Latin was an ancient Human language, the original language of the Romans.
Species native to Earth were given both a Latin name and a common name. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Many Earth proverbs were in Latin and were often used as mottos of starships or installations. A course based on this language was taught at Starfleet Academy. (TNG: "The Game")
When Wesley Crusher was on leave from Starfleet Academy, Captain Jean-Luc Picard checked on his Latin by asking him:
- "Quomodo tua Latinitas est?" ("How is your Latin?")
Wesley responded:
- "Praestat quam prius." ("It's better than before.")
whereupon the Captain responded:
The term arboretum was derived from the Latin word for tree, arbor. This connection was noted by the Cairn Hedril in 2370. (TNG: "Dark Page")
Q remembered Vash was called persona non grata on Betazed. (DS9: "Q-Less")
The holographic Henry Burleigh advised his governess Lucille Davenport, played by Captain Kathryn Janeway: "In ullam rem ne properemus", ("Let's not rush into anything") and asked her whether her Latin was a little rusty when the Captain didn't understand his remark. Janeway admitted that her Latin was indeed a little rusty. (VOY: "Learning Curve")
| Phrase | Translation | Application | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Astra per Aspera | "Reach for the Stars Through Adversity" | Earth Starfleet, 2161 | ENT: "These Are the Voyages..." |
| Audentes fortuna iuvat | "Fortune favors the bold" | Columbia NX-02 | ENT: "Home", "Affliction", "Divergence" |
| Audentes Fortuna Imperii | "The bold (are) the fortune of the empire" | ISS Avenger | ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" |
| Caveat emptor | "Let the buyer beware" | Applied to the Ferengi Alliance tactics by Data | TNG: "The Last Outpost" |
| Ex luna scientia | "From the moon, knowledge" | NASA | ENT: "First Flight" |
| Ex astris scientia | "From the stars, knowledge" | Starfleet Academy | TNG: "The First Duty" |
| Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges | "In time of war, the law falls silent" | Applied to Section 31 tactics by William Ross | DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" |
| Res Gesta Per Excellentiam | "Achievement through excellence" | NASA | ENT: "First Flight" |
| Tempus fugit | "Time Flees" or "Time Flies" | Spoken by Ducane | VOY: "Relativity" |
| Earth languages |
|---|
| Arabic • Chinese (Cantonese • Mandarin Chinese) • Dutch • English • Finnish • French • German • Greek • Hawaiian • Hebrew • Hindi • Irish • Italian • Japanese • Latin • Lincos • Norwegian • Polish • Russian • Scots • Sign language (American Sign Language) • Spanish • Swahili • Welsh • Whale song • Wolof |
Appendices
Background information
Several episode titles derive from Latin phrases including:
- TNG: "Sub Rosa" - "Under the rose", an expression meaning "secretly".
- DS9:
- "Dramatis Personae"- "The persons of the drama".
- "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" - literally "Amongst arms the laws become mute", but translated by Bashir as "In times of war, the law falls silent"
- VOY:
- "Ex Post Facto" - "After the fact"
- "Non Sequitur" - "It does not follow"
- "Alter Ego" - "Other self"
- ENT:
- "Terra Nova" - "New Earth"
- "Vox Sola" - "Lone Voice"