List of Latin phrases (L) facts for kids

Latin is an ancient language that was spoken by the Romans. Even though it's not spoken as a main language anymore, many Latin phrases are still used today! You might hear them in movies, read them in books, or even see them as mottos for schools, universities, or countries.

A motto is a short phrase that expresses the main idea or goal of a person, group, or organization. Latin mottos often share important values like hard work, truth, or freedom. Learning these phrases can help you understand where many English words come from and give you a glimpse into history!

Latin Phrases and Their Meanings

Words of Wisdom and Inspiration

Latin phrases often carry deep meanings, inspiring people and groups with their timeless wisdom. Many of these are used as mottos, guiding principles for institutions and individuals.

Hard Work and Effort

• labor ipse voluptas

* Meaning: The pleasure is in the work itself. * This phrase suggests that the joy comes from doing the work, not just from the result. It was the motto of Peter King, an important person in history.

• labor omnia vincit

* Meaning: Hard work conquers all. * This is a very popular motto, meaning that with enough effort, you can overcome any challenge. It comes from the ancient Roman poet Virgil.

• labore et honore

* Meaning: By labour and honour. * This motto connects hard work with earning respect and dignity.

• laboremus pro patria

* Meaning: Let us work for the fatherland. * This phrase encourages people to work for their country. It's the motto of the Carlsberg breweries.

• laboris gloria Ludi

* Meaning: Games are the glory of work. * This motto, used by the Camborne School of Mines, suggests that fun activities or achievements are the reward for hard work.

• luctor et emergo

* Meaning: I struggle and emerge. * This motto is used by the Dutch province of Zeeland to show how they fought against the sea and won. It means that even after difficulties, you can succeed.

Truth, Light, and Freedom

• lacrimae rerum

* Meaning: The poignancy of things. * This phrase from Virgil talks about the sadness or emotional depth found in everyday life and events.

• laus Deo

* Meaning: Praise be to God. * This phrase is an expression of thanks or praise. You can find it inscribed on the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

• lex dei vitae lampas

* Meaning: The law of God is the lamp of life. * This motto means that divine rules guide and light up one's life. It's used by the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Melbourne.

• Libertas Justitia Veritas

* Meaning: Liberty Justice Truth. * This powerful motto combines three important values: freedom, fairness, and honesty. It's used by Korea University and Freie Universität Berlin.

• Libertas perfundet omnia luce

* Meaning: Freedom will flood all things with light. * This motto, used by the University of Barcelona, suggests that freedom brings understanding and clarity to everything.

• Libertas quae sera tamen

* Meaning: Liberty even when it comes late. * This phrase means that freedom is valuable, no matter when it is achieved. It's the motto of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

• Libertas Securitas Justitia

* Meaning: Liberty Security Justice. * This motto combines freedom, safety, and fairness. It's used by Frontex, an organization that helps manage borders.

• luce veritatis

* Meaning: By the light of truth. * This motto means that actions or decisions are guided by honesty and facts. It's used by Queen Margaret College.

• luceat lux vestra

* Meaning: Let your light shine. * This inspiring phrase comes from the Gospel of Matthew and is a popular school motto, encouraging students to show their best qualities.

• lucem sequimur

* Meaning: We follow the light. * This motto, used by the University of Exeter, means that they are guided by knowledge and truth.

• luceo non uro

* Meaning: I shine, not burn. * This motto of the Scottish Clan Mackenzie suggests that they are brilliant and influential without being destructive.

• lux aeterna

* Meaning: Eternal light. * This phrase is often used on gravestones or in religious contexts to refer to everlasting peace or divine light.

• lux et lex

* Meaning: Light and law. * This motto, used by Franklin & Marshall College, connects knowledge and understanding with rules and order.

• lux et veritas

* Meaning: Light and truth. * This is a very common motto for universities, including Yale University, meaning that they seek both knowledge and honesty.

• lux ex tenebris

* Meaning: Light from darkness. * This motto means that understanding or hope can come even from difficult or unclear situations.

