Long before English became the lingua franca of science, Latin was the dominant language of medicine. In general, Greek and Latin shaped the conventions of scientific,primarily medical, writing for over 2000 years. The study presents the advantages of the coexistence of Latin and English in medical terminology and its contribution to ESP teaching. One advantage is the parallel teaching of Latin and ESP courses in the first year of General Medicine programmes at our faculty. Another advantage is the affinity of Latin and English, which results from the historical development of both languages. These advantages will also be reflected in teaching ESP courses, because students can easily combine their knowledgeof both languages, compare differences in word formation and adapt terminology of English-speaking professionals.We consider strategies for teaching and learning of medical terms (vocabulary) to be crucial. To understand the importance of teaching medical vocabulary in ESP courses, both English teachers and students need to understand its historical background. Knowledge of technical terms as well as a layperson (patient) vocabulary is essential for the development of communication skills, i.e. has a significant impact on effective reading and listening comprehension.