List of Latin phrases (I)

This page lists direct English translations of Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. Some of the phrases are translations of older Greek phrases, because Greek rhetoric and literature reached its peak centuries before that of ancient Rome.

This list covers the letter I. For the main list, see: List of Latin phrases.

I

Latin	Translation	Notes
ibidem (ibid.)	in the same place	Usually used in bibliographic citations to refer to the last source previously referenced.
idem (id.)	the same	Used to refer to something that has already been cited. See also ibidem.
id est (i.e., or ie.)	that is	"That is (to say)" in the sense of "that means" and "which means", or "in other words", or sometimes "in this case", depending on the context; may be followed by a comma, or not, depending on style (American English and British English respectively). It is often misinterpreted as "in example" where instead, "e.g." should be used.
id quod plerumque accidit	that which generally happens	A phrase used in legal language to indicate the most probable outcome from an act, fact, event or cause.
idem quod (i.q.)	the same as	Not to be confused with an intelligence quotient (IQ).
Idus Martiae	the Ides of March	In the Roman calendar, the Ides of March refers to the 15th day of March. In modern times, the term is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC; the term has come to be used as a metaphor for impending doom.
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (INRI)	Literally "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews"	Direct quote from the Vulgate (Bible), John 19:19. The inscription was written in Latin, Greek and Aramaic at the top of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. (John 19:20)
igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum	Therefore, whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war	Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, De Re Militari; similar to si vis pacem, para bellum.
igne natura renovatur integra	through fire, nature is reborn whole	An alchemical aphorism invented as an alternate meaning for the acronym INRI.
igni ferroque	with fire and iron	A phrase describing scorched earth tactics. Also rendered as igne atque ferro, ferro ignique, and other variations.
ignis aurum probat	fire tests gold	A phrase referring to the refining of character through difficult circumstances, it is also the motto of the Prometheus Society
ignis fatuus	foolish fire	Will-o'-the-wisp.
ignorantia iuris non excusat	(or ignorantia legis non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat) ignorance of the law is no excuse	A legal principle whereby ignorance of a law does not allow one to escape liability;
ignoratio elenchi	ignorance of the issue	The logical fallacy of irrelevant conclusion: making an argument that, while possibly valid, doesn't prove or support the proposition it claims to. An ignoratio elenchi that is an intentional attempt to mislead or confuse the opposing party is known as a red herring. Elenchi is from the Greek elenchos.
ignotum per ignotius	unknown by means of the more unknown	An explanation that is less clear than the thing to be explained. Synonymous with obscurum per obscurius.
ignotus (ign.)	unknown
imago Dei	image of God	From the religious concept that man was created in "God's image".
imitatio dei	imitation of a god	A principle, held by several religions, that believers should strive to resemble their god(s).
imperium in imperio	an order within an order	1. A group of people who owe utmost fealty to their leader(s), subordinating the interests of the larger group to the authority of the internal group's leader(s). 2. A "fifth column" organization operating against the organization within which they seemingly are. 3. "State within a state"
imperium sine fine	an empire without an end	In Virgil's Aeneid, Jupiter ordered Aeneas to found a city (Rome) from which would come an everlasting, neverending empire, the endless (sine fine) empire.
imprimatur	let it be printed	An authorization to publish, granted by some censoring authority (originally a Catholic Bishop).
in absentia	in the absence	Used in a number of situations, such as in a trial carried out in the absence of the accused.
in actu	in act	"In the very act/In reality".
in articulo mortis	at the point of death
in camera	in the chamber	Figuratively, "in secret". See also camera obscura.
in casu (i.c.)	in the event	"In this case".
in cauda venenum	the poison is in the tail	Using the metaphor of a scorpion, this can be said of an account that proceeds gently, but turns vicious towards the end — or more generally waits till the end to reveal an intention or statement that is undesirable in the listener's eyes.
in com. Ebor.	In the county of Yorkshire	Eboracum was the Roman name for York and this phrase is used in some Georgian and Victorian books on the genealogy of prominent Yorkshire families.
in Deo speramus	in God we hope	Motto of Brown University.
in dubio pro reo	in doubt, on behalf of the [alleged] culprit	Expresses the judicial principle that in case of doubt the decision must be in favor of the accused (in that anyone is innocent until there is proof to the contrary).
in duplo	in double	"In duplicate".
in effigie	in the likeness	"In (the form of) an image", "in effigy" as opposed to "in the flesh" or "in person".
