Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est
“So much does habit matter in tender years.”
Virgil, Georgics 2.272
What does “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est” mean?
Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est translates as “So much does habit matter in tender years.”
Habits formed early last a lifetime.
“Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Adeo | so much, to such a degree | adverb of degree, here ‘so very much’; it intensifies multum |
| in | in | preposition; takes the ablative here (teneris), meaning ‘in’ or ‘at’ |
| teneris | tender (years) | ablative plural of tener, ‘tender, young’; used as a noun with the idea of ‘tender years’ understood |
| consuescere | to become accustomed, to form a habit | present infinitive of consuesco, ‘I become accustomed’; the infinitive serves as the subject of the sentence |
| multum | much, a great deal | neuter singular used as a noun, ‘a great deal’; here the predicate of est |
| est | is | third person singular present indicative of sum, ‘I am’ |
How to pronounce “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est”
The two pronunciations sound the same here, since the quote has no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress falls on the first syllable of adeo, the first of teneris, the second-to-last of consuescere (swEH) and the first of multum.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says ‘to grow accustomed in tender years is so very much’, which English smooths to ‘so much does habit matter in tender years’. It comes from Virgil’s Georgics, a poem about farming written in the 30s BC and published around 29 BC.
The line closes a passage in Book 2 on training young vines. Virgil advises the farmer to shape them while they are still young, because early training sets how they will grow.
It is usually quoted as a general point about upbringing and education. Teachers, parents and writers use it to argue that children’s early habits tend to stay with them for life.
How to use “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est”
It suits a note to a parent or teacher, a speech or essay on education and upbringing, or a motto for anyone who cares about starting good routines early. As a tattoo or caption it works for someone marking a fresh start or a lifelong habit.
- Latin
- Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est
- English
- So much does habit matter in tender years.
- Source
- Virgil, Georgics 2.272
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Learning
Common mistakes
- It is not a standalone saying about people from the start. Virgil first wrote it about young vines and livestock, and the human lesson is a later reading.
- The words adeo and multum are easy to misjoin. They do not form a phrase, and adeo here modifies multum, ‘so very much’.
- Do not shorten it to ‘consuescere multum est’ for a tattoo, since the sense of ‘in tender years’ is lost.
- It is often quoted with the first word dropped, which changes the rhythm and the emphasis.
Questions about “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est”
What does “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est” mean literally?
Roughly ‘to grow accustomed in tender years is so very much’, meaning that early habituation counts for a great deal.
Who said “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est”?
The Roman poet Virgil, in his Georgics, Book 2, line 272.
How do you pronounce “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est”?
In Classical Latin: AH-deh-oh in TEH-neh-rees kon-SWEH-skeh-reh MOOL-toom est. The Church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Adeo in teneris consuescere multum est” good for a tattoo?
It is correct Latin and a real line of Virgil, so it is safe to use. Keep the whole line, because shortening it removes the ‘in tender years’ idea.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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