annus horribilis
[ˈan.nʊs hɔrˈrɪ.bɪ.lɪs]word by word
The English phrase "horrible year" is translated into Latin as annus horribilis.
This phrase describes a year characterized by a series of terrible or unfortunate events. While the phrase is Latin, it is most commonly used in English as a fixed idiom to describe a period of great misfortune.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase annus horribilis uses the masculine singular noun annus (year) and the masculine singular adjective horribilis (horrible). If the phrase is the direct object of a verb, it changes to the accusative case: annum horribile. To refer to multiple years, use the plural form horribiles anni.
Did you know?
- The word horribilis is etymologically linked to the idea of hair standing on end. It comes from the verb horreō, which means to shake or to bristle, describing the physical sensation of shuddering in fear.
- In Latin, the opposite of an annus horribilis is an annus mirabilis, meaning 'a year of wonders'. This phrase is often used to describe years of immense scientific or artistic breakthrough.
- Queen Elizabeth II famously used the phrase annus horribilis in a 1992 speech to describe a year of marital separations and fires at Windsor Castle.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (annus, horribilis) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries annus, horribilis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