in esse	in existence	In actual existence; as opposed to in posse.
in extenso	in the extended	"In full", "at full length", "completely", "unabridged".
in extremis	in the furthest reaches	In extremity; in dire straits. Also "at the point of death" (cf. in articulo mortis).
in fide scientiam	To our Faith Add Knowledge	Motto of Newington College.
in fidem	into faith	To the verification of faith.
in fieri	in becoming	Thus, "pending".
in fine (i.f.)	in the end	At the end. The footnote says "p. 157 in fine": "the end of page 157".
in flagrante delicto	in a blazing wrong, while the crime is blazing	Equivalent to the English idiom "caught red-handed": caught in the act of committing a crime. Sometimes carried the connotation of being caught in a "compromising position".
in flore	in blossom	Blooming.
in foro	in forum	Legal term for "in court".
in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni	We enter the circle at night and are consumed by fire	A palindrome said to describe the behavior of moths. Also the title of a film by Guy Debord.
in hoc sensu or in sensu hoc (s.h.)	in this sense	Recent academic abbreviation for the spatious and inconvenient "in this sense".
in hoc signo vinces	by this sign you will conquer	Words Constantine claimed to have seen in a vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Motto of Sigma Chi fraternity, the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion and the House of Di Santis.
in hunc effectum	for this purpose	Describes a meeting called for a particular stated purpose only.
in illo ordine (i.o.)	in that order	Recent academic substitution for the spacious and inconvenient "..., respectively."
in illo tempore	in that time	"at that time", found often in Gospel lectures during Masses, used to mark an undetermined time in the past.
in inceptum finis est	lit.: in the beginning is the end	or: the beginning foreshadows the end
in limine	at the outset	Preliminary, in law referring to a motion that is made to the judge before or during trial, often about the admissibility of evidence believed prejudicial
in loco	in the place, on the spot	That is, "at the place". The nearby labs were closed for the weekend, so the water samples were analyzed in loco.
in loco parentis	in the place of a parent	A legal term meaning "assuming parental (i.e., custodial) responsibility and authority". Primary and secondary teachers are typically bound by law to act in loco parentis.
in luce Tua videmus lucem	in Thy light we see light	Motto of Valparaiso University.
in lumine tuo videbimus lumen	in your light we will see the light	Motto of Columbia University and Ohio Wesleyan University.
in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum	into your hands I entrust my spirit	According to Luke 23:46, the last words of Jesus on the cross.
in medias res	into the middle of things	From Horace. Refers to the literary technique of beginning a narrative in the middle of, or at a late point in, the story, after much action has already taken place. Examples include the Iliad, the Odyssey, Os Lusíadas, Othello, and Paradise Lost. Compare ab initio.
in memoriam	into the memory	Equivalent to "in the memory of". Refers to remembering or honoring a deceased person.
in necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas	in necessary things unity, in doubtful things liberty, in all things charity	"Charity" (caritas) is being used in the classical sense of "compassion" (cf. agape). Motto of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. Often misattributed to Augustine of Hippo.
in nocte consilium	advise comes over night	I.e., "Tomorrow is a new day." Motto of Birkbeck College, University of London.
in nomine Domini	in the name of the Lord	Motto of Trinity College, Perth, Australia; the name of a 1050 papal bull.
in nuce	in a nut	I.e., "in potentiality." Comparable to "potential", "to be developed".
in omnia paratus	Ready for anything.	Motto of the United States Army's 18th Infantry Regiment
in omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro	Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book	Quote by Thomas à Kempis
in partibus infidelium	in the parts of the infidels	That is, "in the land of the infidels", infidels here referring to non-Christians. After Islam conquered a large part of the Roman Empire, the corresponding bishoprics didn't disappear, but remained as titular sees.
in pectore	in the heart	A Cardinal named in secret by the pope. See also ab imo pectore.
in personam	into a person	Directed towards a particular person
in posse	in potential	In the state of being possible; as opposed to in esse.
in propria persona	in one's own person	"Personally", "in person".
in principio erat Verbum	in the beginning was the Word (Logos)	Beginning of the Gospel of John
in re	in the matter [of]	A legal term used to indicate that a judicial proceeding may not have formally designated adverse parties or is otherwise uncontested. The term is commonly used in case citations of probate proceedings, for example, In re Smith's Estate; it is also used in juvenile courts, as, for instance, In re Gault.
