List of Latin phrases (A) facts for kids

Welcome to a fun journey into the world of Latin phrases! Even though Latin is an ancient language, many of its sayings are still used today. You might hear them in movies, read them in books, or even see them as mottos for schools or organizations.

This guide will help you understand some common Latin phrases, what they mean, and where they come from. It's like a secret code that connects us to history!

Latin Phrases Starting with 'A'

Phrases About Actions and Beginnings

• a bene placito
  • Meaning: "At will" or "as you please."
  • What it means: You can do something exactly how you like, without rules.

• a capite ad calcem
  • Meaning: "From head to heel."
  • What it means: This means "from top to bottom" or "all the way through." It's like checking something completely.

• a contrario
  • Meaning: "From the opposite."
  • What it means: This is used when you argue by looking at the opposite of something. For example, if a rule says you can't do X, then a contrario means you *can* do Y.

• a fortiori
  • Meaning: "From the stronger."
  • What it means: This means "even more so" or "with even stronger reason." If something is true for a small case, it's a fortiori true for a bigger case.

• a maiore ad minus
  • Meaning: "From the greater to the smaller."
  • What it means: What is true for a whole group is also true for one part of that group.

• a minore ad maius
  • Meaning: "From the smaller to the greater."
  • What it means: If something is forbidden in a small way, it's also forbidden in a bigger way.

• a pedibus usque ad caput
  • Meaning: "From feet to head."
  • What it means: This is another way to say "completely" or "from head to toe."

• a posse ad esse
  • Meaning: "From being able to being."
  • What it means: This phrase talks about something going from being possible to actually happening.

• a priori and a posteriori
  • Meaning: a priori means "from the former," and a posteriori means "from the latter."
  • What it means: A priori knowledge is something you know without needing to experience it, like knowing 2+2=4. A posteriori knowledge comes from experience or observation, like knowing it's raining by looking outside.

• a solis ortu usque ad occasum
  • Meaning: "From sunrise to sunset."
  • What it means: This means "all day long" or "everywhere."

• ab absurdo
  • Meaning: "From the absurd."
  • What it means: This is used for an argument that says an idea is wrong because it leads to a silly or impossible conclusion.

• ab aeterno
  • Meaning: "From the eternal."
  • What it means: This means "from eternity" or "from outside of time." Sometimes it's used to mean "since the beginning of time."

• ab antiquo
  • Meaning: "From the ancient."
  • What it means: This simply means "from ancient times."

• ab epistulis
  • Meaning: "From the letters."
  • What it means: This refers to things related to writing or messages. In ancient Rome, it was the name of a secretary's job.

• ab extra
  • Meaning: "From beyond" or "from without."
  • What it means: This means something comes from an outside source. Its opposite is ab intra.

• ab hinc
  • Meaning: "From here on."
  • What it means: This means "from this point forward."

• ab imo pectore
  • Meaning: "From the deepest chest."
  • What it means: This means "from the bottom of my heart" or "sincerely."

• ab incunabulis
  • Meaning: "From the cradle."
  • What it means: This means "from the beginning" or "from infancy." The word incunabula is used for very old books printed before 1500 AD.

• ab initio
  • Meaning: "From the beginning."
  • What it means: This means "from the start." If something is true ab initio, it was true from the very first moment. In stories, it means starting from the very beginning, not in the middle.

• ab intra
  • Meaning: "From within."
  • What it means: This means something comes from the inside. Its opposite is ab extra.

• ab invito
  • Meaning: "Against one's will."
  • What it means: This describes something done unwillingly.

• ab irato
  • Meaning: "From an angry person."
  • What it means: This describes a decision or action made out of anger, not good judgment.

• ab origine
  • Meaning: "From the source."
  • What it means: This means "from the origin" or "originally." The word "aboriginal" comes from this phrase.

• ab ovo usque ad mala
  • Meaning: "From the egg to the apples."
  • What it means: Ancient Roman meals often started with eggs and ended with fruit. So, this phrase means "from beginning to end" or "thoroughly."

• abundans cautela non nocet
  • Meaning: "Abundant caution does no harm."
  • What it means: This means "you can never be too careful."

• ab uno disce omnes
  • Meaning: "From one, learn all."
  • What it means: This means that if you see one example, it can teach you a general truth about everything similar.

