Serviam
“I will serve.”
Traditional Christian motto
What does “Serviam” mean?
Serviam translates as “I will serve.”
A single word of commitment to service and humility. It stands as the conscious answer to the proud "Non serviam" (I will not serve) that tradition puts in the mouth of Lucifer.
“Serviam” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Serviam | I will serve | first person singular future indicative active of servio, “to serve”; the ending -am marks the future in this verb class, and the pronoun “I” is built into the verb |
How to pronounce “Serviam”
Classical Latin sounds the v as w. Church Latin sounds it as v and gives the a a broader, Italian vowel. The stress falls on the second syllable in both.
The story behind it
Serviam is a single verb. It means “I will serve”, a plain promise of service that needs no other words.
It is best known as the answer to “Non serviam”, “I will not serve”, the words Christian tradition puts in the mouth of Lucifer when he rebels against God. These words are tradition and are not a quotation from one fixed passage of scripture, although the thought is often linked to Jeremiah 2:20 in the Latin Bible.
In the same tradition the archangel Michael stands for faithful service, in contrast to Lucifer’s refusal. Serviam has been adopted as a motto by Catholic schools, notably Ursuline schools, and it still appears on school crests and in church settings today.
How to use “Serviam”
A one-word motto for a school crest, a volunteer or service team, or a quiet tattoo about commitment and humility. It fits best where the idea of serving others or a calling is meant, ideally with its Christian background in mind.
- Latin
- Serviam
- English
- I will serve.
- Source
- Traditional Christian motto
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- It means “I will serve”, not “I serve” (that would be servio) and not “let us serve” (that would be serviamus).
- It is not the same as “Non serviam”, which says the opposite. Do not cut one phrase from the other without knowing which you mean.
- Some people read serviam as “I will be a slave”. Latin servire can mean to be a slave, but as a motto it is understood as willing service, not servitude.
- It is a traditional Christian motto, not a line from a classical Roman author.
Questions about “Serviam”
What does “Serviam” mean literally?
“I will serve”. It is one verb in the future tense, with the subject “I” contained in the ending.
What is the difference between “Serviam” and “Non serviam”?
“Serviam” is a promise to serve. “Non serviam” means “I will not serve” and is the refusal tradition attributes to Lucifer.
How do you pronounce “Serviam”?
In Classical Latin it is ser-WEE-am. In Church Latin it is ser-VEE-ahm. Both stress the middle syllable.
Is “Serviam” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is a correctly formed first person future of servio and it works as a short motto of service.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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