in rem	to the thing	A legal term used to indicate a court's jurisdiction over a "thing" rather than a "legal person". As opposed to "ad personam jurisdiction". Example: in tenant landlord disputes, the summons and complaint may be nailed to the door of a rented property. This is because the litigant seeks jurisdiction over "the premises" rather than "the occupant".
in rerum natura	in the nature of things	See also Lucretius' De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things).
in retentis	among things held back	Used to describe documents kept separately from the regular records of a court for special reasons.
in saeculo	in the times	"In the secular world", that is, outside a monastery, or before death.
in salvo	in safety
in silico (Dog Latin)	in silicon	Coined in the early 1990s for scientific papers. Refers to an experiment or process performed virtually, as a computer simulation. The term is Dog Latin modeled after terms such as in vitro and in vivo. The Latin word for silicon is silicium, so the correct Latinization of "in silicon" would be in silicio, but this form has little usage.
in situ	in the place	In the original place, appropriate position, or natural arrangement.
in somnis veritas	In dreams there is truth
in spe	in hope	"future" (My mother-in-law in spe", i.e., "My future mother-in-law), or "in embryonic form", as in "Locke's theory of government resembles, in spe, Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers."
in specialibus generalia quaerimus	To seek the general in the specifics	That is, to understand the most general rules through the most detailed analysis.
in statu nascendi	in the state of being born	Just as something is about to begin.
in toto	in all	"Totally", "entirely", "completely".
in triplo	in triple	"In triplicate".
in utero	in the womb
in utrumque paratus	Prepared for either (event)	Motto of the McKenzie clan.
in vacuo	in a void	"In a vacuum". In isolation from other things.
in varietate concordia	united in diversity	The motto of the European Union and the Council of Europe
in vino veritas	in wine [there is] truth	That is, wine loosens the tongue(Referring to alcohol's disinhibitory effects).
in vitro	in glass	An experimental or process methodology performed in a "non-natural" setting (e.g. in a laboratory using a glass test tube or Petri dish), and thus outside of a living organism or cell. Alternative experimental or process methodologies include in vitro, in silico, ex vivo and in vivo.
in vivo	in life" or "in a living thing	An experiment or process performed on a living specimen.
in vivo veritas	in a living thing [there is] truth	An expression used by biologists to express the fact that laboratory findings from testing an organism in vitro are not always reflected when applied to an organism in vivo. A pun on in vino veritas.
incertae sedis	of uncertain position (seat)	A term used to classify a taxonomic group when its broader relationships are unknown or undefined.
incredibile dictu	incredible to say	A variant on mirabile dictu.
Index Librorum Prohibitorum	Index of Prohibited (or, Forbidden) Books	A list of books considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter	indivisible and inseparable	Motto of Austria–Hungary prior to its separation into independent states in 1918.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.	Infinite is the number of fools.
infirma mundi elegit Deus	God chooses the weak of the world	The motto of Venerable Vital-Justin Grandin, the bishop of the St. Albert Diocese, which is now the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
infra dignitatem (infra dig)	beneath one's dignity
innocens non timidus	innocent but not afraid	Motto on Rowe family coat of arms.
instante mense (inst.)	in the present month	Formerly used in formal correspondence to refer to the current month, sometimes abbreviated as instant; e.g.: "Thank you for your letter of the 17th inst." — ult. mense = last month, prox. mense = next month.
intaminatis fulget honoribus	Untarnished, she shines with honor	From Horace's Odes (III.2.18). Motto of Wofford College.
integer vitae scelerisque purus	unimpaired by life and clean of wickedness	From Horace. Used as a funeral hymn.
inter alia (i.a.)	among other things	A term used in formal extract minutes to indicate that the minute quoted has been taken from a fuller record of other matters, or when alluding to the parent group after quoting a particular example.
inter alios	among others	Often used to compress lists of parties to legal documents.
inter arma enim silent leges	in a time of war, the law falls silent	Said by Cicero in Pro Milone as a protest against unchecked political mobs that had virtually seized control of Rome in the 60s and 50s BC. Famously quoted in the essay Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau as "The clatter of arms drowns out the voice of the law". This phrase has also been jokingly translated as "In a time of arms, the legs are silent."
inter caetera	among others	Title of a papal bull
inter spem et metum	between hope and fear
inter urinas et faeces nascimur	we are born between urine and faeces	Attributed to St. Augustine.
inter vivos	between the living	Said of property transfers between living persons, as opposed to inheritance; often relevant to tax laws.
intra muros	within the walls	Thus, "not public". Source of the word intramural. See also Intramuros, Manila.
intra vires	within the powers	That is, "within the authority".
invictus maneo	I remain unvanquished	Motto of the Armstrong Clan.