• ab urbe condita (AUC)
  • Meaning: "From the founding of the City."
  • What it means: This refers to the founding of Rome in 753 BC. Romans used this to count years, like we use AD.

• abusus non tollit usum
  • Meaning: "Misuse does not remove use."
  • What it means: Just because something can be used wrongly doesn't mean it can't be used correctly.

• abyssus abyssum invocat
  • Meaning: "Deep calleth unto deep."
  • What it means: This means one bad thing leads to another, or a difficult situation pulls you deeper into trouble.

• accipe hoc
  • Meaning: "Take this."
  • What it means: This is a motto, like for the British Royal Navy's 848 Naval Air Squadron.

• acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt
  • Meaning: "Mortal actions never deceive the gods."
  • What it means: This means that the gods (or a higher power) always know what people do.

• acta est fabula plaudite
  • Meaning: "The play has been performed; applaud!"
  • What it means: This was a common ending to ancient Roman comedies. It means "it's over, now clap!"

• acta non verba
  • Meaning: "Deeds not words."
  • What it means: This means actions are more important than just talking. It's the motto of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

• acta sanctorum
  • Meaning: "Deeds of the Saints."
  • What it means: This is a common title for books about the lives of saints.

• actiones secundum fidei
  • Meaning: "Action follows belief."
  • What it means: This means that what we do is based on what we believe.

• actus reus
  • Meaning: "Guilty act."
  • What it means: In law, this refers to the actual action that is considered a crime, separate from the intention behind it.

Phrases About Going Forward and Goals

• ad absurdum
  • Meaning: "To absurdity."
  • What it means: In logic, this means taking an idea to a point where it becomes silly or nonsensical to show it's wrong.

• ad abundantiam
  • Meaning: "To abundance."
  • What it means: This means "as if this wasn't enough," often used when adding more evidence or information.

• ad acta
  • Meaning: "To the archives."
  • What it means: This means something is put away, like in old records, because it's no longer important.

• ad altiora tendo
  • Meaning: "I strive towards higher things."
  • What it means: This is a motto for aiming high and working for greater goals.

• ad arbitrium
  • Meaning: "At will, at pleasure."
  • What it means: Similar to a bene placito, meaning you can do something as you wish.

• ad astra
  • Meaning: "To the stars."
  • What it means: This is a popular motto, meaning to aim for great heights or achievements.

• ad astra per aspera
  • Meaning: "To the stars through difficulties."
  • What it means: This means that you reach great goals by overcoming challenges. It's the motto of Kansas and was on the memorial for the Apollo 1 astronauts.

• ad augusta per angusta
  • Meaning: "Through difficulties to honors."
  • What it means: This means you achieve high positions or respect by working through tough times.

• ad captandum vulgus
  • Meaning: "To captivate the mob."
  • What it means: This describes something done to impress or please a large group of people, often used for politicians.

• ad clerum
  • Meaning: "To the clergy."
  • What it means: This is a formal letter from a bishop to priests in the Christian church.

• ad coelum
  • Meaning: "From the sky to the center."
  • What it means: In law, this refers to the idea that if you own land, you own everything above it to the sky and below it to the center of the Earth.

• ad fontes
  • Meaning: "To the sources."
  • What it means: This is a motto from the Renaissance, meaning to go back to the original texts or ideas to learn.

• ad fundum
  • Meaning: "To the bottom."
  • What it means: This can mean "bottoms up!" when toasting, or "back to the basics" depending on the situation.

• ad hoc
  • Meaning: "To this."
  • What it means: This means something is made or done for a specific, immediate purpose, often improvised.

• ad hominem
  • Meaning: "To the man."
  • What it means: This describes a type of argument where you attack the person making the argument instead of their idea. It's a logical mistake.

• ad honorem
  • Meaning: "To/for the honor."
  • What it means: This means something is done for respect or honor, not for money or reward.

• ad infinitum
  • Meaning: "To infinity."
  • What it means: This means "forever" or "repeating endlessly."

• ad interim
  • Meaning: "For the meantime."
  • What it means: This means "temporarily" or "for a short period."

• ad kalendas graecas
  • Meaning: "At the Greek Calends."
  • What it means: The Calends were Roman calendar days, but the Greeks didn't have them. So, this means "never" or "when pigs fly."

