Fons et origo
“The spring and source.”
Latin phrase
What does “Fons et origo” mean?
Fons et origo translates as “The spring and source.”
The fountainhead: the original source of something.
“Fons et origo” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fons | spring, fountain | nominative singular of fons, fontis (masculine), “spring, fountain”; the subject of the phrase |
| et | and | conjunction (coordinating) |
| origo | origin, source | nominative singular of origo, originis (feminine), “beginning, origin” |
How to pronounce “Fons et origo”
The two pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i, and no v or ae to change. Fons is one syllable, and the stress in origo falls on the second syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “spring and origin”, which English renders as “the spring and source”. Two nouns are paired to say the same thing twice, once as a physical image of water rising from the ground and once as an abstract idea of beginning.
It is a set phrase rather than a line from one famous author, so it is best described simply as a Latin phrase. In English it is used in scholarly and formal writing for the starting point or root cause of something, and it is often cited with the words “the fons et origo of”.
The same pairing is sometimes written with the nouns in the genitive case, as in “fons et origo mali”, “the source and origin of the evil”. The short form keeps just the two nouns, which makes it easy to use as a title, motto or caption.
How to use “Fons et origo”
It suits a caption or essay line about where an idea, a tradition or a problem really began. It also works as a desk motto or a tattoo for someone who wants to stay close to their roots or their original purpose.
- Latin
- Fons et origo
- English
- The spring and source.
- Source
- Latin phrase
- Era
- Early Modern
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- Fons is masculine and origo is feminine, but both are nouns, so there are no adjective endings to change when the phrase is used on its own.
- Do not read it as “the source of all things”. The phrase on its own names a single source, not everything.
- It is not a quotation from a particular ancient author, so avoid crediting it to Cicero or Virgil.
Questions about “Fons et origo”
What does “Fons et origo” mean literally?
“Spring and origin”, usually put into English as “the spring and source”. It names the original point from which something flows or starts.
How do you pronounce “Fons et origo”?
Classically it is “fohns et oh-REE-goh”. The Church pronunciation sounds the same, with the stress on REE.
Who said “Fons et origo”?
It is a Latin phrase with no single known author. In English it appears as a set expression, often in the form “the fons et origo of” something.
Is “Fons et origo” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. Both words are nominative singular and joined by et, so the phrase is grammatical as it stands. It is short, standard and easy to engrave.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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