Last Updated on 3rd July 2020 by Sophie Nadeau
Latin is a beautiful Romance language from which many of our languages in Europe stem from today. Latin quotes can be found all over the place from mottos to car stickers and so if you’re looking for some Latin words and sayings to use yourself, then you’ve come to the right place.
I’m often asked why I study Latin. Latin, a dead language. My reply is always a nonchalant, ‘Oh, well it’s fun’ but perhaps it should be ‘Oh, well it’s useful’. After all, is the cornerstone for many modern European languages.
Disregarding this, it is also the root for most medical and law words in the English language. Nevertheless, the most important aspect of learning Latin is ‘those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it’. The Romans were great innovators; they gave us sewers, concrete and high rise apartment blocks.
However, they also had slaves, misogyny was rife and not everyone was allowed to vote. We can learn a lot about how to and how to not run a society from the Romans. And what better way to understand a group of people than by understanding their language? So here are my top Latin words and phrases:
#1 Carpe Diem
Seize the day.
Okay, let’s start with an easy one.
How is it even possible to rephrase Carpe Diem in English?
Don’t wait around.
Go out and chase your dreams.
Etc. etc. etc.
#2 Carpe Noctem
Seize the night
Literally the opposite of Carpe Diem, this one is perfect for all those all nighters you have to pull when you’re too lazy to have done that 5000 word dissertation earlier in the term.
As the daughter of two night owls, I often struggle to fall asleep before 4am and so I prefer this one to Carpe Diem.
#3 Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit.
From nothing comes nothing.
Work hard, play harder.
Without hard work and stamina, you won’t be able to achieve much. Nothing in life will just be ‘given’ to you.
#4 Salve
Hello + Goodbye
This is the root for the french word salut and is used as a greeting for both hello and goodbye.
In case you ever get magically transported back in time, it may be useful to know how to greet a Roman!
#5 Audere est Facere
To do is to dare
Famously used as the motto for Tottenham Hotspur F.C., the origins for the use of Latin mottos has a history dating all the way back to the middle ages. Universities (and therefore their mottos) were founded around Catholic Monasteries whose main language was Latin (and so it made sense for them use Latin mottos).
Over the years, prestigious institutions have carried on the tradition of using a Latin motto to distinguish themselves.
#6 Semper Fidelis
Always faithful
Known around the world as the motto for the US marine corps, it was also used as the motto for the city of Exeter, UK (where I’m from) in the 17th Century.
#7 Amor Omnia Vincit
Love conquers all
Do I even need to explain this one?!
#8 Utinam Ne Illum Numquam Conspexissem
If only I had never seen him.
Confession time: this is literally my Tinder ‘bio’ because I’m really tragic like that (and I wonder why I’ve never been on a ‘Tinder’ date)!
#9 Alis Propriis Volat
She flies with her own wings
The actual phrase is gender neutral but is often translated as ‘she’ because the motto was originally used to describe nations (and countries are usually described as feminine).
Watch out for the double ‘i’ in Propriis; it is commonly misspelt in tattoos and logos…
#10 Bona Fide
With good faith.
#Bonus Over to you!
Got any good phrases to add?
Comment below!
104 Comments
nizartravels
30th September 2020 at 11:34 pmQuid pro quo – something for something
ex verbatim – by words of mouth
David Sais
3rd September 2020 at 4:25 pmCaput tuum in ano est. My high school latin teacher had no response for us when we can up with that one.
Joe Berry
30th May 2020 at 8:16 amSursum corda. Lift up your hearts. From the Latin mass.
lanievergrine
12th May 2020 at 12:32 pmyou forgot sic parvis magna
John Sigman
19th February 2020 at 7:36 amViva Amor ?
Long Live Love
Correct if wrong Pls
Peter J Cober
11th January 2020 at 1:24 amLaus Deo : Praise be to God
Latin inscriptions at the top of the Washington monument.
Barbara
26th December 2019 at 8:34 pmA play on words from old 4th year Latin teacher still brings a smile to my face…”Semper ubi sub ubi”. No one should leave home unless he/she is doing this. Ask your mother.
Petr
21st November 2019 at 7:24 amNoli illegitimi carborundum. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
Judith L Pullins
15th October 2019 at 12:31 pmAudaces fortuna iuvat
Fortune favors the bold.
Thaddeus
8th September 2019 at 12:05 amAd Jesum per Mariam- to Jesus through Mary.
Thaddeus
8th September 2019 at 12:01 am“Ad majored Dei Gloriam”- All for the glory of God
Guy
16th August 2019 at 10:13 amSi vis pacem, parabellum
JK
24th June 2019 at 12:36 pmHi! Can someone translate ”Nothing real can’t be threatened” and ” I’m the lion” and If someone has some empowering words in latin that could make a great tattoo let me know! Something like Excelsior for example.
