What are some cool Latin words like ‘Invicta’?
Qui vincit non est invictus. Translation: “who conquers, is not unconquered.” In other words, one may be the victor in a particular battle, but that doesn’t mean he or she cannot lose another.
Non sum qualis eram quondam. Translation: “I am not what I once was.” This phrase can be translated as a lament for the past, when things were better than they are now.
Ad astra per aspera! Translation: To the stars with difficulty! A statement of ambition and perseverance.
Invictus means invincible or unconquered. The term is most often associated with the poem “Invictus” written by the from Winston Churchill and has been read at two of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s speeches, including a memorable example at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics: “As I look around this marbled hall, as I listen to so many distinguished people here, they seem small in comparison with him and his pygmy country that he ruled. He conquered their hearts because he embodied their values.”
The Latin word “Invicta” means ‘unconquered, undefeated’ (feminine of invictus) and the full name is Invicta Watches.
In 1918, Russia’s lunar observatory was established in Crimea after being taken from Turkey following the 1917 Russian Revolution. This area was under a Turkish occupation until 1856 when it became part of Imperial Russia. During World War I and with the advent of new long-distance bomber aircraft technologies, places like this highly strategic position became increasingly vulnerable to attack from enemies encroaching on their borders. To safeguard its satellite positions in Eastern Europe against surprise attack for any unreliable circumstances that might arise with Ankara’s withdrawal of Russian war support on these outposts, Knyaz Oleg Konstantinovich Sentiobriga-Bibuła, an Imperial Russian general devised a plan to counter Turkish forces.
Invicta is Latin for “undefeated” or “unconquered.” It’s been a brand of watch since 1837, but has more recently come to represent a type of women’s watch.
Arma is Latin for weapon.
Aqua is Latin for water. Both these words can also be used as adjectives, meaning respectively armed and watery.
Frangos is Greek for bananas, but it was latinized in the 13th century into fragones because foreign words often got translated westward from Byzantine Greek texts to western medieval manuscripts (from Greece eventually spreading through Italy).
A Few Suggestions:
- Permaneo (stand)
- Amplus (large, ample, complete)
- Alloquor (call forth)
- Immanis (gigantic, monstrous, vast)
- Dissimilis (contrasting in form or character with another thing of the same type; uneven)
- Adtendeo (pay attention to; attend to; note or recognize the importance of)
- Equanimiter- equanimity. Evenness and composure in attitude and manner under different circumstances so as not to be either elated by good fortune or depressed by bad.
Poetic distance- Invicta has a double meaning of invincible and unconquered.
Invicta is Latin for unconquered, that which cannot be conquered by force. It is the title of the production company founded in 2006 by Madonna a woman who has become a cultural icon.
Memento mori- Remember death; this act represented as an artistic motif or symbol is often reflected in sculpture and painting throughout history with its origins reaching back to antiquity since many great works hang on themes such as man’s mortality or our awareness of life’s transience. Know thyself? We must not forget how important it can be to reflect upon our own mortality so that we can more authentically live each day knowing full well that our lives will one day end.
Being mindful of the inevitability of death is not morbid, it is liberating and encouraging to live each day knowing that we are alive. Invicta memento mori- I do what I want (watch) because you can’t stop me!
Blessed be the fruit- The phrase is taken from the Book of Common Prayer and is used in traditional Anglican services. The phrase has special meaning for Catholics, reflecting Mary’s joy at the birth of Jesus through immaculate conception- not befouled by original sin.
Invicta Fortuna Venetas- Fortune favors the brave!
Bona Fortuna- Good Fortune/ Luck
Fortuna is personified as a goddess in many works of classical literature, including the Metamorphoses of Ovid and The Golden Ass of Apuleius .
Fortune favors the brave. Who are you to tempt Fortuna?
Fac fortia et patere- Do mighty things and make them seen.
Fac fortia et patere – be strong in war; do great deeds and endure (Virgil).
