Et dimitte nobis debita nostra
“And forgive us our debts.”
Vulgate, Matthew 6:12
What does “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra” mean?
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra translates as “And forgive us our debts.”
It asks God for forgiveness, and in the same prayer commits us to forgive others. It is a reminder that mercy received should be passed on.
“Et dimitte nobis debita nostra” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Et | and | conjunction linking this petition to the one before it |
| dimitte | forgive! (literally “send away, release”) | a command (imperative) of dimitto, “I send away, release, forgive”; addressed to one person, here God |
| nobis | to us, for us | dative plural of the pronoun nos, “we, us”; the indirect object of the request |
| debita | debts | accusative plural neuter of debitum, “a debt, something owed”; the direct object of dimitte |
| nostra | our | accusative plural neuter of noster, “our”; agrees with debita |
How to pronounce “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra”
The main difference is in dimitte and debita: Classical has a short i (dih-MIT-teh, DEH-bih-tah), Church Latin a long ee sound (dee-MEET-teh, DEH-bee-tah). The stress is the same in both: dimitte on the second syllable, nobis, debita and nostra on the first.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “and send away to us our debts”. The verb dimitto means to release or let go, so the image is of a debt being cancelled rather than merely excused.
The words come from the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew (6:12), in the Latin Vulgate Bible. In the Vulgate the line continues “sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris”, “as we also forgive our debtors”.
Latin “debita” renders the Greek word for debts, and the prayer uses money-debt as a picture of wrongs done to God and to others. English versions differ: some say “debts”, others “trespasses” or “sins”. The Latin keeps the older word “debts”.
How to use “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra”
Well suited to a confession booklet, a reconciliation card or a prayer print, where the theme is mercy given and received. As a tattoo or inscription it is best kept with its full petition if you want the link between being forgiven and forgiving others to stay clear.
- Latin
- Et dimitte nobis debita nostra
- English
- And forgive us our debts.
- Source
- Vulgate, Matthew 6:12
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Forgiveness
Common mistakes
- Dimitte is a command, not a statement. It means “forgive!”, not “he forgives” or “you forgive”.
- Debita does not mean “sins” in the narrow sense of the word peccata. It means debts, used here as an image for wrongs.
- Cut off at this point, the line leaves out the second half, “as we also forgive our debtors”, which carries the condition of the prayer.
- Do not change nostra to another ending unless the noun changes too: debita is neuter plural, so the adjective must be nostra.
Questions about “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra”
What does “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra” mean literally?
“And send away to us our debts”, which in English reads “And forgive us our debts”. Dimitte means to release or let go.
Where is “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra” from?
It is from the Lord’s Prayer in the Latin Vulgate, Matthew 6:12. The line goes on with “sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris”.
How do you pronounce “Et dimitte nobis debita nostra”?
Classical: et dih-MIT-teh NOH-bees DEH-bih-tah NOH-strah. Church Latin: et dee-MEET-teh NOH-bees DEH-bee-tah NOH-strah.
Why does the prayer say “debts” instead of “sins”?
The Vulgate Latin uses debita, “debts”, as a picture of wrongs owed to God. Some English versions use “trespasses” or “sins” for the same idea.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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