Fides et labor
“Faith and work.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Fides et labor” mean?
Fides et labor translates as “Faith and work.”
Belief and effort are paired as the twin foundations of a good life. Faith gives direction, and work gives it shape.
“Fides et labor” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fides | faith, trust | nominative singular feminine noun (subject form) of fides, “faith, trust, loyalty”; also means “good faith” in Roman usage |
| et | and | a conjunction joining the two nouns |
| labor | work, effort | nominative singular masculine noun of labor, “work, toil, effort” |
How to pronounce “Fides et labor”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of fides and of labor, and say the e in et as in “pet”.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “faith and work”, two nouns joined by et with no verb. That bare, compact form is typical of mottoes, which are meant to be short enough to carve over a door or stitch onto a banner.
It has no known single author or original text. It is a traditional motto, and in the form “Fides et labor” it appears in modern Latin as a ready-made pairing of two values.
Fides is a rich word in Latin. It can mean religious faith, but also trust, loyalty and keeping your word, which is why the motto suits schools, families and towns of many kinds, not only religious ones.
How to use “Fides et labor”
A good fit for a family crest, a workshop or studio sign, a school or club motto, or a tattoo for someone who values both conviction and effort. It also works as a heading for an essay on duty and diligence.
- Latin
- Fides et labor
- English
- Faith and work.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Work
Common mistakes
- Fides is not the English word “fidelity” in a narrow sense. It covers faith, trust and good faith, so “faith” is the usual translation but not the only one.
- Do not confuse it with “Fides et ratio” (“faith and reason”), a different motto that is also well known.
- Because it has no verb, do not add one when translating. “Faith and work” is complete as it stands.
- Do not credit it to a famous ancient author. It is a traditional motto, not a quotation from a classical text.
Questions about “Fides et labor”
What does “Fides et labor” mean literally?
“Faith and work”: fides means faith, trust or loyalty, and labor means work, toil or effort. The two are joined by et, “and”.
Who said “Fides et labor”?
No single author is known. It is a traditional Latin motto used by various schools, families and towns.
How do you pronounce “Fides et labor”?
In both Classical and Church Latin it is roughly “FEE-days et LAH-bor”, with the stress on the first syllable of fides and of labor.
Is “Fides et labor” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is grammatically correct, a simple pair of nominative nouns joined by et, and it reads clearly as “faith and work”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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