Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter
“Indivisibly and inseparably.”
Motto of Austria-Hungary; Pragmatic Sanction (1713)
What does “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” mean?
Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter translates as “Indivisibly and inseparably.”
Bound together so firmly that the parts cannot be split apart.
“Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Indivisibiliter | indivisibly, in a way that cannot be divided | adverb, formed from the adjective indivisibilis, “indivisible” (in- “not” + divisibilis “divisible”) |
| ac | and | conjunction, a variant of atque, “and”; used before consonants |
| inseparabiliter | inseparably, in a way that cannot be separated | adverb, formed from the adjective inseparabilis, “inseparable” (in- “not” + separabilis “separable”) |
How to pronounce “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter”
The two systems differ mainly in the v (w in Classical, v in Church) and the c and long i vowels, which Church Latin softens. In both, the stress falls on the -BI- syllable of each long adverb. Ac is a short word, said as “ak” in both.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase is a pair of adverbs, “indivisibly and inseparably”. It describes something that can be neither cut into parts nor pulled apart.
The wording comes from the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, a decree issued by the Habsburg emperor Charles VI. It declared that the Habsburg lands were to be held together as one unit and passed on whole, not split among heirs.
Later it served as the motto of Austria-Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy that was formed in 1867 and dissolved in 1918. The motto expresses the monarchy’s claim to unity, but the state it described no longer exists.
How to use “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter”
It suits a message about a bond that nothing can break, such as a wedding card, a family or friendship motto, or a tattoo for a close partnership. It also fits an essay or caption on Habsburg history or on the idea of national unity.
- Latin
- Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter
- English
- Indivisibly and inseparably.
- Source
- Motto of Austria-Hungary; Pragmatic Sanction (1713)
- Era
- Early Modern
- Theme
- Unity
Common mistakes
- It is a pair of adverbs, so it describes how something is joined, not a noun. Do not turn it into “indivisible” and “inseparable” as adjectives without changing the Latin ending.
- Do not misspell it as “indivisibilitier” or “inseperabiliter”. The endings are -biliter and the middle is -sep-, not -sip-.
- It is not an ancient Roman saying. It is a legal and political phrase from the early 18th century, later adopted as a state motto.
Questions about “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter”
What does “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” mean literally?
It means “indivisibly and inseparably”. Both words are adverbs, so the phrase says how something is held together: in a way that cannot be divided or separated.
Where does “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” come from?
It comes from the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, which declared the Habsburg lands indivisible. It later became the motto of Austria-Hungary.
How do you pronounce “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter”?
In Classical Latin: in-dih-wih-sih-BIH-lih-ter ak in-seh-pah-rah-BIH-lih-ter. In Church Latin the v is a normal v and the vowels are softened.
Is “Indivisibiliter ac inseparabiliter” good Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct Latin, though long. Check the spelling carefully, since the long adverbs are easy to get wrong.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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