Concordia civium murus urbium
“The harmony of citizens is the wall of cities.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Concordia civium murus urbium” mean?
Concordia civium murus urbium translates as “The harmony of citizens is the wall of cities.”
Unity among citizens protects a city better than walls. It is a civic ideal.
“Concordia civium murus urbium” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Concordia | harmony, agreement | nominative singular feminine of concordia, “harmony” (from concors, “of one mind”); the subject of the sentence |
| civium | of the citizens | genitive plural of civis, “citizen”; “harmony of citizens” |
| murus | wall | nominative singular masculine of murus, “wall”; the predicate noun, “is the wall” |
| urbium | of the cities | genitive plural of urbs, “city”; “wall of cities”. The verb “is” (est) is left out, as often in Latin mottos |
How to pronounce “Concordia civium murus urbium”
The difference is in civium: Classical has a hard k and a w sound (KEE-wee-oom), Church Latin has ch and v (CHEE-vee-oom). In concordia the stress falls on KOR, in civium and urbium on the first syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “harmony of citizens, wall of cities”, with the verb “is” understood. Latin mottos often drop it, which gives them a short, slogan-like ring.
The source is given only as a traditional Latin motto, so no single author can be named. The thought itself is old: Greek and Roman writers often held that a city is strong because its people hold together, not because of its stonework.
The saying is typical of civic and institutional mottos, where the image of the wall turns a defensive structure into a picture of unity. Today it fits towns, councils and community groups that want to put cooperation first.
How to use “Concordia civium murus urbium”
A civic motto for a town hall, council chamber, community project or neighbourhood association. It also suits a speech or essay on unity and cooperation, or a caption about community spirit.
- Latin
- Concordia civium murus urbium
- English
- The harmony of citizens is the wall of cities.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Peace
Common mistakes
- It is not a quote from a named Roman author. Treat it as a traditional motto and do not credit it to Cicero or anyone else.
- The genitives civium and urbium are plural. For one citizen or one city the forms would be civis and urbis, which changes the meaning.
- Concordia means harmony or agreement among people, not “concord” in a musical or legal-treaty sense only. Do not translate it as “peace” alone.
- Do not add est unless you want a full sentence. The short form without it is the usual motto form.
Questions about “Concordia civium murus urbium”
What does “Concordia civium murus urbium” mean literally?
“Harmony of citizens, wall of cities”. In natural English: the harmony of citizens is the wall of cities.
Who said “Concordia civium murus urbium”?
No author is known. It is a traditional Latin motto used by cities and institutions, so it should not be credited to a specific ancient writer.
How do you pronounce “Concordia civium murus urbium”?
Classical: kon-KOR-dee-ah KEE-wee-oom MOO-roos OOR-bee-oom. Church Latin differs only in civium, which becomes CHEE-vee-oom.
Is “Concordia civium murus urbium” correct Latin for a tattoo or sign?
Yes, the grammar is sound. The verb “is” is left out, which is normal in Latin mottos, and both genitive plurals are correct.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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