Modicus cibi, medicus sibi
“Whoever eats moderately is his own doctor.”
Medieval Latin proverb
What does “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi” mean?
Modicus cibi, medicus sibi translates as “Whoever eats moderately is his own doctor.”
Eating in moderation keeps you healthy. A playful rhyme: modicus and medicus.
“Modicus cibi, medicus sibi” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Modicus | moderate; one who is moderate | nominative singular masculine of the adjective modicus, “moderate, measured”, used here as a noun for the person |
| cibi | in food; as to food | genitive singular of cibus, “food”; a genitive of respect telling you in what the person is moderate |
| medicus | a doctor | nominative singular masculine of medicus, “doctor, physician”; the predicate noun |
| sibi | for himself | dative singular of the reflexive pronoun sui, “himself, herself, itself”; a dative of advantage |
How to pronounce “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi”
Classical says every c as k, so cibi starts with a hard k sound. Church Latin softens c before i to ch, so it starts like “cheese”. In both, the stress falls on the first syllable of modicus and medicus, and on the first syllable of cibi and sibi.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “moderate in food, a doctor for himself”. The verb “is” is left out, as often in Latin proverbs, and the second half names the reward: the moderate eater becomes his own physician.
It is a medieval proverb with no known author. Its whole charm is the rhyme between modicus and medicus, which made it easy to remember and repeat.
The idea is much older. Greek and Roman writers on health, and medieval health handbooks, kept returning to moderation in diet as the first and cheapest medicine. Today the line still appeals to anyone who likes a wellness message with a bit of wordplay.
How to use “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi”
It suits a kitchen print, a card for someone starting a healthier routine, a humorous toast before a big meal, or an essay on diet and moderation. As a tattoo it is a rather playful choice and works best for people who enjoy the rhyme.
- Latin
- Modicus cibi, medicus sibi
- English
- Whoever eats moderately is his own doctor.
- Source
- Medieval Latin proverb
- Era
- Medieval
- Theme
- Health
Common mistakes
- Modicus does not mean “modest” in the sense of shy or humble. Here it means moderate, measured.
- Cibi is not a plural “foods” or a verb. It is the genitive singular of cibus, “food”.
- The proverb is not by Hippocrates or any ancient doctor, although the idea fits ancient medicine. It is medieval and anonymous.
- Changing the quote for a woman needs care: the rhyme only works with masculine modicus and medicus. A feminine version would lose the rhyme.
Questions about “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi”
What does “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi” mean literally?
Literally “moderate in food, a doctor to himself”. In plain English: whoever eats in moderation is his own doctor.
Who said “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi”?
No author is known. It is a medieval Latin proverb, passed down anonymously.
How do you pronounce “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi”?
In Classical Latin: MOH-dih-koos KIH-bee MEH-dih-koos SIH-bee. In Church Latin the c of cibi becomes ch: MOH-dee-koos CHEE-bee MEH-dee-koos SEE-bee.
Is “Modicus cibi, medicus sibi” good Latin for a tattoo?
The Latin is sound and the grammar is fine as a proverb. Keep the order and spelling as given, since the rhyme depends on them.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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