Latin quote · History

Et tu, Brute?

“You too, Brutus?.”

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (1599)

Translation

What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean?

Et tu, Brute? translates as “You too, Brutus?.”

The pain of betrayal by someone you trusted. People use it, often jokingly, when a friend takes the other side.

Word by word

“Et tu, Brute?” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Et	also, too	a conjunction meaning “and”, used here in the sense “even, also”
tu	you	nominative singular of the pronoun tu, “you”; the subject, and here it adds emphasis
Brute	Brutus	vocative singular (the case of direct address) of Brutus; the nominative is Brutus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Et tu, Brute?”

Classical Latinet too BROO-teh

Church Latinet too BROO-teh

Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of Brute: BROO-teh. The final e is pronounced, not silent.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the line is “and you, Brutus?”, in smooth English “You too, Brutus?”. There is no verb in the Latin. The question is shortened, as if the speaker is too stunned to finish it.

The line is Shakespeare’s, from Julius Caesar (1599), spoken by the dying Caesar when he sees his friend Marcus Junius Brutus among the conspirators. The real assassination took place on 15 March 44 BC.

The ancient historian Suetonius reports that Caesar may have said a Greek phrase instead, roughly “and you, child?”, and that he may have said nothing at all. Shakespeare did not invent the Latin line from nothing, since similar wording appears in earlier Elizabethan plays, but his version made it famous.

Today it is shorthand for betrayal by a close friend. People use it seriously, but also jokingly when a friend picks the other side in a small dispute.

When to use it

How to use “Et tu, Brute?”

Suited to Ides of March posts, history-themed cards, captions about betrayal and jokes about a friend who switched sides. As a tattoo it makes a dark statement about trust, so choose it deliberately.

Latin: Et tu, Brute?
English: You too, Brutus?
Source: Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (1599)
Era: Renaissance
Theme: History

Good to know

Common mistakes

These are not Caesar’s attested last words. They come from Shakespeare, and ancient sources disagree on whether Caesar said anything.
The name changes form: Brute is the vocative. Writing “Et tu, Brutus” is a common error in Latin, though it is the usual English spelling.
Do not use Brute for a woman or for several people. The ending belongs to a single man named Brutus.
It does not mean “and you, brute”. Brutus is a name here, not the English word.

FAQ

Questions about “Et tu, Brute?”

What does “Et tu, Brute?” mean literally?

“And you, Brutus?” The Latin has no verb, and it is usually translated “You too, Brutus?”, expressing shock at a friend’s betrayal.

Who said “Et tu, Brute?”

It is Shakespeare’s line for the dying Julius Caesar in his play Julius Caesar (1599). There is no reliable ancient record that Caesar said these words.

Why is it “Brute” and not “Brutus”?

Brute is the vocative case, used when speaking directly to someone. The nominative form is Brutus.

How do you pronounce “Et tu, Brute?”

Say “et too BROO-teh”, with the stress on BROO. Classical and Church pronunciation sound the same here.

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