500 Foreign Words and Phrases You Should Know to Sound Smart (11 page)

Homines dum docent discunt
(Latin) (HAH-min-ayz doom DOHK-ent DISS-kunt) (phrase)

People learn from teaching. Expresses the pedagogical theory that the best way to learn something is by teaching it to someone else.

I didn’t know how to fly-fish before I was assigned to teach it at summer camp, but you know what they say: HOMINES DUM DOCENT DISCUNT
.

Homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto
(Latin) (HOH-moh soom hoo-MAN-ee ah may NI-hil AY-lee-num POO-toh) (phrase)

I am a human; thus, nothing human is alien to me. This quotation from the Roman playwright Terence (c. 190–159
B.C.
) expresses an idea central to the European Renaissance that any activity of mankind should be a justified subject of study.

Honni soit qui mal y pense
(French) (O-nee SWA kee mal ee PAHNS) (phrase)

Shame be to him who thinks evil. This French phrase is the motto of the English Order of the Garter. It also appears on the front of British passports.

hora inglesa
(Spanish) (HOR-ah in-GLAZ-ah) (noun)

English time. The Spanish phrase implies that punctuality, seen as characteristic of the English, is not very important. The Spanish counterpart is
mañana
, which is literally translated as “tomorrow” but in actuality means “Whenever we get around to it.”

He says the windows need to be repaired by the end of today, but he’s thinking HORA INGLESA. I think we can do it mañana
.

horribile dictu
(Latin) (hor-EE-bil-ay DIK-too) (adv.)

Horrible to relate. Prefacing some terrible or distressing statement.

HORRIBILE DICTU, I was laid off from my job today, and, even worse, I found out that my wife is leaving me
.

hors de combat
(French) (or de kom-BAHT) (adj.)

Literally, “outside the fight.” More generally, disabled or unable to continue the battle.

The general’s head wound rendered him HORS DE COMBAT at the outset of the fight, which meant he was unable to direct the battle. In his absence, we held the upper hand
.

hors d’oeuvre
(French) (or DUHVRE) (noun)

Literally, “apart from the main work.” A small, bite-sized appetizer served before the commencement of a meal. They are designed to stimulate the appetite and thematically lead into the main course.

houri
(Arabic) (HOO-ree) (noun)

Mythical maidens, with modest gazes but of a highly seductive character. Alternately, it is a description of humans who enter paradise after being recreated.

O timeless HOURI, let me enter into the entrancing paradise of your delights!

hubris
(Greek) (HYU-briss) (noun)

The quality of overweening pride or overconfidence. The result of this, in Classical Greek literature is invariably
nemesis
, which administers a divine smackdown.

In Sophocles’
Antigone,
the HUBRIS of Creon, in believing he can substitute his judgment for that of the gods, leads to the death of his son and his prospective daughter-in-law
.

“If I speak only one language, I can help my country as only one man. If I can use two languages, I can help as two men. But if I can use all nine languages, then I can work as nine men.”

—Village elder, Eritrea

I

ibidem
(Latin) (i-BEE-dem) (adv.)

In the same place. Usually abbreviated
ibid
. This refers to a source that was previously cited.

Ich bin ein Berliner
(German) (IK bin ayn ber-LIN-er) (phrase)

I am a Berliner. Well, actually, that’s what President John F. Kennedy
meant
to say in his 1963 speech, given in West Berlin. One school of thought holds that since
Berliner
means jelly donut, and since the generally accepted way of saying, “I am a citizen of Berlin” is
Ich bin Berliner
, what Kennedy
actually
said was, “I am a donut.” Which probably worked just as well as an expression of U.S. foreign policy at the time. To be fair, other interpretations have said that the president’s grammar was technically correct.

idée fixe
(French) (EE-day FEEKS) (noun)

An obsession or persistent, irrational idea. Such an idea cannot be dislodged by any rational process of argument.

As a result of an IDÉE FIXE, some young American women are convinced that they will be able to convince Brad Pitt to break up with Angelina Jolie and move in with them instead. On the other hand, virtually all American men have the same idea about Angelina Jolie
.

idem
(Latin) (id-DEM) (adv.)

The same. In citations, refers to a citation that is the same as the one used previously.

id est
(Latin) (id EST) (prepositional phrase)

That is. Sometimes abbreviated
i.e
.

I am a genius, ID EST, a certified member of Mensa
.

Igitur qui desidera pacem, praeparet bellum
(Latin) (IG-i-toor kwi des-EE-dair-ah PAH-kem pre-PI-ret BEL-lum) (phrase)

Therefore, those who desire peace should prepare for war. A comment from Vegetius (c. 383), the author of
Epitoma rei militaris
, a lost treatise on military theory.

ignoratio elenchi
(Latin) (ig-nor-AH-tee-oh el-EN-ki) (phrase)

An argument that might be accurate but doesn’t address the matter at hand. Much prized by politicians, it is a significant logical fallacy.

To say that because I don’t mind higher taxes if they lead to better services means that I must like higher taxes because I’m in a better tax bracket than you is an example of IGNORATIO ELENCHI. You still haven’t convinced me
.

ignotum per ignotius
(Latin) (ig-NO-tum pare ig-NO-tee-us) (phrase)

Literally, “the unknown by the more unknown.” More generally, it means to give an explanation that is more confusing than the original question.

Your query about the nature of global motion can be answered by a reference to Foucault’s Pendulum, with which, of course, everyone is familiar. Or maybe not
.

imprimatur
(Latin) (im-prim-ah-TOOR) (noun)

An authorization to print something. More colloquially, a stamp of authority.

My pronouncements have the IMPRIMATUR of authority because I’m a recognized expert on, well, everything
.

in absentia
(Latin) (in ab-SENT-ee-ah) (adv.)