Cave canem! Beware of Dog! Be alert when out at night, don’t walk alone in unfamiliar places or down dark alleys. Even home sweet home needs constant vigilance- your lovely house is not immune from criminals; they even target neighbourhoods that appear affluent.
Cave canem- beware of dog
Fac ut portem; Para bellum- Make it so; prepare for war
Fac ut portem – make it happen (Virgil)
Para Bellum: Prepare for battle: (Latin Proverb, in full: “Para Bellum,” or in the famous line from the adage, “Si vis pacen para bellum,” which when translated into English means, “If you want peace, prepare for war”)
Divide et impera- Divide and conquer.
Invictus maneo! I remain unconquered! Maecenas veniat! May he come! A verbis ad verbera – From words to beatings.
Vincit omnia veritas Truth conquers all things. Veritate Victoria! Victory comes through truth!
Calma et sed caute- Calmness and caution/ Caution is calmness.
Pax pacis bellique bonum salutem- Peace among men, good health to everyone.
Fortuna sequatur- May fortune follow him! Concerned for your safety? Maybe take a self defense class or even competitive martial arts at the local dojo. Invicta might be interested in supporting something like that if they are aware of it being done for the right reasons i.e., not just trying to become more physically fit or get into better shape.
Pensa et age- Think and act prudently/ Act wisely.
Haecumque videlicet, omnium maxima causa est.
“This [is] indeed the greatest cause of all.”
Se obiecta tuum videbitur enim ignominiose illecebrare me, famam sequere et sanus mente sapiens! (I shall see that he appears unwise who might misrepresent me; in your sound mind be wise!)
Avida spes animae dissolvit praematurus corpus, bonaque / Et mala dominat (The soul’s eager hope pulverizes prematurey the body and its goods and evils rule)
‘Causa’ = ultima causa, meaning ‘the ultimate reason’; ‘ignominiose’, a form of the verb ‘ignominari’ = to be shamed or dishonored; as a noun, it means ‘shameful behavior’; ‘sequere’ is a verb which means “to follow”, and as an interjection it means “obey!”; ‘mente sapiens’ = with sound mind.
“This indeed is the greatest cause of all.”
“It seems that he will appear unwise who might misrepresent me.”
“The soul’s eager hope prematurely wastes the body and its goods rule over bad and good things alike.”
Another cool word: hoc videlicet
“This is indeed the greatest cause of all.”
“He might appear unwise who might misrepresent me.”
“The soul’s eager hope prematurely wastes the body and its goods rule over bad and good things alike.”
Hoc videlicet maxima causa est. Hoc maximal causae est.
“This indeed is the greatest cause of all.”
“He might appear unwise who might misrepresent me.”
“The soul’s eager hope prematurely wastes the body and its goods rule over bad and good things alike.”
Invicta is the Latin word for “unconquerable”.
Latin words can be fun to use for different purposes, some are used as titles for things like bands or other pieces of art. Some words are simply translations of various English phrases while others have been borrowed from earlier languages and retooled in order to find a new purpose in contemporary society. Some Latin words can even carry deep meaning behind their meanings and your knowledge of Latin might give you the perfect opportunity to talk about it in your everyday life without coming off as pretentious!
Thankfully, in this digital age we’ve got the internet which means that these days more than ever we have access to any information at any time. No one should feel left out because they feel the subject material is either too difficult to understand or too boring. As you can see , Latin words are not only interesting but they also provide for some very fun and exciting opportunities to study something that will reap immediate benefits.
But enough with all of this seriousness, let’s look at some Latin words that are actually used in popular culture today.
You might have heard artists, writers or musicians borrow Latin words from the very languages that gave us so many popular titles. There are a ton of these borrowed words but as I said, not all of them have been translated one to one from their original Latin form. In some cases, it’s really interesting to see just what the artist was thinking when they used certain words because often times those words can have hidden meanings that were practically made for song lyrics or album titles.
