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As I think most of us are aware, Spanish is a “romance language”. This means it has its linguistic roots in Latin, as do Italian, French, and several other languages. Many PlayaInfo forum subscribers have shown an interest in broadening their horizons by improving their Spanish language skills. I felt it might prove beneficial to put forward a few common Latin phrases in order that you might gain an appreciation for the derivation of some of the Spanish you may hear spoken in Playa del Carmen. Hopefully, these everyday expressions may help you expand your useful vocabulary.

Airhead - Caput vacans

It was that way when I got here. - Ita erat quando hicadveni.

Do I drink this or stick my fingers in it? - Hocine bibo aut in eum digitos insero?

A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants. - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.

Space Cadet - Tiro in exercita stellarum

I am not lost. - Neutiquam erro.

Only you can prevent forest fires. - Solum potestis prohibere ignes silvarum.

You bet your bippy! - Tuis pugis pignore!

Doofus - Blennus

How do you get your hair to do that? - Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?

Wannabe - Simulator

Bad kitty! Why don’t you use the cat box? I put new litter in it. - Feles mala! Cur cista non uteris. Stramentum novum in ea posiu.

You know, the Romans invented the art of love. - Romani quidem artem amatoriam invenerunt.

Yes, that is a very large amount of corn. - Aio, quantitus magna frumentorum est.

(At a barbeque) Ever notice that however you stand, the smoke goes right into your face? - Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem feri?

Let’s have a Tupperware party! - Habeamus convivium ad mercem emendam Tupperi!

Let’s have a sock hop! - In tibialibus saltemus!

Happy Birthday to me! - Diem notalem felicem!

For me? You shouldn’t have! - Mihi? Opus non fuit!

I never would have guessed! - Nunquam coniectaverim!

Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. - Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert.

This is delicious. What is it? - Iucunde sapit. Quid est?

May you always use the subjective properly... - Modo subiunctivo recte utaris...

I think some people in togas are plotting against me. - Sentio aliquois togatos contra me conspirare.

What actually is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato? - Quomodonam dioscorea et ipomoea inter se differunt?

In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags. - Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similies in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.

If Caesar were alive, you’d be chained to an oar. - Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it - Quae narravi, nullo modo negato

Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) - Sit Simplex, Stulte (SSS)

Long time no see! - Tam diu minime visu!

Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me? - Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?

See you later, alligator! - Vale, lacerte!

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? - Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! - Noli aliquid facere quod non facium!

(At a poetry reading) It doesn’t rhyme. - Nulo metro compositum est.

(At a poetry reading) I don’t care. If it doesn’t rhyme, it isn’t a poem. - Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.

I’m not interested in your dopey religious cult. - Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.

Is this your idea of a joke? - Hocine tibi habeas iocum?

When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults. - Cum catapulte proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultus habebunt.

Says who? - Quis est qui inquit?

Stand aside, little people! I’m here on official business. - Recidite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem.

The designated hitter rule has got to go. - Lex clavatoris designati rescendenda est.

Get a life - Fac ut vivas

Honk if you speak Latin. - Sona si Latine loqueris

Read it and weep - Lege et lacrima

I can’t hear you. I have a banana in my ear. - Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

Don’t make me laugh - Ne feceris ut rideam

Stupid cow! - Vaca foeda!

If you can read this bumper sticker, you are very well educated and much too close. - Sic hoc adfixum in obice legere potes, et liberaliter educatus et nimis propinquus ades.

I had a grand time! - Me valde oblectavi!

You can’t say that in Latin. - Illiud Latine dici non potest.

Next! - Propinqua proxime!

It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity! - Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat!

God, look at the time! My wife will kill me! - Di! Ecce hora! Uvor mea me necabit!

Oh! Was I speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out. - Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.