Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
“As a faithful translator, you will not take care to render word for word.”
Horace, Ars Poetica 133–134
What does “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres” mean?
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres translates as “As a faithful translator, you will not take care to render word for word.”
A good translation follows the sense of a text rather than copying it word by word.
“Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Nec | and not; nor | a conjunction (nec = neque) linking this clause to the line before it and negating the verb |
| verbum | a word | accusative singular neuter of verbum, “word”; object of reddere |
| verbo | with a word; by a word | ablative singular neuter of verbum; the ablative of the manner or means, so “word by word” |
| curabis | you will take care | future indicative active, 2nd person singular, of curo, “I take care, I see to it” |
| reddere | to render; to give back | present infinitive active of reddo, “I give back, render”, depending on curabis |
| fidus | faithful; trusty | adjective in the nominative singular masculine, agreeing with the unstated “you” and describing it as a faithful translator |
| interpres | translator; interpreter | nominative singular masculine of interpres, “interpreter, translator”; in apposition to the “you” in curabis |
How to pronounce “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres”
The main differences are the v (w in Classical, v in Church) and the c in nec, which stays hard in both. The final e of interpres is pronounced like “ay” in Classical Latin and like “eh” in Church Latin.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “nor will you take care to render word for word, as a faithful translator”. It comes from Horace’s Ars Poetica (also called the Letter to the Pisones), a verse letter on the craft of poetry written in the last decades before the Christian era.
In the surrounding lines Horace advises poets who rework familiar, often Greek, material. He tells them not to cling slavishly to the original wording, since that traps the writer in awkward phrasing.
Later writers took the phrase up in discussions of translation. It is still cited when people argue whether a translation should follow the words of the original or capture its sense.
How to use “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres”
A fitting motto for translators, language students and anyone who prefers meaning over literalism. It also works as a caption for a book or a note on a desk, but as a tattoo it needs its context, because the sentence is a piece of advice, not a standalone slogan.
- Latin
- Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres
- English
- As a faithful translator, you will not take care to render word for word.
- Source
- Horace, Ars Poetica 133–134
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Learning
Common mistakes
- Fidus interpres is not “faithful to the words”. Horace uses the phrase for the over-literal translator he warns against.
- The line is advice about a particular kind of writing. Reading it as a general rule that words never matter goes beyond what Horace says.
- Fidus is an adjective in the nominative. Do not change it to fidelis or alter its ending without checking that it still agrees with the rest of the sentence.
- The line continues Horace’s thought. It begins with nec, so on its own it can seem to start mid-sentence.
Questions about “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres”
What does “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres” mean literally?
Roughly “nor will you take care to render word for word, as a faithful translator”. In plain English it means do not translate word by word.
Who said “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres”?
It is from Horace’s Ars Poetica, lines 133 to 134. Horace is advising poets who adapt existing material.
How do you pronounce “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres”?
In Classical pronunciation: nek WER-boom WER-boh koo-RAH-bis RED-deh-reh FEE-doos in-TER-prays. In Church Latin the v is pronounced v and the final e as eh.
Is “Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus interpres” good Latin for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct, because it is Horace’s original line. Since it begins with nec and continues a longer thought, make sure the meaning you want is clear.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.