Cedere nescio
“I know not how to yield.”
Motto of HMAS Norman (Royal Australian Navy)
What does “Cedere nescio” mean?
Cedere nescio translates as “I know not how to yield.”
A refusal to give up or back down, whatever the pressure.
“Cedere nescio” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Cedere | to yield | present infinitive of cedo, “I yield, give way”; here it depends on nescio |
| nescio | I do not know (how) | first person singular present indicative of nescio, “I do not know”; with an infinitive it means “I do not know how to” |
How to pronounce “Cedere nescio”
The two pronunciations differ in the c of cedere (hard k in Classical, ch in Church) and in the sc of nescio (sk versus sh). The stress falls on the first syllable of cedere and on the second-to-last syllable of nescio in both.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “to yield, I do not know”, which reads naturally as “I know not how to yield”. In Latin the verb nescio can be followed by an infinitive to mean “I do not know how to do something”, so the line says that giving way is simply not in the speaker’s repertoire.
The phrase is recorded as the motto of HMAS Norman, a ship name used by the Royal Australian Navy. It is a modern motto, not a line from an ancient author, so it has no classical source.
Naval mottoes like this one are short and defiant by design. This one has also been picked up by individuals who want a compact Latin expression of stubbornness and resolve.
How to use “Cedere nescio”
It suits a tattoo, a personal motto or a desk reminder for anyone who wants to express determination in the face of pressure. It also works as a caption for a sporting or fitness goal, or in a speech about resilience.
- Latin
- Cedere nescio
- English
- I know not how to yield.
- Source
- Motto of HMAS Norman (Royal Australian Navy)
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Perseverance
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman saying. It is a modern motto, so do not credit it to a classical author.
- Cedere is the infinitive “to yield”, not a command. “Yield!” would be cede.
- Nescio means “I do not know”. To say “we do not know how to yield” you would need nescimus, so the form changes with the speaker.
Questions about “Cedere nescio”
What does “Cedere nescio” mean literally?
“To yield, I do not know”, or in natural English “I know not how to yield”. It expresses a refusal to give way or give up.
Where does “Cedere nescio” come from?
It is the motto of HMAS Norman, a ship name used by the Royal Australian Navy. It is a modern motto, not a quotation from a Roman author.
How do you pronounce “Cedere nescio”?
In Classical Latin it is KEH-deh-reh NEH-skee-oh. In Church Latin it is CHEH-deh-reh NEH-shee-oh.
Is “Cedere nescio” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is grammatically sound as it stands: nescio plus an infinitive means “I do not know how to”. It is spoken in the first person, so it reads as “I”. To change it to “we”, use nescimus.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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