Latin in Law: Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono and Prima Facie
The Latin terms still used in courts and legal writing, what each means literally, and how understanding the Latin helps you remember them.
Law is one of the areas where Latin refuses to die. Many everyday legal terms are Latin phrases, and knowing the words behind them makes them easy to remember.
Common legal terms
| Phrase | Literal meaning | Legal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| habeās corpus | you may have the body | a court order to bring a detained person before a judge |
| prō bonō | for the good | legal work done for free |
| prīma faciē | at first face | on first appearance; enough evidence to proceed |
| bonā fidē | in good faith | honestly, sincerely |
| mala fidēs | bad faith | dishonestly |
| ad hoc | for this | for one specific purpose |
| dē factō | from the fact | in reality, whether or not legal |
| dē iūre | from the law | by right, legally |
| quid prō quō | something for something | an exchange of favours |
| mēns rea | guilty mind | criminal intent |
| actus reus | guilty act | the criminal act itself |
| subpoena | under penalty | an order to appear in court |
| pro rata | in proportion | divided proportionally |
| per se | through itself | in itself |
| alibi | elsewhere | proof of being somewhere else |
| affidavit | he has stated on oath | a written statement made under oath |
| verdict | truly said | a jury's decision |
Breaking them down
- habeās corpus: habeās (you may have, subjunctive) + corpus (body).
- prīma faciē: prīma (first) + faciē (ablative of faciēs, face).
- mēns rea: mēns (mind) + rea (guilty).
- alibi: an adverb meaning "elsewhere", from alius (other).
Why Latin in law?
Roman law shaped many European legal systems, and Latin remained a shared language of scholars, so the terms spread and stayed.
Latin in daily English
Some legal terms have entered everyday speech:
- alibi
- pro bono
- quid pro quo
- status quo
- verdict
Words with legal roots
| English | Latin |
|---|---|
| judge | iūdex |
| jury | iūrāre, to swear |
| justice | iūstitia |
| legal | lēx, law |
Tips
- Break each phrase into words.
- Learn the common ones (pro bono, ad hoc, de facto).
- Use the dictionary to check the Latin.
English Latin Dictionary
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