Latin Phrases

A couple of weeks ago one of my coworkers emailed us a Friday quiz. The subject line said simply, “Friday quiz…Latin phrases,” and the email went on to ask, “Latin phrases people pretend to understand....how many do you know???”

Below were the phrases:

Caveat Emptor (KAV-ee-OT emp-TOR)
Persona Non Grata (puhr-SOH-nah non-GRAH-tah)
Habeas Corpus (HAY-bee-as KOR-pus)
Cogito Ergo Sum (CO-gee-toe ER-go SOME
E Pluribus Unum (EE PLUR-uh-buhs OOH-nuhm)
Quid Pro Quo (kwid proh KWOH)
Ad Hominem (ad HAH-mi-nem)
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (ad-MA-yor-em DAY-ee GLOR-ee-um)
Sui Generis (SOO-ee JEN-er-is)

Well, I couldn’t pass up trying to interpret them so this is what I came up with:

Caveat Emptor - A tourist attraction in SW Kentucky, "Come and see the Cave At Emptor!"

Persona Non Grata -- One of those stupid high school math problems, "If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how many Non Grade A eggs does Person A have?

Habeas Corpus -- A little town 12 miles southwest of Corpus Christi.

Cogito Ergo Sum -- What a Roman boss would holler at an employee..."Cogito! Do some work!"

E Pluribus Unum -- What E.P.'s family asks him when he comes in from 40 degrees below zero, "E Pluribus, you numb?"

Quid Pro Quo – Not sure…it’s either a shortened form of a cheerleader cheer for the defunct pro football team from Iowa (the Crows), “I am not quidding, look at that Pro Crow!" Or what the really, really young fans of the rock group “Kid Pro Crow” holler at one of their concerts, “Quid Pro Quo! Quid Pro Quo!”

Ad Hominem -- A request for more hominy when someone doesn't like their grits.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - An ad for margarine that's really shiny.

Sui Generis -- Filing frivolous generic lawsuits.


Her reply? “Forget the real answers...yours are way better!!!!!!!!”

But there is one Latin phrase that can only be interpreted one way – and it is without doubt the most important ever penned, “Sic enim dilexit Deus mundum ut Filium suum unigenitum daret ut omnis qui credit in eum non pereat sed habeat vitam aeternam.” The interpretation? It’s a verse found in the third chapter of the Gospel of John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (3:16). God loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you on Calvary! Give your heart to Him today without reservation and without hesitation.