• lux hominum vita

* Meaning: Light the life of man. * This motto of the University of New Mexico means that light (knowledge) brings life to people.

• lux in Domino

* Meaning: Light in the Lord. * This motto of the Ateneo de Manila University means that their guidance comes from faith.

• lux in tenebris lucet

* Meaning: The light that shines in the darkness. * This motto, used by Columbia University School of General Studies, suggests that knowledge can illuminate even the darkest times.

• lux libertas

* Meaning: Light and liberty. * This motto of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill connects knowledge with freedom.

• Lux mentis Lux orbis

* Meaning: Light of the mind, Light of the world. * This motto of Sonoma State University means that knowledge in the mind can illuminate the whole world.

• lux sit

* Meaning: Let there be light. * This famous phrase comes from the Bible and is a motto for the University of Washington, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge.

• lux tua nos ducat

* Meaning: Your light guides us. * This phrase expresses reliance on a guiding force, often referring to divine guidance.

• lux, veritas, virtus

* Meaning: Light, truth, courage. * This motto of Northeastern University combines knowledge, honesty, and bravery.

• lux, vita, caritas

* Meaning: Light, life, love. * This motto of St John's College, Johannesburg emphasizes knowledge, existence, and compassion.

Learning and Knowledge

• lectio difficilior potior

* Meaning: The more difficult reading is the stronger. * This is a rule used by experts when studying old texts. It means that if there are different versions of an old text, the one that seems harder to understand might be the original one, because it's less likely someone would have made it more complicated on purpose.

• littera scripta manet

* Meaning: The written word endures. * This phrase means that what is written down lasts a long time, unlike spoken words which can be forgotten. It's attributed to Horace.

• lignum crucis arbor scientiae

* Meaning: The wood of the cross is the tree of knowledge. * This motto of Denstone College connects religious faith with learning.

Living by Rules

• leges humanae nascuntur, vivunt, et moriuntur

* Meaning: Laws of man are born, live and die. * This means that human laws are not forever; they are created, used, and can eventually be changed or disappear.

• leges sine moribus vanae

* Meaning: Laws without morals [are] vain. * This phrase from Horace means that laws are useless if people don't have good values or ethics. It's the motto of the University of Pennsylvania.

• legio patria nostra

* Meaning: The Legion is our fatherland. * This is the motto of the French Foreign Legion, a famous military group, showing their strong loyalty to the Legion itself.

• lex est quodcumque notamus

* Meaning: The law is whatever we write down. * This motto of the Chamber of Notaries of Paris means that what they record becomes official law.

• lex ferenda

* Meaning: The law that should be borne. * This refers to what the law should be in the future, or how it ought to be changed.

• lex lata

* Meaning: The law that has been borne. * This refers to the law as it is right now, the current rules.

• lex paciferat

* Meaning: The law shall bring peace. * This is the motto of the European Gendarmerie Force, meaning that their work in enforcing laws helps create peace.

• lex parsimoniae

* Meaning: Law of succinctness. * This is also known as Occam's Razor. It's a principle that says when you have several possible explanations for something, the simplest one is usually the best.

• lex rex

* Meaning: The law [is] king. * This important idea means that everyone, even leaders, must follow the law. It's about having a government ruled by laws, not just by people.

• lex scripta

* Meaning: Written law. * This refers to laws that are formally written down, like in books or documents.

• lex talionis

* Meaning: The law of retaliation. * This means "an eye for an eye," where punishment for a crime is similar to the harm caused.

Everyday Sayings and Common Terms

Some Latin phrases are used in everyday language, often to describe common situations or mistakes.

Slips and Mistakes

• lapsus

* Meaning: lapse, slip, error; involuntary mistake made while writing or speaking. * This general term refers to a small, unintentional error.

• lapsus calami

* Meaning: slip of the pen. * This means a mistake made while writing, like a typographical error.

• lapsus linguae

* Meaning: slip of the tongue. * This means a mistake made while speaking, like saying the wrong word by accident.

