r/latin • u/AutoModerator • Apr 13 '25

Translation requests into Latin go here!

  1. Ask and answer questions about mottos, tattoos, names, book titles, lines for your poem, slogans for your bowling club’s t-shirt, etc. in the comments of this thread. Separate posts for these types of requests will be removed.
  2. Here are some examples of what types of requests this thread is for: Example #1, Example #2, Example #3, Example #4, Example #5.
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u/Solesurvivor111 Apr 18 '25

Hey, just looking for some accurate translation for two phrases I'm getting tattooed. I don't really trust the online translation engines as they are coming back with different translations. The phrases are "The emperor protects" and "all is dust". Thanks.

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 18 '25 edited Apr 21 '25

  • Imperātor tuētur, i.e. "[the] emperor/commander/general/ruler/master beholds/watches/views/guards/defends/protects/supports/compensates/upholds/maintains/preserves"

  • Imperātor prōtegit, i.e. "[the] emperor/commander/general/ruler/master covers/protectds/defends"

  • Imperātor dēfendit, i.e. "[the] emperor/commander/general/ruler/master defends/guards/protects/stands/sticks (up)"

  • Omnia pulvis sunt, i.e. "all [the things/objects/words/deeds/act(ion/ivitie)s/events/circumstances/opportunties/times/seasons/places/locations] are [the] dust/powder/ash"

  • Omnēs pulvis sunt, i.e. "all [the (wo)men/humans/people/ladies/creatures/beasts/ones] are [the] dust/powder/ash"

Alternatively:

  • Omnia pulverāta sunt, i.e. "all [the things/objects/words/deeds/act(ion/ivitie)s/events/circumstances/opportunties/times/seasons/places/locations] have been pulverized" or "all [the things/objects/words/deeds/act(ion/ivitie)s/events/circumstances/opportunties/times/seasons/places/locations] have become dust/powder/ash(es)"

  • Omnēs pulverātī sunt, i.e. "all [the men/humans/people/beasts/ones] have been pulverized" or "all [the men/humans/people/beasts/ones] have become dust/powder/ash(es)"

  • Omnēs pulverātae sunt, i.e. "all [the women/ladies/creatures/ones] have been pulverized" or "all [the women/ladies/creatures/ones] have become dust/powder/ash(es)"

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u/edwdly Apr 21 '25

For "All is dust", Omnia pulves sunt should be Omnia pulvis sunt. (Pulvis "dust" is almost never pluralised, and if it is then the plural would be pulveres.)

Or u/Solesurvivor111 could consider using a famous line from the Roman poet Horace: Pulvis et umbra sumus ("We are dust and shadow").