In utroque iure
“In both laws.”
Academic and legal Latin
What does “In utroque iure” mean?
In utroque iure translates as “In both laws.”
It refers to expertise in both civil (Roman) law and canon (Church) law. It survives in academic titles such as Doctor of both laws.
“In utroque iure” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| In | in | preposition meaning “in”, followed here by the ablative case |
| utroque | in each of the two, in both | ablative singular neuter of uterque, “each of two, both”, agreeing with iure |
| iure | law | ablative singular neuter of ius (genitive iuris), “law, right”; the ablative after in gives “in the sphere of” |
How to pronounce “In utroque iure”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since the phrase has no c or g before e or i and no v. Stress the second syllable of utroque and the first of iure; iure is two syllables, with the initial i sounding like English y.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “in each of the two laws”, normally rendered “in both laws”. Although iure is singular in form, uterque makes the phrase refer to the pair: the two bodies of law, civil and canon.
The phrase belongs to medieval university life. The two great legal traditions of the time were Roman civil law, drawn from the Corpus Iuris Civilis of the Emperor Justinian, and canon law, the law of the Church. A jurist trained in both could be awarded the degree of doctor in utroque iure.
The degree title was abbreviated J.U.D. or I.U.D. (Iuris Utriusque Doctor). The phrase still appears in some European universities and in old academic and legal titles.
How to use “In utroque iure”
A fitting line for a law diploma, a jurist’s nameplate or an academic gift. It also works as a heading in writing about the history of universities or of legal education.
- Latin
- In utroque iure
- English
- In both laws.
- Source
- Academic and legal Latin
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Law
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “in both rights” or “in two countries”. Here ius means a body of law, and the two laws are civil and canon law.
- Do not change the ending of iure. After in with the ablative it is correct as written; in utroque iuris would be wrong.
- The abbreviation J.U.D. or I.U.D. stands for Iuris Utriusque Doctor, a closely related title, not for this exact phrase.
Questions about “In utroque iure”
What does “In utroque iure” mean literally?
“In each of the two laws”, usually translated “in both laws”. The two laws are civil (Roman) law and canon (Church) law.
What is a doctor in utroque iure?
A jurist who held a doctorate in both civil law and canon law. The degree was common at medieval and early modern universities.
How do you pronounce “In utroque iure”?
Roughly “in oo-TROH-kweh YOO-reh”. Classical and Church pronunciation sound the same for this phrase.
Is “In utroque iure” correct Latin for a diploma or nameplate?
Yes. It is a standard academic phrase, with in followed by the ablative, and it is grammatically correct as written.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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