• lapsus memoriae

* Meaning: slip of memory. * This is where the term memory lapse comes from, meaning a temporary failure to remember something.

Places and Situations

• loco citato (lc)

* Meaning: in the place cited. * This is used in academic writing to refer back to a specific place (like a page number) that was mentioned earlier.

• locum tenens

* Meaning: place holder. * This term is used for someone who temporarily takes the place of another professional, like a doctor filling in for a colleague. It's often shortened to locum.

• locus classicus

* Meaning: a classic place. * This refers to the most typical or perfect example of something, or a very famous quote that perfectly shows its meaning.

• locus minoris resistentiae

* Meaning: place of less resistance. * In medicine, this describes a part of the body that is weaker and more likely to get injured or infected.

• locus poenitentiae

* Meaning: a place of repentance. * In law, this means having a chance to change your mind about a plan or agreement before it becomes final.

• locus standi

* Meaning: A right to stand. * In law, this means having the right to bring a case to court.

Other Useful Phrases

• lauda finem

* Meaning: praise to the end. * This motto of Nottingham High School suggests that you should keep working hard until the very end.

• Laudatio Ejus Manet In Secula Seculorum

* Meaning: His Praise Remains unto Ages of Ages. * This motto of Galway means that someone's good reputation or praise will last forever.

• laudator temporis acti

* Meaning: praiser of time past. * This describes someone who always thinks the past was better than the present, often saying "the good old days".

• laudetur Jesus Christus

* Meaning: Praise (Be) Jesus Christ. * This is a religious greeting or phrase used after prayers.

• lectori salutem (L. S.,)

* Meaning: greetings to the reader. * Often shortened to L.S., these were traditional opening words for a letter.

• lege artis

* Meaning: according to the law of the art. * This means something is done in the correct, professional way, especially in medicine. The "art" here refers to the skill of medicine.

• legem terrae

* Meaning: the law of the land. * This refers to the established laws of a country or region.

• legi, intellexi, et condemnavi

* Meaning: I read, understood, and condemned. * This phrase shows a strong rejection of something after careful consideration.

• legis plenitudo charitas

* Meaning: charity (love) is the fulfilment of the law. * This motto means that love or kindness is the most important part of following rules.

• levavi oculos

* Meaning: I will lift my eyes. * This motto, used by Hollins University, comes from a psalm and means looking up for help or inspiration.

• lex loci

* Meaning: law of the place. * This means that the laws of a specific location apply to a situation.

• lex non scripta

* Meaning: law that has not been written. * This refers to unwritten laws, like common customs or traditions that are followed even without being formally written down.

• lex orandi, lex credendi

* Meaning: the law of prayer is the law of faith. * This religious phrase means that how people pray shapes what they believe.

• libra (lb)

* Meaning: balance; scales. * Its abbreviation "lb" is still used today as the unit of weight called a pound.

• longissimus dies cito conditur

* Meaning: even the longest day soon ends. * This phrase from Pliny the Younger means that time passes quickly, even during long periods.

• lorem ipsum

* Meaning: (no direct translation, it's nonsense text). * This is a scrambled piece of Latin text from Cicero that is widely used as placeholder text in design and printing. It helps people see how a page will look before the final text is ready.

• ludemus bene in compania

* Meaning: We play well in groups. * This motto suggests that working or playing together leads to good results.

• lupus est homo homini

* Meaning: A man to a man is a wolf. * This famous saying means that people can be cruel or dangerous to each other, like wolves.

• lupus in fabula

* Meaning: the wolf in the story. * This is similar to the English saying "speak of the devil," meaning that when you talk about someone, they suddenly appear.

• lupus non mordet lupum

* Meaning: a wolf does not bite a wolf. * This means that people who are similar or belong to the same group usually don't harm each other.

• lupus non timet canem latrantem

* Meaning: a wolf is not afraid of a barking dog. * This means that someone powerful or determined isn't bothered by empty threats or loud but harmless actions.