Latin C2: Church Latin · Phrases

Latin lived on as the language of the Western Church, of medieval scholars and of the liturgy. Its pronunciation is Italian-like: c and g are soft before e and i (pace sounds “pah-che”), ae is said “e”. Its vocabulary adds Christian words (ecclesia, gratia, baptizare), and its syntax is simpler: quod or quia often replace the accusative and infinitive (dico quod… instead of dico eum…).

• Deus — God
• Dominus — the Lord
• ecclesia — church
• gloria — glory
• pax — peace
• spiritus — spirit, breath
• caelum — heaven, sky
• gratia — grace, thanks

• Pax vobiscum. — Peace be with you.
• Deo gratias. — Thanks be to God.
• Ora pro nobis. — Pray for us.
• Habemus papam. — We have a pope.