GTG
13th June 2019 at 11:39 pmmiseria fortes viros-misery makes strong people
il vincit qui patitur-He conquers who endures
Vincere Diem- “Win the day”
Gabriela
30th May 2019 at 11:52 pmHey, I wanted to get “learn to love” tattooed in Latin, since I have so many issues with love.
Could anyone help me translate it?
Gabriela
11th June 2019 at 12:53 amThank you so much for your help ❤️❤️❤️
Sophie Nadeau
11th June 2019 at 11:06 amMany phrases have various meanings and so I would consult with a Latin professor before committing to a tattoo!
Gabriela
11th June 2019 at 11:13 amYes, I’ve seen those meanings on the internet, I’m considering tattooing it in English to avoid mistakes
Ollie
13th June 2019 at 11:05 amEgo sum stultus means “I am stupid”, so I wouldn’t go for that one O.o
Nitti
9th May 2019 at 2:35 amEgo Omnia!
Michael Butler
3rd May 2019 at 8:29 amWould someone be able to translate “Paucorum est intellegere non celet fortunae et in paucorum bonorum.” For me? It is my twitter bio from a while ago but I can’t remember what it means and Google translate is no help when it comes to Latin. Thanks in advance
Chris Naused Jr.
5th May 2019 at 6:31 pm“The few that I can not hide from his fortune and a few good men.” Might have a grammar issue.
Peter Geissler
1st May 2019 at 11:33 pmNo mention of veni, vidi, vici?
Elizabeth
27th April 2019 at 3:10 pm“Docendo discimus” (I teach so we learn). I think it’s the motto for every teacher…we learn so much from our students! I memorized this when I started learning Latin to add to my class, and it has spoken to me ever since. Of course, in teaching, there’s also the moments everyone has in the classroom, and then “Dirige me, Domine!”-said while trying not to roll the eyes- (Lead me, Lord!) comes into play! Also good as a substitute for counting to 10…
Kitty McFarland
14th April 2019 at 8:47 ammomento mori – remember (that) you will die
Shera
12th April 2019 at 5:04 amhi i need help from anyone. i want to put a name for my shopping store. please give me some suggestions name from Latin with English meaning
Brandon
6th April 2019 at 8:44 amSo you are telling me nobody is even going to mention Sic Parvis Manga?
Baran Kazan
18th April 2019 at 2:06 pmGreatness from small beginnings, I thought I was the only one here!
Allison
14th January 2020 at 3:57 amI remembered this from school and then my friend was playing The nathan Drake series and that came up again… i wanted the ring with that on it,,,,
Travis
28th March 2019 at 2:21 amhi, anyone can help translate these 2 phrases in Latin?
“World of Life”
“Small World”
thank you~!
Nico
27th March 2019 at 5:46 pmIn libras libertas
In books, freedom
Earnest Ernest
21st March 2019 at 8:33 amSapere Aude – Dare To Know
Ken worley
18th March 2019 at 9:45 pmEn omnibus, vertus est clavem!
In everything, courage is key!
Achilles
14th March 2019 at 4:35 pmVox Populi, Vox Dei – The voice of the people is the voice of God.
Ekaterina
8th March 2019 at 12:21 pmWhat an awesome article! Hopefully someone could help me. I am looking for a correct way of saying in Latin of a few things. “Love is all” or “love is everything” and the other two “higher than the stars” “only the stars are higher”
Would really appreciate the help)
Lis
20th February 2019 at 12:08 pmThe first phrase I learnt at the age of 6 was: ”Ubi bene ibi patria.” No need to translate it, speaks by itself clearly.
That’s a perfect phrase for the world now. At the age of six I didn’t know I will move to another country and will become a patriot of that country.
Earnest Ernest
21st March 2019 at 8:36 amI prefer “Ubi Panis Ibi Patria”
Natasha
16th February 2019 at 11:07 pmFinis coronat opus- the end crowns the work
Ery
14th February 2019 at 7:58 pmOmnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis. Everything changes and we change with it
Mary
14th February 2019 at 4:29 amI always thought the saying was Alis Volat Propriis am I wrong? Just wondering as I wanted to her this inscribed into a necklace bar
karyn
5th February 2019 at 1:09 pmhihi! i just stumbled upon this post hahaha. im looking for a latin way of saying something family related. such as “i live for my family” or “family first” or “family before all”. do you think you could help me out?
Juniper Scythe
18th January 2019 at 4:32 amI have so many sayings I love, here are just a few.
“aut neca aut necare” ~Either kill or be killed
“Veritas Vos Liberabit” ~The truth will set you free.
“dictum factum” ~What is said is done.
“fortes fortuna adiuvat” ~Fortune favors the bold.
