Absit reverentia vero
“Let reverence not stand in the way of truth.”
Latin phrase
What does “Absit reverentia vero” mean?
Absit reverentia vero translates as “Let reverence not stand in the way of truth.”
Respect for people or traditions should never stop us from saying what is true. Honesty comes before deference.
“Absit reverentia vero” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Absit | let it be absent, let it stay away | third person singular present subjunctive of absum, “to be away, to be absent”; a wish or command (jussive subjunctive) |
| reverentia | reverence, deference | nominative singular feminine of reverentia, “reverence, respect”; the subject of absit |
| vero | to the truth | dative singular neuter of verum, “the truth” (a noun use of the adjective verus, “true”); some read it as ablative, “from the truth” |
How to pronounce “Absit reverentia vero”
The differences are v (w in Classical, v in Church) and the ti in reverentia (tee in Classical, tsee in Church). Stress falls on the first syllable of absit, the third of reverentia (-REN-) and the first of vero.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “let reverence be absent from the truth”, which is a compact way of saying that deference must not get in the way of honesty. The idea is that respect for a person, an office or a tradition is fine, but not at the cost of what is true.
The exact source of the wording is not securely documented, and it is best treated as a Latin phrase or motto rather than a line from one named author. The thought itself is much older: Greek and Roman writers already held that truth ranks above loyalty to a teacher or school.
The phrase has been used as a motto and in prefaces, where an author announces that he will speak plainly even about respected figures. Today it suits writers, critics and scholars who want to signal that they will not soften their judgement out of politeness.
How to use “Absit reverentia vero”
A fitting motto for a journalist’s notebook, a critic’s column, a scholar’s preface or a debating society. As a tattoo or caption it works for anyone who values plain speaking over flattery.
- Latin
- Absit reverentia vero
- English
- Let reverence not stand in the way of truth.
- Source
- Latin phrase
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Truth
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “reverence is bad”. It says reverence must not override truth, not that respect has no place.
- Do not change absit to a plural or other form without care: the verb is a wish in the subjunctive, so “absit” cannot simply be swapped for “abest”, which would mean “is absent”.
- Do not credit it to a famous ancient author such as Cicero or Seneca. Its first source is not securely documented, so “Latin phrase” is the honest label.
- Vero here is the noun “truth” (verum). Do not read it as the adverb “truly” or the particle “but”, which would change the sense.
Questions about “Absit reverentia vero”
What does “Absit reverentia vero” mean literally?
Literally “let reverence be absent from the truth”, which is usually rendered “let reverence not stand in the way of truth”.
Who said “Absit reverentia vero”?
No author is securely documented. It is a Latin phrase and motto, and the idea of putting truth above deference is much older than the wording.
How do you pronounce “Absit reverentia vero”?
In Classical Latin: AHB-sit reh-weh-REN-tee-ah WEH-roh. In Church Latin: AHB-sit reh-veh-REN-tsee-ah VEH-roh.
Is “Absit reverentia vero” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: a subjunctive verb, a nominative subject and a noun in the dative. Just keep the spelling exactly as given.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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