collegae

Collegae is the Latin plural form of the noun collega, meaning a colleague or fellow. In English-language writing, the form appears primarily in Latin phrases within academic, ecclesiastical, or legal contexts, rather than in everyday use.

In Latin, collegae also functions as the plural of collegium, which can denote a college, board, or scholarly or religious body. Consequently, collegae can refer to the members of a college or to a body organized on a collegial basis.

In modern English, the word collegae is uncommon outside quotations or historical texts. When referring to coworkers or fellow scholars in contemporary prose, authors typically use colleagues or fellow members instead of the Latin plural.

Typical contexts include historical or liturgical writing, where Latin terms are preserved for precision or tradition, and in translations where Latin documents describe the members of a scholarly or ecclesiastical college. The term underscores the idea of a group bound together for a common purpose or function.

See also: colleague, collegium, collegial, Latin terms in law and academia.