and by Ancient Romans and Greeks, as I am sure they had packed schedules as well!

Copied to Clipboard: Verbatim

Additionally, the word verbatim comes directly from the Latin language, derived from the Latin word verbum, meaning "word." This word is unique in the sense that it can be used both as an adverb and as an adjective!

Certainly not Minor: It's Major!

The fascinating Latin language has many unique qualities, such as the fact that it did not consist of the letter "J!" Instead, the letter "I" has been used, as it later evolved to a new pronunciation. A significant example is the word maior. Which later evolved into the English word major, that we have certainly all used.

"Dead Language?"

Latin is often portrayed as a "dead language." However, it is all around us! We incorporate Latin into our everyday vocabulary without realizing it. Latin has influenced many languages present in our diverse world today, including: Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, and many more. Although it is not a prominent language in today's world, it has most certainly left a precious impact on our lives today.

Curcic, Dimitrije. “How Many Words Does the Average Person Say a Day? – WordsRated.” Wordsrated, 7 Nov. 2023, wordsrated.com/how-many-words-does-the-average-person-say-a-day/.