Latin quote · Death

Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur

“They are not lost but sent on ahead.”

Latin epitaph (after Seneca, Epistulae morales)

Translation

What does “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur” mean?

Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur translates as “They are not lost but sent on ahead.”

Those who have died are not lost to us; they have gone before, and we will follow. It is a classic phrase of consolation in grief.

Word by word

“Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Non	not	negative adverb, negating the verb that follows
amittuntur	are lost	3rd person plural present passive indicative of amitto, “to lose, let go”; the subject is “they”, the dead
sed	but	conjunction setting two contrasting statements against each other
praemittuntur	are sent ahead	3rd person plural present passive indicative of praemitto, “to send ahead”; prae- (“before”) plus mitto, “to send”

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur”

Classical Latinnohn ah-MIT-toon-toor sed prye-MIT-toon-toor

Church Latinnohn ah-MIT-toon-toor sed preh-MIT-toon-toor

The only difference is the ae in praemittuntur: “eye” in Classical, “eh” in Church Latin. In both verbs the stress falls on the second syllable, -MIT-.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the line says “they are not lost, but they are sent ahead”. The two verbs differ only in the prefix, so the sentence turns on one small word: prae-, “ahead, in advance”.

The thought goes back to Seneca, whose Letters to Lucilius (Epistulae morales) treat the dead as people who have gone on before us. Early Christian writers such as Cyprian took up the idea of the departed as those who have gone ahead.

As a short formula it became a common epitaph and a standard line of consolation. English collections often give it as “not lost, but gone before”, and it still appears on gravestones and in sympathy messages.

When to use it

How to use “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur”

A fitting line for a sympathy card, a memorial stone or a funeral programme, and a quiet choice for a tattoo in memory of someone who has died. It speaks of hope and reunion, so it suits grief rather than a general reflection on mortality.

Latin: Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur
English: They are not lost but sent on ahead.
Source: Latin epitaph (after Seneca, Epistulae morales)
Era: Classical
Theme: Death

Good to know

Common mistakes

Both verbs are passive (“are lost”, “are sent ahead”), not active. It does not mean “they do not lose” or “they send ahead”.
The ending -untur marks “they”. Changing it to -itur (amittitur, praemittitur) makes it singular, “he/she is not lost but sent ahead”.
The wording is an epitaph formula after Seneca, not a sentence you can look up word for word in his letters.
Do not drop the prefix: amittuntur and mittuntur (“are sent”) are different words, and the contrast with praemittuntur would be lost.

FAQ

Questions about “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur”

What does “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur” mean literally?

“They are not lost but are sent ahead.” The “they” are the dead, who have gone before us rather than vanished.

Who said “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur”?

It is an epitaph formula, not a quote from one named speaker. The thought comes from Seneca’s Letters to Lucilius and is echoed by early Christian writers such as Cyprian.

How do you pronounce “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur”?

Classically: nohn ah-MIT-toon-toor sed prye-MIT-toon-toor. In Church Latin the ae is “eh”, so the last word is preh-MIT-toon-toor.

Is “Non amittuntur sed praemittuntur” correct Latin for a tattoo?

Yes, the grammar is sound as it stands. It refers to more than one person (“they”), so for a single loved one you would need the singular forms, which is worth checking with a Latinist.

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