Munit haec et altera vincit
“One defends and the other conquers.”
Motto of Nova Scotia
What does “Munit haec et altera vincit” mean?
Munit haec et altera vincit translates as “One defends and the other conquers.”
It describes cooperation where one protects and another leads. It celebrates complementary strengths.
“Munit haec et altera vincit” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Munit | defends, fortifies | third person singular present active indicative of munio, “to fortify, defend”; subject is haec |
| haec | this one, the one | feminine nominative singular of hic, “this”; here a pronoun meaning “the one” (of two) |
| et | and | conjunction joining the two halves |
| altera | the other | feminine nominative singular of alter, “the other of two”; subject of vincit |
| vincit | conquers | third person singular present active indicative of vinco, “to conquer, win” |
How to pronounce “Munit haec et altera vincit”
The differences are haec (classical “hike”, church “hehk”), vincit (hard c and w-sound in classical, “ch” and v-sound in church) and the ae of haec. Stress falls on the first syllable of munit, on AHL in altera and on the first syllable of vincit.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “this one defends and the other conquers”. Haec and altera are both feminine, so they point back to two feminine things, and the thought is a division of labour between two partners.
It is the motto of Nova Scotia and appears on the province’s coat of arms, which dates from 1625. The arms were granted to Sir William Alexander, who received a charter for the colony, and they are among the oldest in Canada.
The motto is usually read as referring to the two supporters on the arms, a Scottish Highlander and an Indigenous Mi’kmaw figure, standing for the two peoples of the land. Today it is also used more generally to describe partners whose different strengths work together.
How to use “Munit haec et altera vincit”
Suited to a team, a business partnership, a couple or a club whose members cover different roles, one protecting and one pushing ahead. It also works for anything with a Nova Scotia connection, such as a souvenir, a family crest or a heritage project.
- Latin
- Munit haec et altera vincit
- English
- One defends and the other conquers.
- Source
- Motto of Nova Scotia
- Era
- Early modern
- Theme
- Teamwork
Common mistakes
- Haec and altera are feminine. For two masculine partners the endings would change (hic and alter), so do not alter them casually on a tattoo or engraving.
- It does not mean “one defends and the other conquers it”. There is no object in the Latin; both verbs stand alone.
- Munit is easily misread as a form of munus (“duty, gift”) or as “munition”. It comes from munio, “to fortify”.
- Do not confuse it with the motto of New Brunswick, Spem reduxit, or with other provincial mottoes. This one belongs to Nova Scotia.
Questions about “Munit haec et altera vincit”
What does “Munit haec et altera vincit” mean literally?
“This one defends and the other conquers.” It describes two partners with different roles, one protecting and the other winning.
Whose motto is “Munit haec et altera vincit”?
It is the motto of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, found on its coat of arms of 1625.
How do you pronounce “Munit haec et altera vincit”?
Classically: MOO-nit hike eht AHL-teh-rah WIN-kit. In the church pronunciation: MOO-nit hehk et AHL-teh-rah VEEN-chit.
Is “Munit haec et altera vincit” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound. Keep the feminine forms as they stand, since changing them for two male or mixed partners would need different pronouns.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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