Lupus non mordet lupum
“A wolf does not bite a wolf.”
Latin proverb
What does “Lupus non mordet lupum” mean?
Lupus non mordet lupum translates as “A wolf does not bite a wolf.”
People of the same kind protect each other, even when they are ruthless towards everyone else. It is used for professions or groups that close ranks.
“Lupus non mordet lupum” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Lupus | wolf | nominative singular masculine (subject) of lupus, “wolf” |
| non | not | adverb of negation; it comes directly before the verb it negates |
| mordet | bites | third person singular present active indicative of mordeo, “I bite” |
| lupum | a wolf | accusative singular masculine (direct object) of lupus, “wolf” |
How to pronounce “Lupus non mordet lupum”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since the quote has no c, g, v or ae to change. Stress the first syllable of lupus and lupum, and the first syllable of mordet.
The story behind it
Word for word the proverb says “a wolf does not bite a wolf”. Latin has no word for “a” or “the”, so lupus can also be read as “the wolf”.
It is a proverb with no known single author. It appears in medieval and early modern collections of Latin sayings, and its exact origin is uncertain.
Its sense is close to the English “dog does not eat dog”: members of the same group spare each other, even if they are ruthless towards outsiders. Today it is often used about professions, cliques or political circles that close ranks.
How to use “Lupus non mordet lupum”
Works as a sardonic line in an essay on professional solidarity, cronyism or the way institutions protect their own. It also suits a dry comment on a group that will not criticise its own members.
- Latin
- Lupus non mordet lupum
- English
- A wolf does not bite a wolf.
- Source
- Latin proverb
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Loyalty
Common mistakes
- It is not a call to loyalty or friendship. The tone is cynical and describes closed ranks, not virtue.
- The subject comes first and the object last (lupus … lupum), but the endings show who bites whom. Reversing the endings would turn the wolf into the one being bitten.
- Do not confuse it with homo homini lupus, “man is a wolf to man”, which says the opposite: people prey on each other.
Questions about “Lupus non mordet lupum”
What does “Lupus non mordet lupum” mean literally?
“A wolf does not bite a wolf.” Latin has no articles, so “the wolf does not bite the wolf” is also a fair reading.
Who said “Lupus non mordet lupum”?
No author is known. It is a Latin proverb found in medieval and early modern collections.
What is the English equivalent of “Lupus non mordet lupum”?
“Dog does not eat dog”: people of the same kind do not harm each other.
How do you pronounce “Lupus non mordet lupum”?
Roughly “LOO-poos nohn MOR-det LOO-poom”. Classical and Church pronunciation sound the same for this phrase.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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