• ad libitum (ad lib)
  • Meaning: "Toward pleasure."
  • What it means: This means "as you wish" or "according to what pleases." In music, it means a performer can change or skip something. It's also used for improvising.

• ad limina apostolorum
  • Meaning: "To the thresholds of the Apostles."
  • What it means: This refers to a formal trip Roman Catholic bishops make to visit the Pope in Rome every five years.

• ad litem
  • Meaning: "To the lawsuit."
  • What it means: This is a legal term for someone appointed by a court to represent another person who can't represent themselves, like a child.

• ad locum (ad loc.)
  • Meaning: "At the place."
  • What it means: This is used to tell someone to look for information in a specific part of a book or reference.

• ad lucem
  • Meaning: "To the light."
  • What it means: This is a common motto for schools, meaning to seek knowledge or truth.

• ad maiorem Dei gloriam (AMDG)
  • Meaning: "For the greater glory of God."
  • What it means: This is the motto of the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order.

• ad meliora
  • Meaning: "Towards better things."
  • What it means: This is a motto for always working to improve.

• ad multos annos
  • Meaning: "To many years."
  • What it means: This is a wish for a long life, similar to "many happy returns."

• ad nauseam
  • Meaning: "To sickness."
  • What it means: This means repeating something so much that people get tired of it or disgusted.

• ad oculos
  • Meaning: "To the eyes."
  • What it means: This means something is "obvious on sight" or "clear to anyone who sees it."

• ad pedem litterae
  • Meaning: "To the foot of the letter."
  • What it means: This means "exactly as it is written" or "to the letter," paying attention to every detail.

• ad perpetuam memoriam
  • Meaning: "To the perpetual memory."
  • What it means: This is used to wish for someone to be remembered long after they have passed away.

• ad referendum
  • Meaning: "To reference."
  • What it means: This means something is approved for now, but still needs official final approval.

• ad rem
  • Meaning: "To the matter."
  • What it means: This means "to the point" or "without going off-topic."

• adsumus
  • Meaning: "Here we are."
  • What it means: This is a motto, like for the Brazilian Marine Corps. It's also part of a prayer.

• ad susceptum perficiendum
  • Meaning: "In order to achieve what has been undertaken."
  • What it means: This is a motto about finishing what you start.

• ad undas
  • Meaning: "To the waves."
  • What it means: This is an old way of saying "to Hell."

• ad usum Delphini
  • Meaning: "For the use of the Dauphin."
  • What it means: This refers to books that were edited to remove anything offensive for the French prince (the Dauphin). It means something has been cleaned up or censored.

• ad usum proprium
  • Meaning: "For one's own use."
  • What it means: This means something is for personal use.

• ad utrumque paratus
  • Meaning: "Prepared for either [alternative]."
  • What it means: This motto means being ready for two different things, like studying (book) or fighting (sword). It's used by Lund University and the US Marine Corps.

• ad valorem
  • Meaning: "According to value."
  • What it means: This is used in business for taxes that are based on the value of something, like property.

• ad victoriam
  • Meaning: "To/for victory."
  • What it means: This was a battle cry used by the Romans.

• ad vitam aeternam
  • Meaning: "To eternal life."
  • What it means: This is a common phrase from the Bible, meaning "to life everlasting."

• ad vitam aut culpam
  • Meaning: "For life or until fault."
  • What it means: This refers to a job or position that lasts until the person dies or does something wrong.

• addendum
  • Meaning: "Thing to be added."
  • What it means: This is something extra that needs to be added, especially to a book. The plural is addenda.

• adaequatio rei et intellectus
  • Meaning: "Correspondence of mind and reality."
  • What it means: This is a classic idea about what "truth" is: when your thoughts match what is real.

• adsum
  • Meaning: "I am here."
  • What it means: This is like saying "present!" or "here!" when your name is called.

• adtigo planitia Lunae
  • Meaning: "I will reach the plains of the Moon."
  • What it means: This was the motto for the American IM-1 lunar mission.

• adversus solem ne loquitor
  • Meaning: "Do not speak against the Sun."
  • What it means: This means "do not argue against something that is clearly true."

• advocatus diaboli
  • Meaning: "Devil's advocate."
  • What it means: This is someone who argues against an idea, even if they don't believe it, just to make sure all sides are considered and to test the original argument.

