h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A friend wants to wish her son good luck in his uni Latin exam. She's not too sure if "bonus fortuna in vestri probatur" is right. Any Latin experts around?

I'm not an expert, but bonus is masculinum, and fortuna is femininum, so I'd say it should be Bona fortuna in probatur vestri.

Oh, and there's Banjo Golli, they'll know.

Thanks B'El, however the latest advice is that it should read "Bona fortuna in vestri probatur." Is that right?

I really don't know. My feeling tells me to change the word order, just think of the Latin prayers and you'll know why. But then that's just a feeling, not based on extensive knowledge - it's been too long since I did Latin.

I wish I could help, it's an eternity I haven't studied Latin.

but

We used to say to each other at Uni "Alea jacta est" more or less it means: the luck is thrown (as if it was a dice) There's nothing to worry/expect about, just Do the exam.

Also, Rem tenet, verba sequentur, Have the idea, words will come.

Although that sentence would be useful when you are studying for the exam

A handy wee site - http://www.thebookmarkshop.com/latin/latinphrases.htm

Some really good ones there.

Let the phobistae win, I say.

ergo bibamus

'Ecce ilea mammeata' means 'check the on her!*'

Always handy if you're walking down Buchanan Street and you're not sure where the busty tourists are from.

Bona fortuna is correct, not sure about probatur. I think it means 'he is tested', and vestri is 'your/s', so the whole thing would say 'Good luck yours is tested'.

Maybe 'bona fortuna in probatione, probatione being the noun for test. You wouldn't use 'your' in Latin I don't think.



* literally 'behold those funbags'

>> so the whole thing would say 'Good luck yours is tested'. <<

"People called the Romanes, they go, the house?"

RF

>>We used to say to each other at Uni "Alea jacta est" more or less it means: the luck is thrown (as if it was a dice) There's nothing to worry/expect about, just Do the exam.<<

Personally, I wouldn't use that - it's what Ceasar said as he crossed the Rubicon. To me it has connotations of disaster to it.

Where's emr when you need her? Isn't she our resident latin buff?