Fortis
“Strong; brave.”
Latin word
What does “Fortis” mean?
Fortis translates as “Strong; brave.”
One word for courage and strength.
“Fortis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fortis | strong; brave | adjective, nominative singular (masculine or feminine); the dictionary form is fortis, forte. Neuter is forte; plural is fortes |
How to pronounce “Fortis”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. The stress falls on the first syllable.
The story behind it
Fortis is an ordinary Latin adjective, not a line from one author. It covers physical strength, firmness and courage, so it can describe a strong wall, a sturdy body or a brave soldier.
Roman writers used it constantly, and it is the root of English words such as fort, fortify, fortitude and effort. In Roman thought, fortitudo (courage) was one of the four cardinal virtues, and Christian writers later kept it in the same list.
Fortis keeps turning up in mottos and sayings. The best-known proverb is “Fortes fortuna adiuvat” (fortune favours the brave), and “fortis et liber” (strong and free) is a familiar motto pairing. On its own, the single word works as a short, bold statement.
How to use “Fortis”
A one-word tattoo, a ring or bracelet engraving, a gym or team motto, or a card message for someone going through a hard time. If you need to address a woman or a group, check the endings first, as the form changes in the plural.
- Latin
- Fortis
- English
- Strong; brave.
- Source
- Latin word
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Strength
Common mistakes
- Fortis is not a name or a noun. It is an adjective that describes someone or something, so “Fortis” alone means “strong” or “brave”, not “strength”. The noun for strength or courage is fortitudo.
- Fortis has the same form for masculine and feminine (fortis vir, fortis femina). Do not “fix” it to fortia or fortus, which are not correct. Only the neuter changes (forte).
- For more than one person use the plural fortes (“the strong; the brave”). Fortis is singular.
- Do not mix it up with fors or fortuna (chance, luck). They look similar but are different words, although they are related in English.
Questions about “Fortis”
What does “Fortis” mean in Latin?
It means “strong” or “brave”. Which sense is meant depends on context, so it can refer to physical strength or to courage.
How do you pronounce “Fortis”?
In both Classical and Church Latin it is “FOR-tis”, with the stress on the first syllable and a hard s.
What is the plural of “Fortis”?
“Fortes” is the plural for masculine and feminine, as in “Fortes fortuna adiuvat”. The neuter plural is fortia.
Is “Fortis” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct and widely used. Just remember it is an adjective meaning “strong” or “brave”, not the noun “strength”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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