This page is one of a series listing English translations of notable Latin phrases, such as veni, vidi, vici and et cetera. Some of the phrases are themselves translations of Greek phrases, as ancient Greek rhetoric and literature started centuries before the beginning of Latin literature in ancient Rome.
- This list covers the letter G. See List of Latin phrases for the main list.
Lists of Latin phrases
References| Latin | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres | all Gaul is divided into three parts | the celebrated opening line of Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War |
| gaudia certaminis | the joys of battle | according to Cassiodorus, an expression used by Attila in addressing his troops prior to the 451 Battle of Châlons |
| gaudeamus hodie | let us rejoice today | |
| gaudeamus igitur | therefore let us rejoice | First words of an academic anthem used, among other places, in The Student Prince. |
| gaudete in domino | rejoice in the Lord | Motto of Bishop Allen Academy |
| gaudium in veritate | joy in truth | Motto of Campion School |
| generalia specialibus non derogant | general provisions enacted in later legislation do not detract from specific provisions enacted in earlier legislation | A principle of statutory interpretation: If a matter falls under a specific provision in a statute enacted before a general provision enacted in a later statute, it is to be presumed that the legislature did not intend that the earlier specific provision be repealed, and the matter is governed by the earlier specific provision, not the more recent general one. |
| genius loci | spirit of place | The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually depicted as a snake. |
| generatim discite cultus | Learn each field of study according to its kind. (Virgil, Georgics II.) | Motto of the University of Bath. |
| gens una sumus | we are one people | Motto of FIDE. Can be traced back to Claudian's poem De consulatu Stilichonis. |
| gesta non verba | deeds, not words | Motto of James Ruse Agricultural High School. |
| Gloria in excelsis Deo | Glory to God in the Highest | Often translated "Glory to God on High". The title and beginning of an ancient Roman Catholic doxology, the Greater Doxology. See also ad maiorem Dei gloriam. |
| Gloria invidiam vicisti | By your fame you have conquered envy | Sallust, Bellum Jugurthum ("Jugurthine War") 10:2. |
| gloria filiorum patres | The glory of sons is their fathers (Proverbs17:6) | Motto of Eltham College |
| Gloria Patri | Glory to the Father | The beginning of the Lesser Doxology. |
| gloriosus et liber | glorious and free | Motto of Manitoba |
| gradatim ferociter | by degrees, ferociously | Motto of private spaceflight company Blue Origin, which officially treats "Step by step, ferociously" as the English translation |
| gradibus ascendimus | ascending by degrees | Motto of Grey College, Durham |
| Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit | Conquered Greece in turn defeated its savage conqueror | Horace Epistles 2.1 |
| Graecum est; non legitur | It is Greek (and therefore) it cannot be read. | Most commonly from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar where Casca couldn't explain to Cassius what Cicero was saying because he was speaking Greek. The more common colloquialism would be: It's all Greek to me. |
| grandescunt aucta labore | By hard work, all things increase and grow | Motto of McGill University |
| gratia et scientia | grace and learning | Motto of Arundel School |
| gratiae veritas naturae | Truth through mercy and nature | Motto of Uppsala University |
| graviora manent | heavier things remain | Virgil Aeneid 6:84; more severe things await, the worst is yet to come |
| Gravis Dulcis Immutabilis | serious sweet immutable | Title of a poem by James Elroy Flecker |
| gutta cavat lapidem | a water drop hollows a stone | main phrase is from Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto IV, 10, 5.; expanded in the Middle Ages |
References
- Peter A. Mackridge; Robert Browning; Donald William Lucas; et al. "Greek literature". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- Gravis Dulcis Immutabilis at classicpoetryaloud.com
- P. Ovidius Naso: Epistulae Ex Ponto, Liber Quartus, X. Albinovano at The Latin Library
Additional sources
- Adeleye, Gabriel G. (1999). Thomas J. Sienkewicz; James T. McDonough, Jr. (eds.). World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0865164223.
- Stone, Jon R. (1996). Latin for the Illiterati. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415917751.
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