Amor patriae nostra lex
“Love of the fatherland is our law.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Amor patriae nostra lex” mean?
Amor patriae nostra lex translates as “Love of the fatherland is our law.”
Devotion to one’s country is the guiding rule of conduct. It expresses civic loyalty and public service.
“Amor patriae nostra lex” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Amor | love | nominative singular masculine of amor, “love”; the subject of the sentence |
| patriae | of the fatherland | genitive singular feminine of patria, “fatherland, native country”; “love of the fatherland” |
| nostra | our | nominative singular feminine of noster, “our”; agrees with lex |
| lex | law | nominative singular feminine of lex, “law, rule”; the thing the subject is said to be (predicate noun) |
How to pronounce “Amor patriae nostra lex”
The two differ only in patriae: classical “eye” at the end, church “eh”. Stress the first syllable of amor, the first of patriae, and the first of nostra.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto reads “love of the fatherland, our law”, with the verb “is” left out, as Latin often does. It says that devotion to one’s country is the rule the group lives by.
No single origin is documented. It is a traditional motto, written in Modern Latin, that has been adopted by several institutions and families rather than coming from one famous author or book.
The phrase builds on an old Roman ideal: patria, the homeland, was something citizens owed love and service. Today the line suits civic ceremonies, school and association emblems, and military crests.
How to use “Amor patriae nostra lex”
Works well on a civic ceremony banner, a military unit’s crest, a school or club emblem, or a family coat of arms. As a personal tattoo or caption it reads as a statement of patriotic duty.
- Latin
- Amor patriae nostra lex
- English
- Love of the fatherland is our law.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Patriotism
Common mistakes
- Do not credit it to a Roman author or a famous speech. It is a traditional motto with no documented origin.
- Patriae is genitive (“of the fatherland”), not the subject. “Amor patriae” is “love of one’s country”, not “the fatherland loves”.
- Nostra must agree with lex (feminine), so it cannot be changed to noster or nostrum without changing the sentence.
- Latin has no word for “is” here. Adding est to the phrase is unnecessary.
Questions about “Amor patriae nostra lex”
What does “Amor patriae nostra lex” mean literally?
“Love of the fatherland, our law”. In natural English: “Love of country is our law.” The verb “is” is understood, not written.
Who said “Amor patriae nostra lex”?
No one is known to have. It is a traditional motto used by several institutions and families, and no single origin is documented.
How do you pronounce “Amor patriae nostra lex”?
In classical Latin: AH-mor PAH-tree-eye NOH-strah leks. In church Latin only patriae changes, to PAH-tree-eh.
Is “Amor patriae nostra lex” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: amor, lex and nostra are all nominative, and patriae is a correct genitive. The omitted “is” is normal Latin style.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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