Nihil novi sub sole
“There is nothing new under the sun.”
Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:10
What does “Nihil novi sub sole” mean?
Nihil novi sub sole translates as “There is nothing new under the sun.”
What seems unprecedented has usually happened before in some form. It encourages humility and the study of history.
“Nihil novi sub sole” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Nihil | nothing | nominative singular neuter (indeclinable noun): “nothing”; here the subject of the understood “there is” |
| novi | of new, new | genitive singular neuter of novus, “new”, used as a noun: “of new”, i.e. “of anything new” (partitive genitive) |
| sub | under | preposition taking the ablative here (sub with the accusative would mean motion toward) |
| sole | the sun | ablative singular masculine of sol, “sun”, after sub: “under the sun” |
How to pronounce “Nihil novi sub sole”
The main difference is in nihil and in the v. Classical has a hard h and w for v; Church Latin often pronounces nihil as “nee-keel” and v as English v. Stress falls on the first syllable of nihil, novi and sole.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “nothing of new under the sun”, in natural English “there is nothing new under the sun”. It is a Latin rendering of a line from the book of Ecclesiastes (Qohelet), where the Preacher reflects that what has been will be again.
The wording found in the Latin Bible, the Vulgate, is “nihil sub sole novum”, at Ecclesiastes 1:10. The form “nihil novi sub sole” is a common rearrangement of the same thought and is the one usually quoted today.
The line is a standard way to say that something apparently unprecedented has happened before, and it is often used with a hint of weary irony about fashions, scandals and supposedly new ideas.
How to use “Nihil novi sub sole”
A knowing aside in a history lecture, a talk on recurring trends or an essay about whether a modern problem is really unprecedented. It also suits a dry caption for something that keeps coming back.
- Latin
- Nihil novi sub sole
- English
- There is nothing new under the sun.
- Source
- Vulgate, Ecclesiastes 1:10
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- The Vulgate itself reads “nihil sub sole novum”; “nihil novi sub sole” is a looser, popular word order, so check which one you need for a precise biblical citation.
- Novi is not a verb or a plural. It is the genitive of the adjective used as a noun, which is why the phrase literally reads “nothing of new”.
- It does not claim that inventions or discoveries never happen. The Preacher’s point is that human experience keeps repeating.
- Do not attribute it to a classical Roman author. It comes from the Bible, not from Cicero or Virgil.
Questions about “Nihil novi sub sole”
What does “Nihil novi sub sole” mean literally?
“Nothing of new under the sun”, which is “there is nothing new under the sun”.
Where does “Nihil novi sub sole” come from?
From the book of Ecclesiastes (1:10) in the Latin Vulgate Bible, where the Vulgate wording is “nihil sub sole novum”.
How do you pronounce “Nihil novi sub sole”?
Classically: NIH-hil NOH-wee soob SOH-leh. In Church Latin: NEE-keel NOH-vee soob SOH-leh.
Is “Nihil novi sub sole” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound and the thought is well established. For an exact biblical wording, “nihil sub sole novum” is the Vulgate reading.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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