Semper liber
“Always free.”
Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia
What does “Semper liber” mean?
Semper liber translates as “Always free.”
Free at all times – a short statement of independence.
“Semper liber” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Semper | always | adverb; it never changes form |
| liber | free | masculine nominative singular adjective, from liber, libera, liberum, “free”; the masculine form fits a male or a general subject |
How to pronounce “Semper liber”
The stress is on the first syllable of both words. The two systems differ only in the i of liber: short “ih” in Classical, long “ee” in Ecclesiastical.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “always free”. It is a modern civic motto, not a line from an ancient author, and it is built from two plain, common Latin words.
Semper liber is the motto on the coat of arms of the city of Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, Canada. It states the city’s identity as a place of independence in a single short phrase.
Because the phrase is so simple, it also works well outside its civic setting as a personal motto about independence.
How to use “Semper liber”
A concise tattoo, desk motto or card message for someone who values independence. It also suits a caption about travel, a new start or personal freedom.
- Latin
- Semper liber
- English
- Always free.
- Source
- Motto of the city of Victoria, British Columbia
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Freedom
Common mistakes
- The adjective liber agrees with the person it describes. For a woman the form is libera, so “semper libera”, and for a group of men “semper liberi”.
- Do not confuse the adjective liber (“free”) with the noun liber, “book”. They are spelled alike but are different words, and the context makes the meaning clear.
- Semper liber is not an ancient Roman saying. It is a modern motto, so do not credit it to a classical author.
Questions about “Semper liber”
What does “Semper liber” mean?
It means “always free”. Semper is “always” and liber is the adjective “free”.
Where does “Semper liber” come from?
It is the motto on the coat of arms of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is a modern motto, not a quotation from a Roman author.
How do you pronounce “Semper liber”?
In Classical Latin it is SEM-per LIH-ber. In Church Latin the second word is LEE-ber. The stress falls on the first syllable of each word.
Is “Semper liber” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct Latin. It uses the masculine form, so a woman may prefer “Semper libera”, and a group of men would use “Semper liberi”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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