Memento mori
“Remember that you will die.”
Medieval monastic phrase
What does “Memento mori” mean?
Memento mori translates as “Remember that you will die.”
Remember that you will die. Not a gloomy thought, but a reminder to use your time well and keep what matters in view.
“Memento mori” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Memento | remember! | a command (imperative) of meminisse, “to remember”; addressed to one person. To a group: mementote |
| mori | to die | present infinitive of morior, “I die” |
How to pronounce “Memento mori”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the second syllable of memento and the first of mori.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “remember to die” – in English, “remember that you will die”. The exact two-word phrase is medieval and Christian, but the thought is far older.
Rome’s writers kept death in view. The Christian author Tertullian (Apologeticum 33) reports that a victorious general riding in his triumph was reminded: “Look behind you; remember that you are a man.” Stoics such as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius urged their readers to think about death daily – not to be gloomy, but to live better today.
In the Middle Ages and the Baroque the motto filled churches, sundials, rings and pocket watches, and inspired the skull-and-hourglass “vanitas” still lifes.
Today it is the signature line of modern Stoicism: a reminder that time is limited, so spend it on what matters.
How to use “Memento mori”
A strong tattoo or ring engraving for anyone into Stoicism, a desk reminder to focus on what matters, a striking motif for skull, hourglass or vanitas art. Pair it with “Carpe diem” for the full message: life is short – use it.
- Latin
- Memento mori
- English
- Remember that you will die.
- Source
- Medieval monastic phrase
- Era
- Middle Ages
- Theme
- Time
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “remember the dead”. It is about your own mortality.
- Speaking to several people? Use the plural mementote mori.
- Its modern counterpart memento vivere (“remember to live”) is a later coinage, not an ancient phrase.
Questions about “Memento mori”
What does “Memento mori” mean literally?
“Remember to die” – meaning “remember that you are mortal”.
Is “Memento mori” a Stoic phrase?
The idea is Stoic and ancient, but the exact two-word Latin phrase was coined later, in Christian Europe.
Is “Memento mori” negative or sad?
Not really. It is meant to wake you up: knowing life is short makes today more valuable.
What is the plural of “Memento mori”?
“Mementote mori”, when you speak to more than one person.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
Latin remixes of Memento mori
8 playful twists, e.g. Memento ridere · Memento bibere · Memento dormire.
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