“humilitas occidit superbiam” ~Humiity conquers pride.
“ex nihilo nihil fit” ~ Out of nothing, comes nothing.
Juniper Scythe
18th January 2019 at 4:15 amI love this article! Latin is such a beautiful language, and I hate that it’s called a “dead langauge” because it’s not only the cornerstone, or should I say ” Primarii Lapidis” which means “Foundation-stone”. Latin is history itself including how it was formed, who spoke it, and the prominance it has in the Catholic and Pagan faiths. Im sure most people have seen a movie or TV show where you hear a Priest say, “In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti”. Millions of people still speak, teach, and learn Latin. Njerep is a language spoken in Nigeria by only FOUR people! Latin isn’t even the top 10 of least spoken language.
Frances Dawa
4th January 2019 at 4:19 pmIt’s out of the context but those latin phrases sound like good book titles….okay I’m out
Evelyn Meyer
6th January 2019 at 7:41 pmLiterally came here for some good book titles
Lila
17th December 2018 at 4:43 pmOmnium Rerum Principia Parva Sunt
The beginning of all things is small.
Dela
7th December 2018 at 8:27 amTempus Fugit- Time Flies
And my favorite
Assinorum
Literally translates to “Bridge of Donkeys”. Polite way of calling someone a Jackass.
Rob
4th December 2018 at 1:41 pmAmor meus, pondus meum
My love [is] my gravity – St. Augustine
St. Augustine also says that ‘all the other emotions of the soul are caused by love.’ Anything we do is out of love of something. What do you love, that is the question?
Huw Mac
16th May 2020 at 12:53 amThanks Rob. Those are some truly beautiful words and thoughts. There is weight to the smallest decision. I will be thinking about Augustine’s words all day
Neil
28th November 2018 at 4:24 pmMy favourite is Amor fati love of one’s fate.
Rockems Hazer
11th November 2018 at 6:00 amEsperanto is more useful.
Bruno
10th November 2018 at 10:33 pmQui tacet consentit.
He who is silent consents.
Brenda
16th October 2018 at 5:52 pmLoved this article!! Thanks for writing it!! 🙂
Just wanted to add the last line that pulls the
first two together:
Carpe Diem Carpe Noctem, Carpe Vitam
Seize the day, seize the night, seize this life!
Christi
20th January 2020 at 8:21 pmWhat’s do right and fear nothing in Latin?
Tia
16th October 2018 at 4:20 amThese are all so beautiful! Could someone tell me if there is a phrase similar to “To the Moon and back”
This phrase means a lot to me and I want to get it as a tattoo. Latin is such a beautiful language and I want to make sure I get it right..
Tina Gilbert
22nd July 2020 at 12:48 amEt ad lunam, retro
kahia
1st October 2018 at 5:31 pmad eundum quo nemo ante iit- (latin translation of Star Trek’s motto) to boldly go where no man has gone before
Carmen
1st October 2018 at 3:17 pmI want to get “strength in friendship” as a tattoo… but wanted to make sure it was correct. Virtute amicitia?
Michelle
1st September 2018 at 12:40 amHell All, I’m looking for a wee bit of help. I have an antique bell with the names of four animals carved into it with accompanying images.
I’ve easily deduced: LEO and AQVILA but am stuck on:
ACNVS – the image is definitely a 4-legged animal
ELICANVS- the image with it looks like a stork or perhaps pelican
Thanks in advance!
Shelley
1st March 2019 at 7:30 amHi Michelle, if you are still looking for an answer to your question… the four animals would be religious symbols. The lion and and the eagle are commonly used to symbolise St Mark (lion) and St John (eagle). The next is probably ‘Agnus’ or lamb. The pelican also has Christian symbolism dating from the medieval period, based on the myth of the pelican sacrificing itself to feed its young.
Michelle
1st March 2019 at 3:25 pmThank-you so much, Shelley! That is very helpful.
Joe Berry
30th May 2020 at 8:11 amAgnes Dei…lamb of God
Phoenix Ngcobo
2nd July 2018 at 2:34 amCogito Ergo Sum – I Think Therefore I Am
will
17th July 2018 at 12:12 amBibo ergo sum
Times New Roamin'
24th September 2018 at 4:04 amBibo ergo ebrius sum
Sam Samuels
22nd June 2018 at 4:07 pmIn veritas dolor – truth through pain
Shannon Roble
19th June 2018 at 2:45 amNosce Te Ipsum ~ Know Thyself
Moose
7th June 2018 at 5:02 pmAd astra per aspera – “through hardship to the stars”
Joana
21st May 2018 at 2:02 amForsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.- and perhaps one day it will help to remember these things
Alex
4th March 2019 at 2:24 amVergil, nice. I like adding “even” in front of “these things” bc it adds more drama to the scene. I felt Aeneas in that scene honestly, lying through his teeth and pushing through the pain for the sake of his men.
