Domine, dirige nos
“Lord, direct us.”
Motto of the City of London
What does “Domine, dirige nos” mean?
Domine, dirige nos translates as “Lord, direct us.”
A short prayer for guidance. It asks for direction in work and decisions.
“Domine, dirige nos” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Domine | Lord | vocative singular (the case of address) of dominus, “lord, master”; used here to address God directly |
| dirige | direct, guide | command (imperative) singular of dirigo, “I direct, I guide”; addressed to one person |
| nos | us | accusative plural of the pronoun ego, “I”; the object of dirige |
How to pronounce “Domine, dirige nos”
Classical gives a hard g in dirige and a short i in Domine; Church Latin gives dirige a soft j sound and Domine a long ee. Stress falls on the first syllable of each word in both.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase is “Lord, direct us”. It is a short prayer in the imperative, addressed to God, asking for guidance rather than for any particular favour.
It is the motto of the City of London, the old square-mile heart of the capital. The words appear on the City’s coat of arms and are used by the City of London Corporation.
As a civic motto it reads as a prayer for good judgment in government, trade and daily work, which is why it suits an institution built around business and public duty.
How to use “Domine, dirige nos”
Suits an inscription for an office or workplace, especially one connected to the City of London, or a card wishing someone guidance before a big decision, a new job or a journey. It also works as a short personal motto for people of faith.
- Latin
- Domine, dirige nos
- English
- Lord, direct us.
- Source
- Motto of the City of London
- Era
- Early modern
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “Lord, lead us”. The verb dirigo means to direct or steer, so “guide” or “direct” is closer than “lead”.
- Domine is the form used when speaking to God. Dominus is the subject form (“the Lord”), so “Dominus, dirige nos” would be wrong.
- Do not change nos to me or vos without adjusting the meaning: “dirige me” is “direct me”, “dirige vos” is “direct you (all)”.
- It is a London civic motto, not a quotation from classical Roman literature.
Questions about “Domine, dirige nos”
What does “Domine, dirige nos” mean?
“Lord, direct us.” It is a short prayer asking God for guidance, using the vocative Domine and the command dirige.
Whose motto is “Domine, dirige nos”?
It is the motto of the City of London, shown on the City’s coat of arms.
How do you pronounce “Domine, dirige nos”?
Classical: DOH-mih-neh DEE-rih-geh nohs. Church Latin: DOH-mee-neh DEE-ree-jeh nohs. The stress is on the first syllable of Domine and dirige.
Is “Domine, dirige nos” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is correct: Domine is the vocative, dirige the imperative and nos the object. Keep the comma and spelling exactly as given.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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