Dictum sapienti sat est
“A word to the wise is enough.”
Plautus, Persa; Terence, Phormio
What does “Dictum sapienti sat est” mean?
Dictum sapienti sat est translates as “A word to the wise is enough.”
A sensible person needs only a hint, not a lecture. It is still used, often shortened to "verbum sap," when one prefers to leave a warning understated.
“Dictum sapienti sat est” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Dictum | a word, a thing said | nominative singular neuter of dictum, “a saying”; formed from the past participle of dico, “I say”; subject of the sentence |
| sapienti | to the wise person | dative singular of sapiens, “wise, a wise person” (the present participle of sapio, “I am wise”, used as a noun); dative of the person it is said to |
| sat | enough | short form of satis, “enough”; here a predicate adjective-like word, not a verb |
| est | is | third person singular present indicative of sum, “I am” |
How to pronounce “Dictum sapienti sat est”
The two pronunciations differ only in dictum, where the c is hard (k) in Classical Latin and still hard before t in Church Latin, but the i is often shorter in Church Latin. Stress the first syllable of dictum and the third (EN) of sapienti.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “a thing said is enough for the wise person”. Sapienti is the dative case: the saying is enough for the wise, who need no more.
The thought appears in Roman comedy, in Plautus’ Persa and in Terence’s Phormio, where it works as a stock remark meaning that a hint is all a clever listener needs. Both were playwrights of the second century BC.
In later centuries it lived on as a legal and scholarly shorthand. It was often shortened to “verbum sapienti” or even “verbum sap”, and it is still used in English to leave a warning understated.
How to use “Dictum sapienti sat est”
A discreet sign-off for a mentor’s note, a subtle reminder on an office wall, or a tongue-in-cheek line when you would rather not spell out a warning. It also suits an essay on tact or on the limits of advice.
- Latin
- Dictum sapienti sat est
- English
- A word to the wise is enough.
- Source
- Plautus, Persa; Terence, Phormio
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “wise people say little”. The saying is addressed to the wise, who need only a hint.
- Sat is not a verb and not a mistyped “sit”. It is a clipped form of satis, “enough”.
- The common short form is “verbum sapienti sat est”, which uses verbum (“word”) rather than dictum, and it can wrongly be treated as a separate quote.
- It is sometimes credited to Cicero or Seneca. The usual sources are the comic playwrights Plautus and Terence.
Questions about “Dictum sapienti sat est”
What does “Dictum sapienti sat est” mean literally?
Literally, “a thing said is enough for a wise person”. In natural English, “a word to the wise is enough”.
Who said “Dictum sapienti sat est”?
It appears in the Roman comedies of Plautus (Persa) and Terence (Phormio), so it is a classical phrase, not tied to one famous speaker.
How do you pronounce “Dictum sapienti sat est”?
In Classical Latin, DIK-toom sah-pee-EN-tee saht EST. Church Latin is nearly identical, with a softer first vowel.
Is “Dictum sapienti sat est” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct and well attested Latin. Check that you like its meaning: it implies that a hint is enough, which some read as slightly cool or ironic.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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