During the absence of. In legal terms, a proceedings in which the accused is not present.

Since the defendant has fled to Canada, this trial will take place IN ABSENTIA, unless his lawyer offers a convincing objection
.

in camera
(Latin) (in KAH-mare-ah) (adv.)

Secretly. In private. Usually referring to a trial or formal legal hearing that does not admit the public. Although the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of a public trial, this right is sometimes abridged when matters of national security are invoked. The expression literally means “in the room.”

Because the defendants were accused of leaking documents that concerned matters of the highest importance, the entire proceedings were held IN CAMERA
.

in extremis
(Latin) (in eks-TRAY-mis) (adv.)

Literally, “in extremes”; in the furthest reaches. More generally, in severe conditions up to and including the point of death.

During the snowstorm our body temperatures fell and we had no shelter; we were IN EXTREMIS and therefore, to keep warm, were having sex when the ski patrol found us. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it
.

Nota Bene

In 1912, during the race for the South Pole, the English team led by Robert Falcon Scott perished on their return from the pole. Ironically, they had reached their goal some five weeks after their Norwegian rivals, led by Roald Amundsen, had been there. Scott and two others were found months later, frozen in their tent, having died of starvation and exhaustion only eleven miles from a supply depot.

Infinitus est numerus stultorum
(Latin) (in-FIN-i-tus est NOO-mare-us stool-TOH-room) (phrase)

The number of stupid people is infinite. From Ecclesiastes 1:15 in the Vulgate. A sentiment with which it’s hard to argue, particularly when driving to work in the morning and getting stuck in the right-hand lane behind someone going twenty miles an hour while chattering on a cell phone held in one hand and sipping a latte held in the other, and at the same time presumably steering by pressing his stomach against the wheel.

Nota Bene

The Vulgate translation of the Bible into Latin was made in the late fourth century, mainly by St. Jerome (347–420). It is called the Vulgate from the Latin
vulgare
, meaning “in common usage,” since it became the standard and most widely used version of the Bible until the Reformation. Although complete copies of the Vulgate were certainly not rare during the Middle Ages, copies of individual books of the Bible were far more commonplace.

infra dignitatem
(Latin) (IN-frah dig-ni-TAH-tem) (adv.)

Beneath one’s dignity. Occasionally abbreviated
infra dig
.

There’s nothing INFRA DIGNITATEM about wearing a costume to a costume party at Halloween, although I agree that going as a sexy French maid vampire in see-through lingerie is probably pushing the limits
.

in loco parentis
(Latin) (in LO-ko pahr-EN-tiss) (adv.)

In the place of parents. Referring to someone who serves as a substitute parental figure.

Although teachers are often instructed to serve IN LOCO PARENTIS, they have little of the authority of parents and are often sued if they attempt to exercise it
.

in medias res
(Latin) (in MAY-dee-ahs RAYZ) (adv.)

In the middle of the action. A literary term that refers to opening a scene with the characters in midaction. How they got there is usually explained later via flashbacks.

Virgil’s
The Aeneid
opens IN MEDIAS RES with the leading characters caught up in a massive storm at sea
.

in memoriam
(Latin) (in may-MOH-ree-AHM) (adv.)

In memory of. Often found on grave markers or other symbols of death.

IN MEMORIAM Peter Archer, obit. (2012)
.

in pace requiescat
(Latin) (in PAH-kay RE-kwis-kaht) (adv.)

Rest in peace. A popular sentiment for grave markers.

Hic iacet Peter Archer. IN PACE REQUIESCAT
.

in situ
(Latin) (in SIT-oo) (adv.)

In place; in its original situation. This concept is particularly important in archaeology and (as anyone who’s watched
CSI
is aware) in criminal forensics.

Since we suspected foul play once we saw that the skull had been hacked from the body with a machete, we left the skeleton IN SITU
.

inter alia
(Latin) (in-tare AHL-ee-ah) (adv.)

Among other things.

I have discovered, INTER ALIA, that you have been using our checking account to pay for liaisons with your old boyfriend
.

in toto
(Latin) (in TOH-toh) (adv.)

In its entirety.

The hospital bill, IN TOTO, came to $19,574.33. Which seems a bit excessive for having an ingrown toenail removed
.

in utero
(Latin) (in YOU-tare-oh) (adv.)

Within the uterus. Refers specifically to a baby that is not yet born, although probably still annoying its mother.

When I was IN UTERO, I kicked so much my mother was convinced I was going to be born with a soccer ball
.

invicta
(Latin) (in-WEEK-tah) (adv.)

Unconquered. The term has been widely used, ranging from the name of a British make of automobile to an early steam locomotive. It’s the motto of the county of Kent in England, although you’d think more organizations, possessed of a touching optimism, would make use of it in their mottos.

Until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the United States Armed Forces could proudly boast, “INVICTA!” After that, not so much
.

in vino veritas
(Latin) (in WE-noh WARE-i-tahss) (phrase)

In wine there is truth. Attributed to Pliny the Elder (23–79) as well as to the Greek poet Alcaeus (sixth century
B.C.
). The idea appears in a number of other languages including Chinese and Hebrew.

When people accuse me of being obnoxious when drunk, I tell them that since IN VINO VERITAS, maybe they just can’t handle the truth. Of course, most of the time those people don’t invite me to dinner again
.

in vitro
(Latin) (in WE-troh) (adv.)

Literally, “within a glass.” More generally, it refers to experiments that isolate some element of a biological organism to see how it functions. On the other hand, an experiment that is conducted with the organism still
in situ
is referred to as
in vivo
.

ipso facto
(Latin) (IP-soh FAK-toh) (phrase)

Literally, “by the fact itself.” The more general meaning is something is a direct consequence of something else.