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One famous Latin saying every day with its full story, pronunciation, and where you'll still hear it today. Come back tomorrow for a new phrase.
βAn unwelcome personβ
\u2014 Diplomatic Latin; formalized in the Vienna Convention (1961)
In Roman theater, 'persona' was the mask an actor wore. Over time it came to mean the public face or character someone presents. In diplomacy, declaring someone 'persona non grata' is the formal way to expel a foreign diplomat. The host country does not need to give a reason β the declaration alone is enough to require the person's departure.
A formal term in international diplomacy, used when countries expel ambassadors or diplomatic staff. In everyday language, it means someone who is unwelcome in a particular place or group. Used in news headlines, spy novels, and workplace gossip when someone has fallen out of favor.
person, character, mask
noun (nominative)
not
adverb
welcome, pleasing
adjective (feminine)
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