Ex tenebris lux
“Out of darkness, light.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Ex tenebris lux” mean?
Ex tenebris lux translates as “Out of darkness, light.”
Light and hope can come out of darkness and hardship. It is a motto of renewal.
“Ex tenebris lux” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ex | out of, from | preposition (governs the ablative case); the form ex is used before a vowel or h, otherwise e or ex |
| tenebris | darkness, shadows | ablative plural of tenebrae, “darkness” (a noun that only occurs in the plural, feminine, first declension); the ablative follows ex |
| lux | light | nominative singular of lux, “light” (feminine, third declension); the subject of the phrase |
How to pronounce “Ex tenebris lux”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress the first syllable of tenebris, and give lux a short, one-syllable “looks”.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “out of darkness, light”. It has no verb: Latin, like English mottos, can leave out “comes” or “shines” and let the two nouns do the work.
There is no known ancient author for the exact wording. It is a traditional motto of the modern period, adopted by schools, societies and other institutions, and its imagery of light breaking into darkness echoes the Bible, such as the opening of Genesis and the Gospel of John.
Today it appears on crests, memorials and recovery-themed designs, and as a tattoo, usually meant as a statement that hard times can lead somewhere better.
How to use “Ex tenebris lux”
An uplifting tattoo, or a motto for a recovery group, a charity or a school. It also fits a speech or essay about resilience, a graduation card, or a memorial for someone who came through a hard period.
- Latin
- Ex tenebris lux
- English
- Out of darkness, light.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Hope
Common mistakes
- It is not a classical quotation. Do not credit it to Cicero, Virgil or another ancient author; it is a traditional motto of unknown origin.
- Keep tenebris in the ablative plural after ex. Writing ex tenebra or ex tenebrae is incorrect.
- Do not confuse it with the similar-looking “Post tenebras lux” (“After darkness, light”), the motto of Geneva and the Reformation. The meaning is close, but it is a different phrase.
Questions about “Ex tenebris lux”
What does “Ex tenebris lux” mean literally?
“Out of darkness, light.” There is no verb in the Latin, so you can read it as “light comes out of darkness”.
Who said “Ex tenebris lux”?
No specific author is known. It is a traditional Latin motto, used by various schools and institutions, not a quotation from a classical writer.
How do you pronounce “Ex tenebris lux”?
Roughly “eks TEH-neh-brees looks”. Classical and Church pronunciation sound the same for this phrase.
Is “Ex tenebris lux” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. The preposition ex correctly takes the ablative plural tenebris, and lux is the standard word for light, so the phrase is grammatically sound.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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