Leisa Ensley
17th May 2018 at 3:17 pmI would like to get a tattoo in latin that means “Truth in Love” and I’m finding different translations on the web. Can you tell me how you would interpret it please?
Heather
12th May 2018 at 5:51 amHow do I translate “The air that I breathe”???
Elizabeth
24th April 2018 at 11:35 amWhat is the correct translation for “the light within me” in latin?
Lee Caballero
7th April 2018 at 8:03 pmALETHEIA…Not only to know the truth but to tell yourself the truth!
Kenroy A. Smith
26th March 2018 at 11:02 pmNil Sine Magno Labore: Nothing is achieved without hard work!
Lol
2nd May 2018 at 5:13 pmAppopinquare non animum recouparare: To approach and lose your mind
Mitchy
23rd March 2018 at 1:39 pmAmare et sapere vix deo conceditur. – “Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time.”
Shraddha
7th March 2018 at 8:21 pmMemento Viveri
Remember to live.. don’t be carried away with challenges life throws at you, take time to smile and enjoy beautiful life
Lee Caballero
7th April 2018 at 8:09 pmLove Love Love
Jo Mercer
13th February 2018 at 3:14 pmLatin and Greek weren’t offered when I was in High School in the early 1970’s–something about it being “irrelevant” (sigh). I went on to a career in biology in which both those languages would have been wonderful to know and understand.
Sooo….could you help me out with this request?
I would like my weightlifting shirt to read: “She lifts with her own strength.”
Dylan Phillips
1st February 2018 at 9:10 amHey! Can you perhaps translate: “life is precious”.. I struggle to find an accurate meaning without religion added to the phrase
Sophie Rose
18th December 2017 at 2:48 amactually, Salve is hello to one person, Salvete is hello to two or more people. However, Vale means goodbye to one person and Valete means goodbye to two or more people.
Ember
15th July 2017 at 7:46 pmNil manet semper
(There are no sweeter words than this)
F.
11th July 2017 at 5:06 pmIn Omnia Paratus (Ready for anything) I love this phrase from Gilmore Girls <3
Shraddha
14th March 2018 at 10:34 amWow… That’s good one.
Dilyana Bukurova
10th May 2017 at 10:57 pmHello, that’s a beautiful article!
Can I ask for some help, an advice. I would like to have a tattoo with my family’s first letter names in latin words that form a nice sentence with great meaning if possible.. The letters are G, S, D, V . Can you think of beautiful latin words with those letters? Thank you in advance!! ♡
Phoenix Ngcobo
2nd July 2018 at 3:09 amI’m not sure you can create a word with that since there are no vowels to form “actual” words with
Maybe try with the first and second letters of their names
Mjau
6th March 2019 at 6:34 pmI think she meant a latin sentace in witch the first letters of the words are g s d v
Angelinna
3rd May 2017 at 12:18 am“Amor ex oculis oriens
in pectus cadit.”
Love is borne by the eye and sinks into the heart.
Shraddha
14th March 2018 at 10:41 amWow Angelinna that’s beautiful… Thanks for sharing
Shraddha
14th March 2018 at 10:43 amWow… Angelinna that’s beautiful, tgabks for sharing. 🙂
Jessica Wara
24th February 2019 at 8:36 amWOW. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL
Oran McDuffs
21st January 2017 at 9:16 pmamicitia tutela a ligno,
friendship is a protective tree
Alex
1st October 2016 at 12:21 amLove this! I studied Latin for 10 years and always got weird looks when I said I enjoyed it. So glad to see that someone else appreciates it! 🙂
Trina
28th August 2016 at 5:49 amI love it! Thanks!
Sharon Bivens
3rd June 2016 at 12:07 amSpero means I hope.
Dum spiro spero-while I breathe I hope
Cecilia Liv
1st August 2016 at 6:10 pmThis is very beautiful. Thank you very much
Cher
24th December 2017 at 4:46 amThis is beautiful
Sunita_amina@hotmail.com
27th April 2018 at 3:18 pmOne of the first Latin phrases I was told (over 30 years ago) and the one I remember best. Maybe because it is so beautiful.
Pierre-André d'Ornano
10th January 2016 at 10:50 amDura lex sed lex
Pierre-André d'Ornano
10th January 2016 at 10:50 amSic transit gloria mundi
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
7th January 2016 at 7:49 pmper aspera ad astra!:) I learned Latin for two years in high school:)
Tara
12th November 2015 at 10:44 pmWow, I love this list! I knew some of the Latin phrases, but not their English translations. Most I just didn’t know. I love Audere est Facere.
mbr hilltop
15th December 2017 at 4:32 amwho