Classroom Latin phrases

Classroom Latin is the language of the room: greetings, please and thank you, simple commands, and ways to say you do not understand. Latin Launchpad keeps forty of these phrases with the lessons.

Start Year 1 · Mottoes and abbreviations

Greetings

• Salve! — Hello!. Use this when greeting one person.
• Salvete! — Hello!. Use this when greeting more than one person.
• Vale! — Goodbye!. Use this when saying goodbye to one person.
• Valete! — Goodbye!. Use this when saying goodbye to more than one person.
• Quid agis? — How are you?. A question for one person.
• Valeo. — I am well.. A simple answer to Quid agis?

Courtesy

• Gratias tibi ago. — Thank you.. Literally, "I give thanks to you."
• Nihil est. — You are welcome.. Literally, "It is nothing."
• Quaeso. — Please.. A polite word used when making a request.
• Me paenitet. — I am sorry.. A useful expression for making an apology.
• Ignosce mihi, quaeso. — Excuse me, please.. A polite request to be excused or forgiven.
• Sodes. — Please.. An older conversational form of please, originally shortened from si audes.
• Te amo. — I love you.. A simple expression of affection.

Routines

• Adsum. — I am here; present.. A response during attendance.
• Silentium, quaeso. — Silence, please.. A polite request for quiet.
• Salvete, discipuli! — Hello, students!. A teacher greeting addressed to a group.
• Salve, magister! / Salve, magistra! — Hello, teacher!. Use magister for a male teacher and magistra for a female teacher.
• De hoc satis! — Enough of this!. A firm way to close a topic or activity.

Commands

• Sede. / Sedete. — Sit down.. Sede addresses one person; sedete addresses a group.
• Surge. / Surgite. — Stand up.. Surge addresses one person; surgite addresses a group.
• Aperi. / Aperite. — Open it.. Aperi addresses one person; aperite addresses a group.
• Claude. / Claudite. — Close it.. Claude addresses one person; claudite addresses a group.
• Audite diligenter. — Listen carefully.. A command addressed to a group.
• Responde mihi. — Answer me.. A teacher prompt addressed to one person.
• Scribe haec verba. — Write these words.. A classroom writing instruction.
• Collige folia. — Collect the papers.. A classroom instruction addressed to one person.

Get help

• Non intellego. — I do not understand.. Use this to ask for more explanation.
• Adiuva me, quaeso. — Please help me.. A polite request for help.
• Explica, quaeso. — Please explain.. A request to explain something again.
• Quid dixisti? — What did you say?. A listening check addressed to one person.
• Esne confusus? / Esne confusa? — Are you puzzled?. Use confusus for a boy or man and confusa for a girl or woman.
• Quid dixit? — What did he or she say?. A listening check about another speaker.

Feedback

• Bene actum! — Well done!. Positive feedback after good work.
• Optime! — Excellent!. An enthusiastic word of praise.
• Verum aut falsum? — True or false?. A quick classroom check.
• Ita. — Yes; so.. A short affirmative answer.
• Impossibile est. — It is impossible.. A strong reaction to a difficult claim or task.
• Fiat. — All right; let it be done.. A brief expression of agreement or permission.

Introductions

• Quid est nomen tibi? — What is your name?. A question for introducing yourself to one person.
• Mihi nomen est ... — My name is .... Complete the sentence with your name.

Exclamations

• Eheu! — Alas! Oh dear!. A cry of sorrow or dismay. Say it when something has gone wrong.
• Euge! — Hurrah! Well done!. A cry of joy or praise. It cheers a good answer or a finished task.