Discover the language behind the words we use today.
What do medicine, law, science, and some of our most familiar English words have in common? Latin has helped shape the vocabulary we use to describe the world around us.
At UW–Madison, studying Latin offers an opportunity to explore the language of ancient Rome while discovering connections between language, culture, and the fields that interest you today.
Whether you’re considering a future in medicine or law, fascinated by language, or curious about the ancient world, Latin offers a chance to discover how the past continues to shape the present.
Why study Latin?
Understand the roots of modern terminology.
Latin roots appear throughout medical, scientific, and legal vocabulary. Exploring how Latin words are formed and how their meanings have developed can help you recognize connections between unfamiliar terms and the ideas they express.
Explore a language that shaped the world.
Read Roman literature and discover the stories, arguments, and ideas that have influenced generations of writers and thinkers.
Develop your attention to language.
Study how words work, how meaning is constructed, and how careful reading can reveal layers of interpretation.
Connect your interests across disciplines.
From the history of ideas to the development of specialized vocabulary, Latin offers a different perspective on subjects you may already be studying.
Where could Latin take you?
Interested in medicine or the health sciences?
Medical terminology draws extensively on Latin and Greek roots. Studying Latin can help you recognize word components and understand how some medical terms are constructed, giving you another way to engage with the language of health and science.
Considering law?
Latin phrases and terminology remain part of legal language. Exploring Latin can introduce you to the historical roots of some legal expressions and deepen your understanding of how language carries meaning across time.
Curious about words, history, or literature?
Latin is also a gateway to Roman culture, literature, and history. Discover how ancient writers expressed their ideas and how their works have continued to influence later generations.
Start learning Latin
New to Latin?
Browse our course offerings to find Latin classes at UW–Madison.
Studied Latin before?
Your previous language experience may help determine an appropriate starting point. Complete the CANES Language Background Questionnaire to share your background and support the language placement process.
Complete the Language Background Questionnaire