sānē
The Latin phrase for 'of course' is sānē.
sānē is used to indicate enthusiastic agreement.
Meaning: indicates enthusiastic agreement (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The adverb sānē is derived from the adjective sānus, meaning 'healthy' or 'sound'. It literally conveys the sense of something being 'soundly' or 'wholly' true.
Which one should you use?
While sānē expresses enthusiastic agreement, other forms have different nuances: quippe expresses 'no doubt' or 'it is to be expected', sometimes with a presumptive tone. scilicet means 'of course' in the sense of 'it is clear' or 'evidently'. And nempe is used to mean 'of course' in the sense of 'it follows' or 'namely' when providing an explanation.
Related words
Did you know?
- The root of sānē is the same as in the English word 'sanity'. To the Romans, agreeing 'of course' was logically linked to being in a sound state of mind.
- Using quippe to say 'of course' can actually sound slightly condescending, as if you are saying 'as you should already know'.
- In Latin legal texts, the word scilicet was often used as a technical term to clarify a point, functioning more like 'namely' than 'of course'.
Examples in context
- Certe, librum tuum heri accepi.Of course, I received your book yesterday.
- Sine dubio, mea soror est optima!Without a doubt, my sister is the best!
- Sānē, id facere possum.Of course, I can do that.
- Sānē hoc bellum vincemus.Of course we will win this war.
Example conversation
Quintus asks Lucia if she will join him for a walk in the garden.
- QuintusLucia, in horto ambulare vis?Lucia, do you want to walk in the garden?
- LuciaSānē, Quinte!Of course, Quintus!
- QuintusVisne et cibum edere?Do you also want to eat some food?
- LuciaSānē, valde volō.Of course, I really want to.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “of course” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
