When we asked to write a post on popular movies quotes and have them translated into Latin, I was eager to jump at the opportunity. I should note that some quotes are left off my list such as ones from Forest Gump, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Gone with the Wind. These and other films have already been translated on a previous post of mine which you can find here.
I have tried to translate each quote with easy to recognize vocabulary (but you can use this tool here for vocabulary), English word order (Latin usually has the verb at the end and may forgo some words I provided), and if you have questions please feel free to comment or message our Facebook page!
WikiCommons: Courtesy of KAMiKAZOW & Magnus Manske.
“I’ll be back.” “Reveniam.” -Terminator
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Potuisti non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men
“May the Force be With You.” “Sit vis vobiscum.” -Star Wars
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Poteritis non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men
You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” “Rogauerim ipsum quaestionem unam: ‘Nonne sentio felix ?’ Ita, quod opinaris, nocens.” -Dirty Harry
“It’s alive! It’s alive!” “Is est vivus! Is est vivus!” -Frankenstein
WikiCommons: A promotional photo of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster, using Jack Pierce’s makeup design.
“You had me at ‘Hello.'” “Habuisti* me cum diximus ‘Salve.'” -Jerry Maguire
“I see dead people.” “Video mortuos populous .” -Sixth Sense
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” “Faciam condicionem eo, quam potest non negare.” -Godfather
“I’ll have what she’s having.” “Habebo quod habebat“ -When Harry Met Sally
Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!
WikiCommons: Courtesy of MGM & Shirtwaist
Salvete ad Sodalitatem Pugnarum**. Prima regula Sodalitatis Pugnarum est: Ne dixeris de Sodalitate Pugnarum. Secunda regula est: Sodalitatis Pugnarum NE dixeris de Sodalitate Pugnarum.-Fight Club
“Why so serious?” “Cur tam serius es?” -The Dark Knight
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” “Nemo ponit Baby in angulo” -Dirt Dancing
“”I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!” “Acquiram te, mi bella, et tuum paulum canem etiam!” -Wizard of Oz
“Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make.” “Audi ad eos***. Liberi noctis. Qualem cantum faciunt.” -Dracula
Hello There! Please feel free to ask me anything about Latin Grammar, Syntax, or the Ancient World.
Comments:
Stan Bradford:
Brittany, My wife and I are retiring, entering a new phase in life. I’ve come across inveniam viam aut faciam I believe translates to “I shall find a way or make one”. Also found Pari passu sometimes used as “hand-in-hand”. I’d like to combine these into “Hand in hand we shall find a way or make one” as our new outlook going forward. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do so correctly. Could you assist me in this?
Gerard Isassi:
This website does not render appropriately on my apple iphone – you might wanna try and repair that
Ian:
Those sound great.
I’m looking for “This Shit Just Got Real” from Bad Boys.
MMcC:
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Potuisti non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men. Why perfect Indic “potuisti” not “potes”?
“May the Force be With You.” “Sit vis vobiscum.” -Star Wars. By analogy with “Dominus/pax vobiscum”–no “sit” needed
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Poteritis non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men. When did “you” become plural?
You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” “Rogauerim ipsum quaestionem unam: ‘Nonne sentio felix ?’ Ita, quod opinaris, nocens.” -Dirty Harry
Why the change to 1st person “rogaverim”? Need a pronoun object: “me ipsum” or “te ipsum”. “Felixne sentio?” (It’s not a “yes-loaded” question.) and please be consistent with use of “v”.
“It’s alive! It’s alive!” “Is est vivus! Is est vivus!” -Frankenstein. HE’s alive or IT’s alive?
I could go on…the point is, without more accurate translations, or at least reasons for your choices, you undermine the credibility of your page.
Corine Laurion:
Admiring the time and energy you put into your website and in depth information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
sava:
Dear Author, I admired the way you have translated in spirit of the language… can you please enlight me with a latin translation of the beautiful LOTR quote
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us
Thank you in advance..
Sava
Shaun Danby:
I have been searching everywhere for this type of site so great job. I’m hoping that someone can help me with a translation for a powerful quote from Lord of the Rings delivered by Gandalf “You shall not pass”. The standard web translators simply can’t touch it.
Comments:
Stan Bradford:
Brittany, My wife and I are retiring, entering a new phase in life. I’ve come across inveniam viam aut faciam I believe translates to “I shall find a way or make one”. Also found Pari passu sometimes used as “hand-in-hand”. I’d like to combine these into “Hand in hand we shall find a way or make one” as our new outlook going forward. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do so correctly. Could you assist me in this?
Gerard Isassi:
This website does not render appropriately on my apple iphone – you might wanna try and repair that
Ian:
Those sound great.
I’m looking for “This Shit Just Got Real” from Bad Boys.
MMcC:
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Potuisti non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men. Why perfect Indic “potuisti” not “potes”?
“May the Force be With You.” “Sit vis vobiscum.” -Star Wars. By analogy with “Dominus/pax vobiscum”–no “sit” needed
“You can’t handle the truth!” “Poteritis non tractare verum“ -A Few Good Men. When did “you” become plural?
You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” “Rogauerim ipsum quaestionem unam: ‘Nonne sentio felix ?’ Ita, quod opinaris, nocens.” -Dirty Harry
Why the change to 1st person “rogaverim”? Need a pronoun object: “me ipsum” or “te ipsum”. “Felixne sentio?” (It’s not a “yes-loaded” question.) and please be consistent with use of “v”.
“It’s alive! It’s alive!” “Is est vivus! Is est vivus!” -Frankenstein. HE’s alive or IT’s alive?
I could go on…the point is, without more accurate translations, or at least reasons for your choices, you undermine the credibility of your page.
Corine Laurion:
Admiring the time and energy you put into your website and in depth information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
sava:
Dear Author, I admired the way you have translated in spirit of the language… can you please enlight me with a latin translation of the beautiful LOTR quote
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us
Thank you in advance..
Sava
Shaun Danby:
I have been searching everywhere for this type of site so great job. I’m hoping that someone can help me with a translation for a powerful quote from Lord of the Rings delivered by Gandalf “You shall not pass”. The standard web translators simply can’t touch it.
Shaun.