Latatian Phrases

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Most residents of Ankh-Morkpork speak Morporkian. However from time to time Latatian is used particularly by certain Guilds such as Guild of Lawyers and by the College of Heralds to make excruciating puns.

Legal Phrases

  • Acquiris Quodcumquae Rapis - "You Get What You Grab" - (Another term for "Eminent Domain" (Jingo), otherwise described as 'naked theft by the government' (Thud!)).
  • Pro Bono Publico - "For The Public Good" - (ie a legal service performed for free. To a lawyer, this is the equivalent of an exorcism to a demon, or the very worst possible -ing that can be spoken. (The Truth)).
  • Quia Ego Sic Dico - "Because I Say So" - An argument which carries a great deal of procedural and precedential weight, especially when used in legal debate by the Patrician, Havelock Vetinari. (Making Money)
  • Exeo Carco Cum Nihil Pretii - "(I) Get Out Of Jail Free."
  • Olfacere Violarum - "Smelling Of Violets"
  • Sini Plenis Piscis - "Pockets Full Of Fish" - a man who is pushed into a lake and comes up with his pockets full of fish has in fact benefited from being so pushed, and therefore cannot accuse the pusher of assault. A very old precedent, apparently. (The Truth)
  • Ab Hamo - "Off The Hook"
  • Mea Culpa - "My Fault" - a confession of guilt. Not likely to be used by a lawyer speaking in the first person...
  • Excretus Est Ex Altitudine' - "'Shat-On From On High" - in other words, "Destroyed" and "Banned"
  • Depositatum De Latrina - "Gone Down The Toilet" - in other words, "Destroyed" and "Banned"

Medical phrases

  • Mortis Portalis Tackulatum - "Dead As A Doornail"
  • Pyrocerebrum Ouerf Culinaire - "You Could Fry An Egg On His Forehead"
  • Ped Fecundis - "Fertile Feet"

Zoolological taxonomy

Mottos

  • Mervs In Pectvm Et In Aqvam - "Pure In Heart And In Water" - Ankh Morpork
  • Qvanti Canicvla Illa In Fenestra - "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" - Ankh Morpork
  • Nunc Id Vides, Nunc Ne Vides - "Now You See It, Now You Don't" - The motto of Unseen University.

Guild Mottos

  • Moneta Supervacanea, Magister? - "Spare Change, Guv'nor?" - Beggars' Guild
  • Non Ante Septem Dies Proxima, Squiri - "Not Before Next Week, Squire" - Plumbers' Guild
  • Id Mvrmvratis, Id Lvdamvs - "You Hum It, We'll Play It" - Musician's Guild
  • Non Qvod Maneat, Sed Qvod Adimimvs - "Not What Remains, But What We Take Away" - Engraver's Guild

Family Mottos

  • Si Non Confectus, Non Reficiat - "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It" - Vetinari Family Motto
  • Quis Habemus Servamus - "What We Have, We Keep" - Ramkin Family Motto
  • Non Sumet Nullus Pro Responso - "She Won't Take 'No' For An Answer" - (Sybil) Ramkin Family
  • Homo Homini Lupus - "Every Man Is A Wolf, (To Other Men)" - von Uberwald (Angua's) family Motto
  • Faber Est Qvisqve Fortvnae Svae - "Every Man Is The Maker Of His Own Fortune" - The Duke of Sto Helit, (Mort's predecessor.)
  • Futurus Meus Est In Visceris - "My Future Is In (The) Entrails" - Mr. Gerhardt Sock (president of the Butcher's guild)
  • Quod Subigo Farinam - "Because I Knead The Dough" - Mr. Rudolph Potts (Baker's guild)
  • Ars Enixa Est Candelam - "Art Brought Forth The Candle" - Mr. Arthur Carry (Candlemaker's guild)

Other Mottos

  • Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter - "Make The Day, The Moments Pass Quickly" - personal motto of King Veltrick I, and the motto for the original incarnation of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch
  • Cuius Testiculos Habes, Habeas Cardia Et Cerebellum - "When You Have Their Testicals/Full-Attention In Your Grasp, You Will Have Their Hearts and Minds Also" - Motto of the Omnian Quisition, (now abolished.)

Other Latatian phrases

  • Porcupinos Non Sodomy Est - "The Hedgehog Can Never Be Buggered" - (Coined by Nanny Ogg to make the Hedgehog song sound posher).
  • Excretus Est Ex Altitudine - "'Shat On From On High" - in other words, "The Gods Do Not Favor Him", or "Destroyed" and "Banned" - (Feet of Clay)
  • Depositatum De Latrina - "Gone Down The Toilet" - in other words, "Destroyed" and "Banned" - (Feet of Clay)
  • Avé! Duci Novo, Similis Duci Seneci! and Avé! Bossa Nova! Similis Bossa Seneca! - both are variants on a theme of Meet the new boss! Same as the old boss! - Cited by Mr. Slant in Night Watch.
  • Sodomy Non Sapiens - "Buggered If I Know", exclaimed by Albert in Mort.
  • Ab Hoc Possum Videre Domum Tuum - "I Can See Your House From Here".
  • Stercus, Stercus, Stercus, Morituri Sum - "Oh Shit, Oh Shit, Oh Shit, I'm Gonna Die". - A Rincewind quote.
  • Veni, Vermini, Vomini - "I came, I got ratted (became drunk) and I vomited". - Jingo, Vimes is thinking of good-sounding phrases with V, when contemplating General Tacticus' moto.
  • Vis-Ne Faciem Capite Repletam - lit. "Would You Like A Face Which Is Full Of Head."
  • Potest-Ne Mater Tua Suere, Amice - "Can Yer Mother Sew, Pal?"
  • Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes Qui Custodes Custodiet - "Who Watches The Watcher Of The Watchmen?"
  • Lagunculae Leydianae Non Accedunt - "Batteries Not Included" - Engraved by Neoldian on the golden falchion under the words "For the Strongest".

See also

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