Quiz about Pick up your ears Romans are speaking

Pick up your ears ! Romans are speaking! Quiz

Latin is one of the backbones of the English language. Can you translate English phrases back to Latin, or backwards? Good luck and have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by DeepHistory. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
DeepHistory

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
365,659

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
822

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (2/10), vizqjohn (8/10), muivers (10/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. The meaning of this Latin phrase is "From the Depths". Oscar Wilde wrote a letter with the same name while in prison. What's the phrase? Hint

De Profundis

De Facto

De Jure

De Mortuis

NEXT>

2. The unofficial motto of Johns Hopkins University, translated into English, is "Truth will set you free", but what is the Latin phrase? Hint

Veritas Vos Liberabit

Veritate et Virtute

Veritas Vitae Magistra

Veritatem Fratribus Testari

NEXT>

3. You may have heard of Descartes saying "I think, therefore I am", or "Cogito Ergo Sum", but how would you translate in English the phrase "Bibo Ergo Sum"? Hint

I eat, therefore I am

I drink, therefore I am

I sleep, therefore I am

I read, therefore I am

4. This phrase is used today to mention entertainment which distracts public notice from significant facts and matters. The English translation is "bread and circuses", but what is the Latin phrase? Hint

Panem et Circenses

Parva sub Ingenti

Pacem in Terris

Paulatim Ergo Centre

NEXT>

5. This phrase can be translated as "and the rest", however today the translation "and so on " or "and more" is used more frequently. What is that Latin phrase? Hint

Et alii

Et cetera

Et alibi

Et sequentes

NEXT>

6. You may know the phrase "The voice of one crying in the wilderness", but how would you translate it into Latin? Hint

Vox Clamantis in Deserto

Vivat Crescat Floreat

Vitai Lampada Tradunt

Vive Memor Leti

NEXT>

7. A famous quote of Cicero, when translated into English, is "As long as I breathe, I hope". How is this translated in Latin? Hint

Dum Vivimus, Vivamus

Dum Spiro Spero

Dum Vivimus Servimus

Dum Vite est, Spes est

NEXT>

8. The motto of the Belize Coast Guard, when translated into English, reads "Ready for anything". What is the Latin phrase? Hint

Utraque Unum

Utilis in Ministerium

Usque ad Finem

Utrinque Paratus

NEXT>

9. It is true that "time devours all things", but how would you translate this into Latin? Hint

Tempus Rerum Imperator

Tempus Vernum

Tempus Volat Hora Fugit

Tempus Edax Rerum

NEXT>

10. At least once in your life, you must have made a "Speech Error". How would you translate it into Latin? Hint

Lapsus Calami

Lapsus Linguae

Lapsus Memoriae

Lapsus Artis

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The meaning of this Latin phrase is "From the Depths". Oscar Wilde wrote a letter with the same name while in prison. What's the phrase?

Answer: De Profundis

The phrase "De Profundis" was first recorded in a Latin translation of Psalm 130.
"De Jure" means "By law".
"De Facto" means "By deed".
"De Mortuis" is part of the phrase "De mortuis aut bene aut nihil", which means "Speak well of the dead, or don't speak at all".

2. The unofficial motto of Johns Hopkins University, translated into English, is "Truth will set you free", but what is the Latin phrase?

Answer: Veritas Vos Liberabit

The phrase comes from the Gospel of John, verse 8:32.
"Veritas Vitae Magistra" means "Truth is Life's Teacher".
"Veritate et Virtute" means "With Truth and Courage".
"Veritatem Fratribus Testari" means "Bearing Witness to the Truth in Brotherhood".

3. You may have heard of Descartes saying "I think, therefore I am", or "Cogito Ergo Sum", but how would you translate in English the phrase "Bibo Ergo Sum"?

Answer: I drink, therefore I am

The phrase was invented to make fun of the French philosopher. It is mentioned in the website of the University of Pennsylvania, labeled "Philosophical Language".

Answer: Panem et Circenses

The phrase comes from Juvenal's Satires, 81st line.
"Pacem in Terris" means "Peace on Earth".
"Parva sub Ingenti" means "The small under the huge".
"Paulatim Ergo Centre" means "Slowly therefore surely".

5. This phrase can be translated as "and the rest", however today the translation "and so on " or "and more" is used more frequently. What is that Latin phrase?

Answer: Et cetera

"Et alii" means "And others".
"Et alibi" means "And elsewhere".
"Et sequentes" means "And the following".

6. You may know the phrase "The voice of one crying in the wilderness", but how would you translate it into Latin?

Answer: Vox Clamantis in Deserto

The phrase originally occurs in the Biblical book of Isaiah, and all four Gospels note that it refers prophetically to John the Baptist.

"Vitai Lampada Tradunt" means "They hand on the torch of life".
"Vivat Crescat Floreat" means "May it Live, Grow, and Flourish".
"Vive Memor Leti" means "Live remembering Death".

7. A famous quote of Cicero, when translated into English, is "As long as I breathe, I hope". How is this translated in Latin?

Answer: Dum Spiro Spero

The phrase is also the motto of South Carolina.
"Dum Vivimus, Vivamus" means "As long as we Live, Let us Live!".
"Dum Vivimus Servimus" means "As long as we Live, we Serve".
"Dum Vite est, Spes est" means "As long as there is Life, there is Hope".

8. The motto of the Belize Coast Guard, when translated into English, reads "Ready for anything". What is the Latin phrase?

Answer: Utrinque Paratus

The phrase is used as the motto of the UK Parachute Regiment, too.
"Utraque Unum" means "Both in One".
"Usque ad Finem" means "To the very End".
"Utilis in Ministerium" means "Usefulness in Service".

9. It is true that "time devours all things", but how would you translate this into Latin?

Answer: Tempus Edax Rerum

The phrase comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses.
"Tempus Rerum Imperator" means "Time, commander of all things".
"Tempus Volat Hora Fugit" means "Time flies, the Hour flees".
"Tempus Vernum" means "Spring Time".

10. At least once in your life, you must have made a "Speech Error". How would you translate it into Latin?

Answer: Lapsus Linguae

"Lapsus Calami" means "Typographical Error".
"Lapsus Memoriae" means "Slip of Memory'.
"Lapsus Artis" does not exist. It is a wordplay of the phrase "Lex Artis", that means "Law of the Skill".

Source: Author DeepHistory

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Most Recent Scores

Mar 24 2023 : Guest 86: 2/10
Mar 18 2023 : vizqjohn: 8/10
Feb 27 2023 : muivers: 10/10
Feb 25 2023 : Guest 217: 6/10
Feb 24 2023 : Guest 71: 10/10
Feb 23 2023 : Guest 125: 10/10
Feb 23 2023 : Guest 103: 6/10
Feb 22 2023 : Guest 221: 5/10
Feb 19 2023 : Guest 76: 9/10

Score Distribution

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Five of my FunTrivia Categories #7:

Just what the title says. Another assortment of five quizzes, each of them belonging in one of the twenty categories.

  1. Beat the Game! Tough
  2. We All Have an Inner Child Very Easy
  3. Ancient Athens' Mythology Tough
  4. Voiceless Religion Easier
  5. Pick up your ears ! Romans are speaking! Average

Referenced Topics

World Entertainment English Languages Famous Quotes French Language Names Latin Language Pennsylvania Prisons South Carolina Teachers Oscar Wilde French: Famous & Historical Belize

Other Destinations

Explore Other Quizzes by DeepHistory

Go to Languages Quizzes

More Latin Quizzes

FunTrivia Homepage