• aegri somnia
  • Meaning: "A sick man's dreams."
  • What it means: This means "troubled dreams" or ideas that are confused and not clear.

• aes alienum
  • Meaning: "Foreign debt."
  • What it means: This literally means "someone else's money" and refers to debt.

• aetatis suae
  • Meaning: "Of his age" or "at the age of."
  • What it means: This phrase is often seen on old portraits or gravestones to show how old someone was.

• affidavit
  • Meaning: "He asserted."
  • What it means: In law, an affidavit is a written statement that someone swears is true.

• age quod agis
  • Meaning: "Do what you do."
  • What it means: This means "do well whatever you are doing" or "focus on the task at hand."

• agere sequitur esse
  • Meaning: "Action follows being."
  • What it means: This idea means that what you do comes from who you are.

• Agnus Dei
  • Meaning: "Lamb of God."
  • What it means: This refers to Jesus Christ, symbolizing innocence and sacrifice in Christianity.

• alea iacta est
  • Meaning: "The die has been cast."
  • What it means: Said by Julius Caesar, this means a decision has been made that cannot be changed, and you have passed the "point of no return." It's like rolling dice – once they're thrown, you can't take it back.

• alenda lux ubi orta libertas
  • Meaning: "Let light be nourished where liberty has arisen."
  • What it means: "Light" here means learning. It's a motto about supporting education where freedom exists.

• alias
  • Meaning: "At another time, otherwise."
  • What it means: This refers to an assumed name or a nickname.

• alibi
  • Meaning: "Elsewhere."
  • What it means: In law, an alibi is a defense where someone proves they were in another place when a crime happened.

• aliquid stat pro aliquo
  • Meaning: "Something stands for something else."
  • What it means: This is a basic idea in the study of signs and symbols, meaning one thing represents another.

• alis aquilae
  • Meaning: "On an eagle's wings."
  • What it means: This phrase from the Bible means to find renewed strength and rise up.

• alis grave nil
  • Meaning: "Nothing is heavy with wings."
  • What it means: This means that nothing is too hard for those who are inspired or have help.

• alis volat propriis
  • Meaning: "She flies with her own wings."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Oregon, meaning to be independent and self-reliant.

• alma mater
  • Meaning: "Nourishing mother."
  • What it means: This is a term for the university or college you attend or have attended, suggesting it provides knowledge and care.

• alter ego
  • Meaning: "Another I."
  • What it means: This means "another self" or a second identity. It can be used for a character's secret identity.

• alterius non sit qui suus esse potest
  • Meaning: "Let no man be another's who can be his own."
  • What it means: This means you should be your own person and not let others control you if you can be independent.

• alterum non laedere
  • Meaning: "To not wound another."
  • What it means: This is a basic legal idea meaning you should not harm others.

• alumnus or alumna
  • Meaning: "Pupil."
  • What it means: An alumnus (male) or alumna (female) is a graduate or former student of a school. The plural for males is alumni, and for females is alumnae.

• a mari usque ad mare
  • Meaning: "From sea to sea."
  • What it means: This is the national motto of Canada, meaning its dominion stretches across the country.

• amat victoria curam
  • Meaning: "Victory favors care."
  • What it means: This means that victory comes to those who are careful and prepared.

• amicus certus in re incerta
  • Meaning: "A sure friend in an unsure matter."
  • What it means: This means a true friend is someone who stays with you when things are difficult.

• amicus curiae
  • Meaning: "Friend of the court."
  • What it means: In law, this is a person or group who offers advice or information to the court, even though they are not directly involved in the case.

• Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas
  • Meaning: "Plato is my friend, but truth is a better friend."
  • What it means: This means that truth is more important and valuable than friendship.

• amicus usque ad aras
  • Meaning: "A friend as far as to the altars."
  • What it means: This means a friend whose loyalty is so strong that only religion or a higher power comes before them. It means "a friend to the very end."

• amor Dei intellectualis
  • Meaning: "Intellectual love of God."
  • What it means: This is a philosophical idea about loving God through understanding and reason.

• amor et melle et felle est fecundissimus
  • Meaning: "Love is rich with both honey and venom."
  • What it means: This means love has both sweet and bitter parts.

• amor fati
  • Meaning: "Love of fate."
  • What it means: This is a philosophical idea about loving everything that happens in life, even the difficult parts.

