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.

  • 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" - Engravers' 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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