Citius, altius, fortius
“Faster, higher, stronger.”
Henri Didon; Olympic motto
What does “Citius, altius, fortius” mean?
Citius, altius, fortius translates as “Faster, higher, stronger.”
Always push your limits – the spirit of sport.
“Citius, altius, fortius” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Citius | faster | comparative adverb (neuter comparative form), from citus, “swift”; the positive adverb is cito, “quickly” |
| altius | higher | comparative adverb from altus, “high”; the same form also serves as the neuter comparative adjective |
| fortius | stronger | comparative adverb from fortis, “strong, brave”; the same form also serves as the neuter comparative adjective |
How to pronounce “Citius, altius, fortius”
The two systems differ in the first and middle words: classical has a hard c in citius and a t sound in -tius, while Church Latin has ch and a ts sound. Stress falls on the first syllable of each word.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto is three comparatives in a row: “faster, higher, stronger”. Each word describes doing something to a greater degree, which fits an athlete always trying to beat a previous best. The three-word form is modern, not ancient.
It was proposed by the Dominican priest Henri Didon, who used it for a school athletics event in France. Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement, took it up, and it was adopted as the Olympic motto in 1894.
In 2021 the International Olympic Committee added a fourth word, communiter (“together”), giving “Citius, altius, fortius – communiter”. The original three words remain the best-known form and are widely used in sport and beyond.
How to use “Citius, altius, fortius”
A natural fit for a tattoo or engraving for an athlete, a team motto, a graduation or birthday card for someone chasing a goal, or a poster for a gym or sports club. It also suits any ambition where improvement matters more than comparison with others.
- Latin
- Citius, altius, fortius
- English
- Faster, higher, stronger.
- Source
- Henri Didon; Olympic motto
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Ambition
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman saying. It is a modern motto written in Latin, so do not attribute it to a classical author.
- The words are comparatives, not superlatives: they mean “faster, higher, stronger”, not “fastest, highest, strongest”.
- The 2021 addition communiter (“together”) is not part of the original three-word motto. Quote the shorter form unless you mean the updated Olympic version.
- Some people spell the first word “Citius” with a Greek-style or English-style change such as “Cituis”. The correct form is Citius.
Questions about “Citius, altius, fortius”
What does “Citius, altius, fortius” mean?
It means “faster, higher, stronger”. It is the motto of the modern Olympic Games, urging athletes to keep improving.
Who created “Citius, altius, fortius”?
The Dominican priest Henri Didon proposed it, and it became the Olympic motto in 1894 under the influence of Pierre de Coubertin.
How do you pronounce “Citius, altius, fortius”?
In Classical Latin: KIH-tee-oos AL-tee-oos FOR-tee-oos. In Church Latin the first word is CHEE-tsee-oos.
Is “Citius, altius, fortius” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the three words are correct Latin comparative forms. If you want the current Olympic wording, use “Citius, altius, fortius – communiter”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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