• amor omnibus idem
  • Meaning: "Love is the same for all."
  • What it means: This means that love is a universal feeling, experienced by everyone.

• amor patriae
  • Meaning: "Love of the fatherland."
  • What it means: This means "love of one's country" or patriotism.

• amor vincit omnia
  • Meaning: "Love conquers all."
  • What it means: This famous phrase means that love can overcome any obstacle.

• An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
  • Meaning: "Do you not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?"
  • What it means: This phrase suggests that the world is often run with less wisdom than one might think.

• anglice
  • Meaning: "In English."
  • What it means: This is used before an English translation of a word or name.

• animus in consulendo liber
  • Meaning: "A mind unfettered in deliberation."
  • What it means: This is the motto of NATO, meaning to have a free and open mind when discussing things.

• anno (an.)
  • Meaning: "In the year."
  • What it means: This is used in phrases like Anno Domini.

• anno Domini (A.D.)
  • Meaning: "In the year of our Lord."
  • What it means: This is the system we use to count years, based on the birth of Jesus Christ. Years before are called BC (Before Christ).

• anno regni
  • Meaning: "In the year of the reign."
  • What it means: This is used to say what year it is in a ruler's time on the throne.

• annuit cœptis
  • Meaning: "He nods at things now begun."
  • What it means: This means "He approves our undertakings." It's on the Great Seal of the United States and the dollar bill, referring to God's approval.

• annus horribilis
  • Meaning: "Horrible year."
  • What it means: This is a phrase used to describe a very bad year. Queen Elizabeth II famously used it to describe 1992.

• annus mirabilis
  • Meaning: "Wonderful year."
  • What it means: This refers to a year when great things happened, like Isaac Newton's discoveries in 1665-1666 or Albert Einstein's in 1905.

• annus terribilis
  • Meaning: "Dreadful year."
  • What it means: This was used to describe 1348, when the Black Death began in Europe.

• ante bellum
  • Meaning: "Before the war."
  • What it means: This is often used to describe the time period before a major war, like the American Civil War.

• ante cibum (a.c.)
  • Meaning: "Before food."
  • What it means: This is medical shorthand for "before meals."

• ante faciem Domini
  • Meaning: "Before the face of the Lord."
  • What it means: This is a motto, like for Christian Brothers College, Adelaide.

• ante litteram
  • Meaning: "Before the letter."
  • What it means: This describes something that existed before the word for it was commonly used. For example, Alan Turing was a computer scientist ante litteram because the field didn't exist yet.

• ante meridiem (a.m.)
  • Meaning: "Before midday."
  • What it means: This is what we use for times from midnight to noon.

• ante mortem
  • Meaning: "Before death."
  • What it means: This is used to describe something that happens before someone dies.

• ante omnia armari
  • Meaning: "Before all else, be armed."
  • What it means: This is a motto about being prepared.

• ante prandium (a.p.)
  • Meaning: "Before lunch."
  • What it means: This is used in medical prescriptions for "before a meal."

• antiqui colant antiquum dierum
  • Meaning: "Let the ancients worship the ancient of days."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Chester, England.

• aperire terram gentibus
  • Meaning: "Open the land to nations."
  • What it means: This was the motto of Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built the Suez and Panama Canals, meaning to connect countries.

• apparatus criticus
  • Meaning: "Tools of a critic."
  • What it means: This refers to notes or different versions of a text used by scholars when studying old documents.

• apologia pro vita sua
  • Meaning: "Defense of one's life."
  • What it means: This is a formal defense or explanation of one's life or actions.

• apud
  • Meaning: "In the writings of."
  • What it means: This is used in scholarly works to say where information came from, especially if it's a secondary source.

• aqua (aq.)
  • Meaning: "Water."
  • What it means: A simple Latin word for water.

• aqua fortis
  • Meaning: "Strong water."
  • What it means: This is an old name for nitric acid, a very strong chemical.

• aqua pura
  • Meaning: "Pure water."
  • What it means: This means "clean water."

• aqua regia
  • Meaning: "Royal water."
  • What it means: This is a powerful mixture of acids that can dissolve gold and platinum.

• aqua vitae
  • Meaning: "Water of life."
  • What it means: This refers to strong alcoholic drinks like whisky or brandy.

• aquila non capit muscas
  • Meaning: "An eagle does not catch flies."
  • What it means: This means an important person doesn't bother with small, unimportant things.

