Latin family mottos, with translations
Latin has been the language of mottos for as long as there have been coats of arms. These are well-known Latin phrases that suit a family, each with an honest translation, followed by a table that lets you build your own two-word motto with correct grammar.
Classic Latin mottos for families
- Cor Unum
- One heart. For families who value togetherness.
- Familia Supra Omnia
- Family above all. For families who value togetherness.
- Simul Fortiores
- Stronger together. For families who value togetherness.
- Amor Vincit Omnia
- Love conquers all. For families who value love.
- Ubi Amor, Ibi Domus
- Where there is love, there is home. For families who value love.
- Fortes Fortuna Iuvat
- Fortune favors the brave. For families who value courage.
- Audentes Fortuna Iuvat
- Fortune favors the bold. For families who value adventure.
- Ad Astra
- To the stars. For families who value adventure.
- Labor Omnia Vincit
- Work conquers all. For families who value hard work.
- Nihil Sine Labore
- Nothing without work. For families who value hard work.
- Per Aspera ad Astra
- Through hardships to the stars. For families who value perseverance.
- Dum Spiramus, Speramus
- While we breathe, we hope. For families who value hope.
- Festina Lente
- Make haste slowly. For families who value patience.
- Sapere Aude
- Dare to be wise. For families who value learning.
- Non Nobis Solum
- Not for ourselves alone. For families who value service.
- Semper ad Meliora
- Always toward better things. For families who value excellence.
- Carpe Diem
- Seize the day. For families who value joy.
- Pax et Bonum
- Peace and goodness. For families who value peace.
- Gratias Agimus
- We give thanks. For families who value gratitude.
- In Deo Spes Nostra
- Our hope is in God. For families who value faith.
- Quaerite et Invenietis
- Seek and you will find. For families who value curiosity.
- Veritas Vincit
- Truth prevails. For families who value honesty.
- Semper Fortes
- Always strong. For families who value strength.
- Fideles ad Finem
- Faithful to the end. For families who value loyalty.
- Memores Maiorum
- Mindful of our ancestors. For families who value tradition.
- Ridere et Amare
- To laugh and to love. For families who value humor.
- Natura Duce
- With nature as our guide. For families who value nature.
- Libertate Floremus
- In freedom we flourish. For families who value freedom.
- Cantando Vivimus
- We live by singing. For families who value music.
- Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
- A sound mind in a sound body. For families who value health.
- Simplex Munditiis
- Simple and elegant. For families who value simplicity.
- Domus Omnibus Patet
- Our home is open to all. For families who value hospitality.
- Date et Dabitur
- Give, and it will be given. For families who value generosity.
- Fiat Iustitia
- Let justice be done. For families who value fairness.
Make your own: the “X et Y” motto
The simplest classic pattern is two nouns joined by et (“and”) in the ablative case, which means “by” or “with”: Fide et Amore, “by faith and love”. Pick two values from the table and use the right-hand column. Do not use the left-hand column for this pattern; Fides et Amor is correct Latin too, but it means simply “faith and love”.
| Value | Latin | “By/with …” form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love | Amor | Amore | love |
| Kindness | Benignitas | Benignitate | kindness |
| Loyalty | Fidelitas | Fidelitate | faithfulness |
| Forgiveness | Clementia | Clementia | mercy |
| Generosity | Liberalitas | Liberalitate | generosity |
| Hospitality | Hospitalitas | Hospitalitate | hospitality |
| Gratitude | Gratia | Gratia | gratitude |
| Patience | Patientia | Patientia | patience |
| Respect | Reverentia | Reverentia | respect |
| Honesty | Veritas | Veritate | truth |
| Courage | Fortitudo | Fortitudine | courage |
| Responsibility | Officium | Officio | duty |
| Hard work | Labor | Labore | work |
| Perseverance | Perseverantia | Perseverantia | perseverance |
| Humility | Humilitas | Humilitate | humility |
| Fairness | Iustitia | Iustitia | justice |
| Strength | Robur | Robore | strength |
| Excellence | Praestantia | Praestantia | excellence |
| Curiosity | Studium | Studio | eagerness to learn |
| Learning | Doctrina | Doctrina | learning |
| Wisdom | Sapientia | Sapientia | wisdom |
| Creativity | Ingenium | Ingenio | creativity |
| Faith | Fides | Fide | faith |
| Hope | Spes | Spe | hope |
| Peace | Pax | Pace | peace |
| Service | Ministerium | Ministerio | service |
| Tradition | Mos Maiorum | More Maiorum | the ways of our ancestors |
| Joy | Gaudium | Gaudio | joy |
| Adventure | Audacia | Audacia | daring |
| Humor | Risus | Risu | laughter |
| Health | Salus | Salute | health |
| Nature | Natura | Natura | nature |
| Freedom | Libertas | Libertate | freedom |
| Simplicity | Simplicitas | Simplicitate | simplicity |
| Togetherness | Concordia | Concordia | harmony |
| Music | Cantus | Cantu | song |
Examples built from the table
- Amore et Patientia
- By love and patience
- Clementia et Fortitudine
- By mercy and courage
- Gratia et Perseverantia
- By gratitude and perseverance
- Veritate et Robore
- By truth and strength
- Labore et Doctrina
- By work and learning
- Iustitia et Fide
- By justice and faith
- Studio et Ministerio
- By eagerness to learn and service
- Ingenio et Audacia
- By creativity and daring
- Pace et Natura
- By peace and nature
- Gaudio et Concordia
- By joy and harmony
- Salute et Benignitate
- By health and kindness
- Simplicitate et Liberalitate
- By simplicity and generosity
A few cautions
- Online translators often get Latin endings wrong. The forms above are checked; mixing cases, like Amor et Fide, is a common mistake.
- Some famous Latin phrases are the mottos of countries, schools or military units. They are free to use, but a motto built from your own values says more about your family.
- If you plan to carve it in stone, ask a Latin teacher to look at it too.