Nulli secundus
“Second to none.”
Motto of the Coldstream Guards
What does “Nulli secundus” mean?
Nulli secundus translates as “Second to none.”
Not inferior to anyone – the very best.
“Nulli secundus” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Nulli | to no one | dative singular (masculine or neuter) of nullus, “no, none”; dative because secundus takes the person you are second to |
| secundus | second | nominative singular masculine of secundus, “second, following”; agrees with an unstated “he”, “it” or “we”, so the sense is “second to none” |
How to pronounce “Nulli secundus”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of nulli and the second syllable of secundus.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “second to no one”. It is a two-word claim of rank: nobody stands above the speaker or the unit.
It is the motto of the Coldstream Guards, a regiment of the British Army that traces its origins to 1650, and it appears on the regimental badge. The Latin is a well-known motto formula, so a source from classical authors is neither claimed nor needed here.
Other military units also use it, and the phrase has spread into company slogans, school mottoes and personal mottoes, wherever someone wants to claim the highest standard.
How to use “Nulli secundus”
A fitting motto for a team, regiment, club or business that aims for the top, or a personal tattoo or desk motto about refusing to settle for less. It also suits a caption or card for someone who excels in their field.
- Latin
- Nulli secundus
- English
- Second to none.
- Source
- Motto of the Coldstream Guards
- Era
- Early Modern
- Theme
- Excellence
Common mistakes
- It does not mean “second to one”, “second best” or “number two”. The nulli turns it into “second to none”, which means the opposite.
- Secundus is masculine. A woman or a feminine group would normally say nulli secunda, and a group of men or a mixed group nulli secundi.
- Do not confuse nulli (dative, “to no one”) with nullus (nominative, “no one”). Nullus secundus is not the standard form of the motto.
- Some sources credit the phrase to a single famous person. It is best described as a military motto, not as a quotation from a named ancient author.
Questions about “Nulli secundus”
What does “Nulli secundus” mean literally?
“Second to no one”: nulli is “to no one” and secundus is “second”. In natural English it is “second to none”.
Who uses “Nulli secundus” as a motto?
It is best known as the motto of the Coldstream Guards of the British Army. Several other military units also use it.
How do you pronounce “Nulli secundus”?
In Classical Latin: NOOL-lee seh-KOON-doos. The Church pronunciation sounds the same.
Is “Nulli secundus” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct and idiomatic as a masculine or neutral phrase. A woman may prefer the feminine form nulli secunda.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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