• arare litus
  • Meaning: "To plough the seashore."
  • What it means: This means doing something that is a "wasted effort" because it won't achieve anything.

• arbiter elegantiarum
  • Meaning: "Judge of tastes."
  • What it means: This describes someone who is an expert on good manners, style, and social behavior.

• arcana imperii
  • Meaning: "The secrets of power."
  • What it means: This refers to the hidden ways a government or powerful group operates.

• arcanum boni tenoris animae
  • Meaning: "The secret behind a good mood."
  • What it means: This is the motto of a brewery, suggesting their product helps with a good mood.

• arcus senilis
  • Meaning: "Bow of an old person."
  • What it means: This is a medical term for a cloudy ring that can appear around the eye, often in older people.

• arduus ad solem
  • Meaning: "Striving towards the Sun."
  • What it means: This is a motto about aiming high and reaching for great things.

• argentum album
  • Meaning: "White silver."
  • What it means: This refers to silver, either as metal or coins.

• arguendo
  • Meaning: "For arguing."
  • What it means: This means "for the sake of argument," used when you assume something is true just to discuss it.

• argumentum
  • Meaning: "Argument."
  • What it means: This word is used in many logical terms, referring to different types of arguments or ways of reasoning.

• Arma Christi
  • Meaning: "Weapons of Christ."
  • What it means: These are the objects connected to Jesus Christ's suffering and death, seen as symbols of his victory over evil.

• armata potentia
  • Meaning: "Armed and powerful."
  • What it means: This was a legal charge in medieval England against people who used weapons against the King's peace.

• ars celare artem
  • Meaning: "Art is to conceal art."
  • What it means: This means that truly good art should look natural and effortless, not obviously made.

• ars gratia artis
  • Meaning: "Art for the sake of art."
  • What it means: This motto, used by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, means that art should be created for its own beauty and value, not for other reasons.

• ars longa, vita brevis
  • Meaning: "Art is long, life is short."
  • What it means: This means that learning a skill (like medicine, in its original meaning) takes a long time, but life is short. It emphasizes that there's always more to learn.

• arte et labore
  • Meaning: "By art and by labor."
  • What it means: This motto means success comes from both skill and hard work.

• arte et marte
  • Meaning: "By skill and by fighting."
  • What it means: This motto means success comes from both cleverness and strength.

• Artis Bohemiae Amicis
  • Meaning: "Friends of Czech Arts."
  • What it means: This is an award given for promoting Czech culture around the world.

• asinus ad lyram
  • Meaning: "An ass to the lyre."
  • What it means: This means someone is awkward or bad at something, like a donkey trying to play a musical instrument.

• asinus asinum fricat
  • Meaning: "The jackass rubs the jackass."
  • What it means: This describes two people giving each other too much praise, like they're flattering each other.

• astra inclinant, sed non obligant
  • Meaning: "The stars incline us, they do not bind us."
  • What it means: This means that while things like astrology might suggest certain paths, people still have free will and can make their own choices.

• auctores varii
  • Meaning: "Various authors."
  • What it means: This is used in book lists for works written by more than three people.

• auctoritas
  • Meaning: "Authority."
  • What it means: This refers to the level of respect and influence a person had in Roman society.

• auctoritas non veritas facit legem
  • Meaning: "Authority, not truth, makes law."
  • What it means: This idea suggests that laws are made by those in power, not necessarily because they are always true or right.

• audacia pro muro et scuto opus
  • Meaning: "Boldness is our wall, action is our shield."
  • What it means: This is a motto about being brave and taking action to protect yourself.

• audacter calumniare, semper aliquid haeret
  • Meaning: "Slander boldly, something always sticks."
  • What it means: This means that if you spread rumors or say bad things about someone, even if they're not true, some of it will always be believed.

• audax at fidelis
  • Meaning: "Bold but faithful."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Queensland, Australia, meaning to be brave and loyal.

• audeamus
  • Meaning: "Let us dare."
  • What it means: This is a motto about being brave and taking risks.

• audemus jura nostra defendere
  • Meaning: "We dare to defend our rights."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Alabama, meaning to be brave enough to stand up for your rights.

• audentes fortuna iuvat
  • Meaning: "Fortune favors the bold."
  • What it means: This famous phrase means that luck or success comes to those who are brave and take risks.