Iohannes est nomen eius	John is his name / Juan es su Nombre	Motto of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
ipsa scientia potestas est	knowledge itself is power	Famous phrase written by Sir Francis Bacon in 1597.
ipse dixit	he himself said it	Commonly said in Medieval debates referring to Aristotle. Used in general to emphasize that some assertion comes from some authority, i.e., as an argument from authority, and the term ipse-dixitism has come to mean any unsupported rhetorical assertion that lacks a logical argument. Originally coined by Cicero in his De Natura Deorum (I, 10) to describe the behavior of the students of Pythagoras.
ipsissima verba	the very words themselves	"Strictly word for word" (cf. verbatim). Often used in Biblical Studies to describe the record of Jesus' teaching found in the New Testament (specifically, the four Gospels).
ipsissima voce	the very 'voice' itself	To approximate the main thrust or message without using the exact words.
ipso facto	by the fact itself	Or "by that very fact".
ira deorum	wrath of the gods	Like the vast majority of inhabitants of the ancient world, the ancient Romans practiced pagan rituals, believing it important to achieve a state of pax deorum (peace of the gods) instead of ira deorum (wrath of the gods): earthquakes, floods, famine, etc.
ira furor brevis est	Wrath (anger) is only a brief madness
ita vero	thus indeed	A useful phrase, as the Romans had no word for "yes", preferring to respond to questions with the affirmative or negative of the question (e.g., "Are you hungry?" was answered by "I am hungry" or "I am not hungry", not "Yes" or "No).
ite missa est	Go, it is the dismissal	Loosely: "You have been dismissed". Concluding words addressed to the people in the Mass of the Roman Rite.
iter legis	The path of the law	The path a law takes from its conception to its implementation.
iugulare mortuos	to cut the throat of corpses	From Gerhard Gerhards' (1466–1536) [better known as Erasmus] collection of annotated Adagia (1508). It can mean attacking the work or personality of deceased person. Alternatively, it can be used to describe criticism of an individual already heavily criticised by others.
iuncta iuvant	together they strive	also spelled juncta juvant; from the legal principle quae non valeant singula, iuncta iuvant ("What is without value on its own, helps when joined")
iura novit curia	the court knows the law	A legal principle in civil law countries of the Roman-German tradition that says that lawyers need not to argue the law, as that is the office of the court. Sometimes miswritten as iura novat curia (the court renews the laws).
iure matris	in right of his mother	Indicates a right exercised by a son on behalf of his mother.
iure uxoris	in right of his wife	Indicates a right exercised by a husband on behalf of his wife.
iuris ignorantia est cum ius nostrum ignoramus	it is ignorance of the law when we do not know our own rights
ius accrescendi	right of accrual	Commonly referred to as "right of survivorship": a rule in property law that surviving joint tenants have rights in equal shares to a decedent's property.
ius ad bellum	law towards war	Refers to the laws that regulate the reasons for going to war. Typically, this would address issues of self-defense or preemptive strikes.
ius cogens	compelling law	Refers to a fundamental principle of international law considered to have acceptance among the international community of states as a whole. Typically, this would address issues not listed or defined by any authoritative body, but arise out of case law and changing social and political attitudes. Generally included are prohibitions on waging aggressive war, crimes against humanity, war crimes, piracy, genocide, slavery, and torture.
ius in bello	law in war	Refers to the "laws" that regulate the conduct of combatants during a conflict. Typically, this would address issues of who or what is a valid _target, how to treat prisoners, and what sorts of weapons can be used. The word jus is also commonly spelled ius.
ius primae noctis	law of the first night	The droit de seigneur.
iustitia fundamentum regni	justice - fundamental of kingdom	Motto of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office of the Czech Republic.
iustitia omnibus	justice for all	The motto of Washington, D.C.
iuventuti nil arduum	to the young nothing is difficult	Motto of Canberra Girls' Grammar School.
iuventutis veho fortunas	I bear the fortunes of youth	Motto of Dollar Academy.

References

• Adeleye, Gabriel G. (1999). World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions. Ed. Thomas J. Sienkewicz and James T. McDonough, Jr. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0865164223.
• Hardon, John, Fr. Modern Catholic Dictionary.
• Stone, Jon R. (1996). Latin for the Illiterati. London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415917751.