Latin Legal Terms and its Meaning in English

Latin Word or Phrase	English Meaning
Ab initio	From the very beginning, from the start of something
Ab extra	From outside
Ad idem	In agreement, meeting of the minds by parties
Ad infinitum	To continue forever, without limit
Ad nauseum	Disgusting or ridiculous to the extent of causing nausea (vomiting)
Ad valorem	Proportionate to the value
Alibi	At another place, Elsewhere The fact or state of having been elsewhere at the time
Ambiguitas latens	Latent ambiguity not appearing on instant inspection
Ambiguitas patens	An ambiguity that readily appears on the face of document or instrument
Amicus curiae	A person or organisation that is not a party to the litigation but is permitted by law to advise it (court), friend of the court
Animus possidendi	An intention to possess
Audi alteram partem	Let the other side be heard as well
Bona fide	Real, genuine, sincere, made or carried out in good faith
Mala fide	Dishonest, made or carried out in bad faith
Caveat emptor	Let the buyer beware. The principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made
De facto	Of fact, in reality
De jure	Of law, officially
De novo	Afresh, from the beginning
Ejusdem generis	Of the same kind or nature
Ex gratia	A favour or gift that is not legally necessary
Ex parte	Without the presence or participation of opposite party
Ex post facto	Retroactive, affecting something that has already happened
Fait Accompli	Accomplished and cannot be changed now
Fiat justitia	Let the justice be done though the heavens fall
Inter alia	Amongst other things
In limine	At the outset, on the threshold Such order excludes the challenged evidence and directs the parties not to refer to the excluded matters during trial
Jus ad rem	A right to a thing
Jus in personam	Right against a person
Letter rogatory	Formal request from a court to foreign court for some type of judicial assistance
Locus standi	Right to bring an action, to be heard in court, sufficient connection and harm form the law or action
Modus operandi	Method of operation, particular way of doing something
Mutatis mutandis	Having changed what needs to be changed; once the necessary changes have been made
Nudum pactum	Naked promise, bare promise
Obiter	That which is said in passing; Such statements lack the force of precedent but nevertheless be significant
Onus probandi	Burden of proof, proof of assertion. It includes both the burden of production and persuasion.
Parens patriae	Parent of the nation, legal protector of citizens unable to protect themselves
Pari passu	Side by side, at the same rate, equally, on equal footing
Per incuriam	Through lack of care
Prima facie	At first sight, based on first impression
Pro bono publico	Professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment

Latin Word or Phrase	English Meaning
Quid pro quo	A favour or advantage granted in return for something
Ratio dicidendi	The rule of law on which a judicial decision is based
Raison d'etre	Reason for being, reason for something's existence
Res integra	A point without a precedent, entire thing, untouched matter
Res nullius	Nobody's thing, belonging to no one
Sine qua non	An essential condition, a thing that is absolute necessary
Intra vires	Within one's legal power or authority
Ultra vires	Acting or done beyond one's legal power or authority
Actus reus	A guilty act, an act which is illegal such as theft
Ad hoc	For a particular purpose
Sine die	No fixed date to continue
Alias	A false name
Ante	Before
Caveat	A warning
ertiorari	An order by the High Court that the case should be reviewed
Habeas Corpus	A writ which can be applied for to order a person's release, if he/she has been imprisoned unlawfully. Produce the body (in court)
Estoppel	A rule of law that a person cannot deny something he/she/it previously said, if someone else acted on what was said and their position was changed, possibly for the worse, as a result
Fiduciary	In a position of trust
Mens rea	The intention to commit a crime and also the knowledge that an act is wrong
Per	Through, by
Per pro	On behalf of
Per quod	In accordance, whereby
Per se	In itself, by itself
Pro rata	In proportion
Res ipsa loquitur	Proof is not needed because the facts speak for themselves
Sub judice	Something being dealt with by a court which cannot be discussed outside the court
Sui generis	Something that belongs in a particular category or is the only one of its class
Sui juris	Someone who can enter into a contract without any restriction
Supra	Above
Infra	Below, inside
Terra	Land
Uberrimae fidei	Of the utmost good faith
Writ	an order issued by a court telling someone to do something or not to do something
A fortiori	From stronger argument
Ad litem	As regards the action
Ad referendum	Subject to reference
Erratum	An error in printing or writing
Ex officio	By virtue of holding an office
Ibid	In the same place
Ignorantia juris non excusat	Ignorance of law is not an excuse
In camera	In chamber, in private
In curia	In open court
In re	In the matter of
Ipso facto	By that very fact or act
Quasi	As if, almost
Res judicata	A matter that has been decided. Judicial pronouncements

Latin Word or Phrase	English Meaning
Sic	So, thus (Used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word is quoted exactly as it stands in the original)
Mandamus	We command, Writ is a command issued to public official, bodies
Quo warranto	By that warrant, Stops usurpation of public office by anyone
Prohibition	Writ by Supreme Court and High Court to lower courts which exceeds to their jurisdiction or acting the rule of natural justice
Suo moto Suo motu	On its own motion
Ad interim	In the meantime, temporarily
Et al, Et alii, Et alia	And others
Et cetera	And other things
Exempli gratia (e.g.)	For the sake of example
In absentia	In absence
In toto	In total, totally
Inter se	Among themselves
Nota bene (NB)	Note well
Per capita	By head, per head
Vice versa	The other way around
Vide	See
Videlicet (viz.)	Namely
Veto	I forbid
Sub modo	Subject to modification
Status quo Status quo ante	The state of affairs that existed previously
Vox populi	The opinions or beliefs of the majority, Voice of the people
Ad infinitum	To infinity, to continue forever
Ex facie	On the face
Per contra	In contrast to, by that against
Pro per Pro se	For himself
Pro tem Pro tempore	Temporary
Id est (i.e.)	That is, in other words
Apropos	Regarding, concerning (used as apropos of)
Jus naturale	Natural justice
Magnum opus	A great work of literature
Nemo dat quod non habet	No one can give a better title than he has
Sciens	Knowingly
Sui generis	Unique
Vervatim	Word by word, exactly
Legum Baccalaureus Juris Doctor	Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Philosophiae Doctor	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Ante meridiem (AM)	Before midday
Post meridiwm (PM)	Past midday, after midday
Diem	Day
Mensem	Month
Annum	Year
Audio	I hear
Dictum factum	What is said is done
Fac simile Facsimile	Make alike (Fax)
In memoriam	In memory of
Versus	Against
Viva Voce	With living voice, by word of mouth
Curriculum vitae	Course of one's life
Bonus	Good, extra sum
Ergo	Therefore
Pro forma	As a matter of form
Ad rem	To the point

Latin Legal Terms and its Meaning in English

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