Latin Mottos: E Pluribus Unum, Semper Fidelis and More
Well-known Latin mottos of nations, schools, armed forces and universities, with word-by-word breakdowns and meanings.
Mottos are short, memorable and often in Latin. They are a fun way to learn vocabulary and see how the language works.
National and civic mottos
| Motto | Meaning | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| E pluribus ūnum | out of many, one | the United States |
| Ā marī ūsque ad mare | from sea to sea | Canada |
Military and organisational mottos
| Motto | Meaning | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Semper fidēlis | always faithful | US Marine Corps |
| Per ardua ad astra | through hardships to the stars | Royal Air Force |
| Nēmō mē impūne lacessit | no one attacks me with impunity | Scotland |
University and school mottos
| Motto | Meaning | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Lux et vēritās | light and truth | Yale |
| Vēritās | truth | Harvard |
Breaking one down
Semper fidēlis:
- semper — always (an adverb)
- fidēlis — faithful (adjective)
The English word fidelity comes from fidēlis, and semper appears in sempiternal ("everlasting").
E pluribus ūnum:
- ē / ex — out of
- plūribus — many (ablative plural)
- ūnum — one (accusative)
Everyday Latin mottos
- Carpe diem. — Seize the day.
- Tempus fugit. — Time flies.
- Amor vincit omnia. — Love conquers all.
- Fortēs fortūna adiuvat. — Fortune favours the brave.
- Per aspera ad astra. — Through hardships to the stars.
Writing your own
To write a short Latin motto, choose words carefully and check them in a dictionary. Mistakes are common, so keep the grammar simple.
Tips
- Break mottos into words.
- Learn adverbs like semper.
- Use the dictionary to check meanings.
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