Habes, haberis
“You have, so you are esteemed.”
Latin saying
What does “Habes, haberis” mean?
Habes, haberis translates as “You have, so you are esteemed.”
People are often valued by what they own. Wealth brings respect, fairly or not.
“Habes, haberis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Habes | you have | second person singular present indicative active of habeo, “I have” |
| haberis | you will be held (esteemed) | second person singular future indicative passive of habeo; the passive of habere can mean “to be regarded as, to be reckoned” |
How to pronounce “Habes, haberis”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c, g, v or ae to change. Stress the first syllable of each word.
The story behind it
The saying plays on two forms of one verb, habere. Habes means “you have”, while haberis is the same verb in the future passive: “you will be held”, that is, regarded or esteemed. Read together, what you have decides how you are held.
No single author is known, so it is best described as a traditional Latin saying or proverb rather than a quotation from a named writer. Its neat two-word balance is typical of the short, memorable sayings that circulated in Latin.
Today it is usually quoted as a wry comment on money and status: respect often follows wealth, whether or not that is fair.
How to use “Habes, haberis”
Works as an ironic caption about money and status, a note in a card for a friend with a sharp sense of humour, or a desk motto that reminds you not to judge people by what they own. As a tattoo it is better suited to someone who means it as a pointed observation than as an endorsement.
- Latin
- Habes, haberis
- English
- You have, so you are esteemed.
- Source
- Latin saying
- Era
- Traditional
- Theme
- Money
Common mistakes
- It is not an instruction to get rich. It describes how people tend to behave, often with irony.
- The second word is not simply “you are”: haberis is the future passive of habere, “you will be held (esteemed)”, so the sense is “you will be esteemed”, not a plain statement of being.
- Do not attribute it to a famous author such as Seneca or Cicero. It has no known author.
- Adding or dropping the final s of habes or the ending of haberis changes the person or tense and breaks the wordplay.
Questions about “Habes, haberis”
What does “Habes, haberis” mean literally?
“You have, you will be held (esteemed).” The English rendering is “You have, so you are esteemed”: your possessions decide how you are regarded.
Who said “Habes, haberis”?
No author is known. It is a traditional Latin saying, so be wary of any claim that ties it to a specific ancient writer.
How do you pronounce “Habes, haberis”?
In Classical Latin: HAH-bes HAH-beh-ris. The Church pronunciation is the same.
Is “Habes, haberis” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, both words are correct forms of the verb habere. Just be aware that it is a cynical remark about wealth and esteem, so choose it for that meaning.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
Related Latin quotes
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.