Perseverantia et fide in Deo
“Through perseverance and faith in God.”
Motto of the Bombay Scottish School
What does “Perseverantia et fide in Deo” mean?
Perseverantia et fide in Deo translates as “Through perseverance and faith in God.”
Keep going and trust in God.
“Perseverantia et fide in Deo” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Perseverantia | through perseverance | ablative singular (case of means, "by, through") of perseverantia, "perseverance, steadfastness"; a feminine noun of the first declension |
| et | and | conjunction joining the two phrases |
| fide | in faith | ablative singular of fides, "faith, trust"; a feminine noun of the fifth declension |
| in | in | preposition; here followed by the ablative, so it means "in" (not "into") |
| Deo | God | ablative singular of Deus, "God"; a masculine noun of the second declension |
How to pronounce “Perseverantia et fide in Deo”
The two differ mainly in v (w in Classical, v in Church) and in the ti of perseverantia (tee in Classical, tsee in Church). Stress falls on the second-to-last syllable of perseverantia (-RAN-), on the first of fide, and on the first of Deo.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto reads "with perseverance and in faith in God", which in natural English becomes "through perseverance and faith in God". It is a short statement of two virtues, steady effort and trust.
It is the motto of the Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, India. School mottos like this are usually chosen to give pupils a guiding ideal, here that persistence and faith go together.
It is a modern motto rather than a line from an ancient author. It has no classical source, and the Latin is plain and easy to read.
How to use “Perseverantia et fide in Deo”
It suits a school or team motto, a graduation or confirmation card, a tattoo about steadiness and belief, or a caption for a personal milestone. It fits best where both effort and religious faith are meant.
- Latin
- Perseverantia et fide in Deo
- English
- Through perseverance and faith in God.
- Source
- Motto of the Bombay Scottish School
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Perseverance
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman quote. It is a modern school motto written in Latin.
- Both perseverantia and fide are ablatives of means, so the first "through" covers both nouns. Changing one ending breaks the pairing.
- Writing the last word as Dei ("of God") or Deum ("God" as object) changes the grammar, since after in meaning "in" Latin needs the ablative Deo.
- Spelling it "preseverantia" or "perserverantia" is a common slip. The correct form is perseverantia.
Questions about “Perseverantia et fide in Deo”
What does "Perseverantia et fide in Deo" mean literally?
Literally it is "with perseverance and in faith in God". Natural English is "through perseverance and faith in God".
Who said "Perseverantia et fide in Deo"?
No ancient author. It is the motto of the Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, so it is a modern school motto in Latin.
How do you pronounce "Perseverantia et fide in Deo"?
In Classical Latin: pehr-seh-weh-RAN-tee-ah et FEE-deh in DEH-oh. In Church Latin: pehr-seh-veh-RAN-tsee-ah et FEE-deh in DEH-oh.
Is "Perseverantia et fide in Deo" correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: two ablatives of means followed by in plus the ablative Deo. Just be aware it is a school motto, not a classical quotation.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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