How should the phrase "in question" be translated into Latin?

Question

I want to translate the phrase "in question" into Latin, as in:

Please deposit the car keys next to the car in question, and then leave by the main door.

How would I express this?

Answer 1

I am not aware of a comparable expression in Latin. The most idiomatic option seems to be using pronouns. For "the car in question" I would suggest:

• raeda
• ea raeda
• eadem raeda
• ipsa raeda
• illa raeda
• raeda cita/citata
• raeda praedicta

The best choice depends on what kind of emphasis you need. If you want to underline that it is the very same car and not another one, eadem raeda is a clear choice. If you want to say "the mentioned car", then using a participle like cita or citata sounds best. Or you could go with praedicta, which is quite literally "said before".

Perhaps the closest analogue to "the car in question" is indeed raeda praedicta.

Answer 2

This is often a fluff phrase in English that need not be translated at all:

Ubi raedam conductam rettulisti, velimus clavem juxta raedam deponas.
When you have returned your rental car, we ask that you deposit the key next to the car.

… because, what other car could we be talking about?

If that should not be clear enough, you can probably use ille:

Si aliquam raedam emere vis, juxta illam raedam depone clavem.
If you want to buy a car, deposit the key next to that car.

(Strange way to go about it, but what do I know.)

If by “in question” you mean “aforementioned,” you can say quem/quam/quod dixi/commemoravi or de quo/qua mentionem feci (or fecimus and so on).