• audere est facere
  • Meaning: "To dare is to do."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Tottenham Hotspur F.C., meaning that being brave enough to try is the same as doing it.

• audi alteram partem
  • Meaning: "Hear the other side."
  • What it means: This is a legal principle meaning you should always listen to both sides of an argument before deciding.

• audio hostem
  • Meaning: "I hear the enemy."
  • What it means: This is a motto, like for the 845 NAS Royal Navy.

• audi, vide, tace
  • Meaning: "Hear, see, be silent."
  • What it means: This means to observe carefully but keep quiet about what you know.

• aurea mediocritas
  • Meaning: "Golden mean."
  • What it means: This idea, from ancient philosophy, means finding a balanced middle ground between two extremes, which is considered the best way.

• auri sacra fames
  • Meaning: "Accursed hunger for gold."
  • What it means: This means a strong, often negative, desire for money or wealth.

• auribus teneo lupum
  • Meaning: "I hold a wolf by the ears."
  • What it means: This is an old saying meaning you are in a very dangerous situation where both holding on and letting go are risky.

• aurora australis
  • Meaning: "Southern dawn."
  • What it means: This refers to the Southern Lights, a beautiful natural light display in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere.

• aurora borealis
  • Meaning: "Northern dawn."
  • What it means: This refers to the Northern Lights, a beautiful natural light display in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

• aurora musis amica
  • Meaning: "Dawn is a friend to the muses."
  • What it means: This means that the early morning is a good time for creative work and studying.

• aurum potestas est
  • Meaning: "Gold is power."
  • What it means: This is a motto from the Artemis Fowl books, meaning wealth brings power.

• auspicium melioris aevi
  • Meaning: "Hope/token of a better age."
  • What it means: This is a motto about hoping for and working towards a better future.

• Austriae est imperare orbi universo (A.E.I.O.U.)
  • Meaning: "Austria is to rule the whole world."
  • What it means: This was a motto of the Habsburg royal family, showing their ambition for power.

• aut Caesar aut nihil
  • Meaning: "Either Caesar or nothing."
  • What it means: This means "all or nothing," showing a strong desire to be the best or have supreme power.

• aut consilio aut ense
  • Meaning: "Either by meeting or the sword."
  • What it means: This means solving problems either through discussion or through war. It was an early motto of Chile.

• aut cum scuto aut in scuto
  • Meaning: "Either with shield or on shield."
  • What it means: This was a saying from Spartan mothers to their sons going to battle, meaning "do or die" or "no retreat." You either come back victorious with your shield, or dead on it.

• aut imiteris aut oderis
  • Meaning: "Imitate or loathe it."
  • What it means: This means you either copy something or you dislike it.

• aut neca aut necare
  • Meaning: "Either kill or be killed."
  • What it means: This is a phrase about survival in a dangerous situation.

• aut pax aut bellum
  • Meaning: "Either peace or war."
  • What it means: This is a motto, like for the Gunn Clan, meaning there are only two options: peace or conflict.

• aut simul stabunt aut simul cadent
  • Meaning: "They will either stand together or fall together."
  • What it means: This means two things are connected and will either succeed or fail at the same time.

• aut viam inveniam aut faciam
  • Meaning: "I will either find a way or make one."
  • What it means: This famous quote by Hannibal means that if there isn't a path to success, you will create one.

• aut vincere aut mori
  • Meaning: "Either to conquer or to die."
  • What it means: This is a pledge meaning "victory or death," showing a determination to win or die trying.

• ave atque vale
  • Meaning: "Hail and farewell."
  • What it means: This is a phrase used to say hello and goodbye, often in a sad or respectful way, like when saying goodbye to someone who has passed away.

• ave Europa nostra vera patria
  • Meaning: "Hail Europe, our true fatherland."
  • What it means: This is an anthem for a group called Imperium Europa.

• Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant
  • Meaning: "Hail, Emperor! Those who are about to die salute you!"
  • What it means: This was a salute given by gladiators to the Roman Emperor before they fought, knowing they might die.

• Ave Maria
  • Meaning: "Hail, Mary."
  • What it means: This is a Roman Catholic prayer asking Mary, the mother of Jesus, to pray for someone.

• ave mater Angliae
  • Meaning: "Hail, Mother of England."
  • What it means: This is the motto of Canterbury, England.