Greetings and politeness in Latin
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Latin words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Latin phrases in this lesson
- SalveSAL-weh
- Hello
- Bonum maneBOH-noom MAH-neh
- Good morning
- Bonum vesperumBOH-num WES-pe-rum
- Good evening
- ValeWAH-leh
- Goodbye
- Te videboteh wee-DEH-boh
- See you
- QuaesoKWAY-so
- Please
- GratiasGRAH-tee-as
- Thank you
- Libenterlee-BEN-ter
- You're welcome
- Me paenitetmeh PIE-ni-tet
- Sorry
- Ignosce mihiig-NOS-keh MEE-hee
- Excuse me
- Gaudeo te cognoscereGOW-deh-oh teh kog-NOS-ke-reh
- Nice to meet you
Literally "be well". The standard formal greeting to one person. Common in classical texts and modern Latin communities. With multiple people, use salvete (sal-WAY-teh).
Literally "good morning". Reconstructed phrase used in modern Latin circles. Mane alone means morning; bonus means good.
A modern greeting built from classical words; Romans simply said salve at any hour.
Literally "be strong/well". The standard formal goodbye to one person. Plural is valete (wah-LAY-teh). Often used in letters and final farewells.
Literally I will see you, used here as the friendly farewell.
Literally "I beg" (first person singular). Softens requests in Latin. Amabo te (I will love you) is a more archaic synonym, found in older texts.
Literally "thanks" (accusative plural). Short enough for everyday use, followed by tibi (to you) in formal contexts. Gratus means grateful.
Literally "willingly" or "with pleasure". The standard response to thanks. Liber means free, willingly is the adverbial form, used in correspondence and conversation.
Literally "it repents me", the real apology.
Literally "pardon me". Ignosce means forgive/pardon, mihi means me. More formal than modern excuses; Romans also used pardon or veniam peto (I ask pardon).
Literally "I rejoice to get to know you".