Italian comes from Latin and nowadays in the Italian language there are still phrases and idioms that come from Latin and that are widely used, either in their original Latin form or in their modern translation.
Ad litteram – Alla lettera: to the letter. Generally heard in the Italian form.
Alea iacta est – Il dado è tratto: the die is cast, the famous phrase attributed to Caesar while crossing the Rubicone river and declaring war to the senate. We generally use the translation, but the original form is just as famous.
Alma mater – Madre che nutre: nurturing mother. Many universities in Italy are called Alma Mater, the most famous of which is the University of Bologna, called Alma Mater Studiorum
Carthago delenda est – Cartagine dev’essere distrutta: Carthage must be destroyed.
Cum grano salis – Con un grano di sale: with a grain of salt, Pliny the Elder, both versions are used
Cui prodest? – A chi giova?: who benefits from it?, Seneca. Both versions are used, but I’d say that the Latin form is more used, for example in detective stories
Do ut des – Do perché tu mi dia: I give to you so that you give to me. The Italian translation is generally never used.
Dura lex sed lex – Dura è la legge, ma è la legge: The law is hard/strict, but it’s the law
Horror vacui – Orrore del vuoto: the horror of the void. Not widely used, but commonly known
In medias res – Nel mezzo delle cose: in the middle of things, used to talk about books that start in the middle of the story
In medio stat virtus – La virtù sta in mezzo (a due cose): virtue stands in between (two things), an invitation to moderation
In vino veritas – Nel vino la verità: in the wine, there is truth. Funny answer recently added: “in vino veritas e in scarpe adidas” (in vino veritas and in shoes adidas)
Labor limae – Lavoro di lima: smoothing out the details (lit. work of file), Horace. Both forms are known
Lapsus linguae – Un errore della lingua: a mistake of the language/tongue. Generally used only in the form of “lapsus”, word that has entered the Italian dictionary
Non plus ultra: ultimate/top object. The phrase has entered the Italian vocabulary as it is.
Pecunia non olet – Il denaro non puzza: money doesn’t stink. Generally, the Latin form is used
Sic semper tyrannis – Così sempre ai tiranni: lit. as always to the tyrants, the phrase usually attributed to Brutus after stabbing Ceasar.
Sic transit gloria mundi – Così passa la gloria del mondo: this way passes the glory of the world.
Tu quoque Brute, fili mi – Anche Tu Bruto, Figlio mio: Et tu Brute. In the English-speaking world, “Et tu Brute” is more used because it was used by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar. In Italy, on the other hand, we use “Tu quoque(..)”
Vox populi vox dei – Voce del popolo, voce di Dio: voice of the people, voice of God. Usually used only as “vox populi”
I’m sure I forgot to add plenty of phrases but there are literally hundreds of these that are either famous and known or even used in everyday life.
resplendence — n. an unbelievably majestic quality.
yonder — n. the far distance.
raconteur — n. a person skilled in telling stories.
selcouth — adj. unfamiliar; marvelous.
litany — n. prayer.
ماهرخ
Mahrokh, literally “moon-face”. A Persian name chiefly for girls. The moon is associated as one of the highest levels of beauty in Persian culture. To be named this is to be called the silent beauty of a full moon on a clear night. (via baklavugh)
fervent
(adjective) Fervent is defined as displaying intensity, passion, feeling, urgency, an ardent warmth, a fire, etc. Fervent connotes anything, which projects an emotional force, such as a persistent lover or the divulgence of a confession. (via wnq-writers)
aries: Hanyauku (v) to walk on tiptoes across hot sand // Rukwangali
taurus: Hygge (n) the absense of anything annoying, taking pleasure from the presence of gentle or soothing things // Danish
gemini: Jayus (n) a joke so poorly told and unfunny you can’t help but laugh // Indonesian
cancer: Mångata (n) the glimmering, roadlike reflection the moon creates on water // Swedish
leo: Komorebi (n) the interplay between light and leaves when sunlight shines through trees // Japanese
virgo: Tsundoku (n) the act of buying a book and leaving it unread, often piled together with other unread books // Japanese
libra: Ubuntu (n) the belief that we are defined by our compassion and kindness towards others // Nguni
scorpio: Mamihlapinatapai (n) the wordless look between two people who both desire something, yet are equally reluctant to intiate // Yagán
sagittarius: Fernweh (n) a longing to travel, missing a place you’ve never been // German
capricorn: Meraki (v) to do something with soul, creativity, or love; when you leave a piece of yourself in your work // Greek
aquarius: Dépaysement (n) the disorientation felt in a foreign country or culture; the sense of being a fish out of water // French
pisces: Embasan (v) to wear clothes while taking a bath // Maguindanao
amaranthine
(æm əˈræn θɪn, adjective) 1. A rare and ancient word, amaranthine is defined as an eternal, undying and immortal beauty, particularly that of a flower. 2. a purplish-red color. (via thomasshelbys)
In holland when someone doesn’t close the door behind their backs we say ‘Ben je in de kerk geboren?’ which literally translates to ‘Have you been born in church?’ @useless-netherlandsfacts
In the United States we say, “Were you raised in a barn?” It’s supposed to imply that the person was raised without any manners. But as people who frequently use barns have told me, you would never leave the barn door open because then the animals could get out.
In Italy when someone walks in a room and doesn’t close the door we say “abiti al Colosseo?” (and other variants), which translates to “do you live at the Colosseum?” because the Colosseum hasn’t got doors
In Bulgaria we say ‘Da ne jiveesh v peshtera?’ and it translates as ‘Do you live in a cave?’ and it both implies you were raised mannerless like in the stone ages and that you don’t use use doors b/c caves don’t have any
In my house we say, “What the fuck, dude?” because I live alone and when a door is opened by someone who isn’t me, it’s usually my cat slamming his face into it at maximum velocity before disappearing into the next room.
persephone's corner 