Latin quote · Wisdom

Latet anguis in herba

“A snake lurks in the grass.”

Virgil, Eclogues 3.93

Translation

What does “Latet anguis in herba” mean?

Latet anguis in herba translates as “A snake lurks in the grass.”

A warning that danger can hide behind something that looks harmless.

Word by word

“Latet anguis in herba” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Latet	(it) lies hidden, lurks	third person singular present indicative active of lateo, “I lie hidden”
anguis	snake	nominative singular of anguis, “snake” (masculine or feminine); the subject of the sentence
in	in, among	preposition taking the ablative here
herba	grass	ablative singular of herba, “grass, plant”; the place where the snake hides

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Latet anguis in herba”

Classical LatinLAH-tet AN-gwis in HEHR-bah

Church LatinLAH-tet AN-gwees een EHR-bah

The main difference is the vowel in anguis (AN-gwis vs AN-gwees) and in in (in vs een), and the initial h of herba is silent in the Church style. Stress falls on the first syllable of latet and anguis, and on the first of herba.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the line says “a snake lies hidden in the grass”. It comes from Virgil’s Eclogues, a collection of pastoral poems about shepherds, and appears in the third poem at line 93.

In that passage a speaker warns boys who are picking flowers and strawberries to run away, because a cold snake is hiding in the grass. The warning is practical: the danger sits right where they are reaching.

The line passed into English as the phrase “a snake in the grass”, used for a treacherous person who pretends to be harmless. The Latin is still quoted as a proverb-like caution against trusting appearances.

When to use it

How to use “Latet anguis in herba”

It suits a tattoo, a motto or an essay epigraph about hidden danger, deceit or the need to stay alert. It also works as a witty caption for a nature photo or a warning among friends.

Latin: Latet anguis in herba
English: A snake lurks in the grass.
Source: Virgil, Eclogues 3.93
Era: Antiquity
Theme: Wisdom

Good to know

Common mistakes

Anguis is the subject, not an object: it is the snake that lurks, so the verb is latet and not a plural.
The phrase is often misspelled “latet anguis in herba” with herba changed to herbis or herbae. Herba is correct here: ablative singular after in, meaning “in the grass”.
In Virgil the line is a literal warning to the boys, not originally an insult for a person; the figurative “snake in the grass” is the later English use.
Adding or dropping words, such as “Latet anguis sub herba”, changes the text. The Virgilian wording uses in.

FAQ

Questions about “Latet anguis in herba”

What does “Latet anguis in herba” mean literally?

“A snake lies hidden in the grass.” Latet means “lies hidden”, anguis is “snake” and in herba is “in the grass”.

Who said “Latet anguis in herba”?

It comes from the Roman poet Virgil, in Eclogues 3.93, where a speaker warns boys picking flowers to beware of a hidden snake.

How do you pronounce “Latet anguis in herba”?

In Classical pronunciation: LAH-tet AN-gwis in HEHR-bah. In Church Latin: LAH-tet AN-gwees een EHR-bah.

Is “Latet anguis in herba” correct Latin for a tattoo?

Yes, it is the Virgilian wording and grammatically correct as it stands. Keep the spelling exactly, with anguis and herba, so the grammar stays intact.

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