Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Latin words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Quid est nōmen tibi? What is your name? Mihi nōmen est ... My name is ... Quid agis? Ut valēs? How are you? Valeō. Et tū? Fine. And you? Ubi est ...? Where is ...? Ubi est lātrīna? Virī/Mulierēs Where is the toilet? Men/Women Mē paenitet. Ignōsce mihi. Sorry. Excuse me. Sine. Quaestiōnem nūllam. No problem. ... volō. I want ... ... nōn volō. I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Unde es? Where are you from? Sum dē Austrāliā.* I am from Australia. Ratiōnem nummāriam, quaesō. The bill, please. Ā viā aberrāvī. I am lost. Astā! Manē! Stop! Wait! Hīc, ibi, illīc. Here, there, over there. Raeda meritōria. Dēversōrium. Āëroportus. Statiō. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. ... mihi placet. I like ... ... nōn mihi placet. I don't like ... ūnus, duo, trēs, quattuor, quīnque. one, two, three, four, five. sex, septem, octō, novem, decem. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Americā - America Canadā - Canada Angliā - England Hiberniā - Ireland Novā Zelandiā - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Prōsit! Bene tibi! Cheers! bonus / malus good / bad magnus / parvus big / small prope / procul near / far minus / plūs less / more alius / satis another / enough Holerārius sum. (man) Holerāria sum. (woman) I am vegetarian. Nōn edō carnem. I don't eat meat. ... gallīnāceam. ... chicken. ... piscātum. ... fish. Nucibus allergicus sum. (man) Nucibus allergica sum. (woman) I am allergic to nuts. Arachidibus ... ... peanuts. Piscātum ... ... fish. Cibō maris ... ... seafood. Ōvīs ... ... eggs. |
Vowels:
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o (IPA o:)
ae is pronounced as ai as in aisle (IPA aj)
oe is pronounced as oi as in boil (IPA oj)
y is pronounced as German ü, ie. an i with rounded lips (IPA y)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as k as in skip
ch is pronounced as k as in kite, ie. with a puff of air (kʰ)
g is pronounced as g as in goat
gn is pronounced as g plus n as in magnum
h is pronounced as h as in hat
p is pronounced as p as in spin
ph is pronounced as p as in pin, ie. with a puff of air (pʰ)
t is pronounced as t as in stun
th is pronounced as t as in tin, ie. with a puff of air (tʰ)
v is pronounced as w
x is pronounced as ks
z is pronounced as z as in zebra, some pronounce it as dz as in adze
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o (IPA o:)
ae is pronounced as ai as in aisle (IPA aj)
oe is pronounced as oi as in boil (IPA oj)
y is pronounced as German ü, ie. an i with rounded lips (IPA y)
Consonants:
c is pronounced as k as in skip
ch is pronounced as k as in kite, ie. with a puff of air (kʰ)
g is pronounced as g as in goat
gn is pronounced as g plus n as in magnum
h is pronounced as h as in hat
p is pronounced as p as in spin
ph is pronounced as p as in pin, ie. with a puff of air (pʰ)
t is pronounced as t as in stun
th is pronounced as t as in tin, ie. with a puff of air (tʰ)
v is pronounced as w
x is pronounced as ks
z is pronounced as z as in zebra, some pronounce it as dz as in adze
Vowels:
No distinction is made between long and short vowels.
ae is pronounced as e
oe is pronounced as e
y is pronounced as i
Consonants:
*c before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
cc before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as t plus ch as in church (ttʃ)
ch before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as k as in kite
*g before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as j as in judge (dʒ)
gn is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
h is silent
ph is pronounced as p
sc before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as sho as in shop (ʃ)
th is pronounced as t
ti plus a vowel is pronounced as ts as in cats
v is pronounced as v
x is pronounced as ks
z is pronounced as dz as in adze
Please note:
In Ecclesiastical (Church) Latin pronunciation, mihi is pronounced miki and nihil is pronounced nikil.
*In Slavic and German-speaking countries, g may always be pronounced as g as in goat, and c before e, i, ae or oe may be pronounced as ts as in cats.
No distinction is made between long and short vowels.
ae is pronounced as e
oe is pronounced as e
y is pronounced as i
Consonants:
*c before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
cc before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as t plus ch as in church (ttʃ)
ch before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as k as in kite
*g before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as j as in judge (dʒ)
gn is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
h is silent
ph is pronounced as p
sc before e, i, ae or oe is pronounced as sho as in shop (ʃ)
th is pronounced as t
ti plus a vowel is pronounced as ts as in cats
v is pronounced as v
x is pronounced as ks
z is pronounced as dz as in adze
Please note:
In Ecclesiastical (Church) Latin pronunciation, mihi is pronounced miki and nihil is pronounced nikil.
*In Slavic and German-speaking countries, g may always be pronounced as g as in goat, and c before e, i, ae or oe may be pronounced as ts as in cats.