Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat
“They all wound; the last one kills.”
Traditional sundial inscription
What does “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat” mean?
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat translates as “They all wound; the last one kills.”
Every hour that passes takes something from us, and the last one ends our life. It urges us to use our time well.
“Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Omnes | all | nominative plural feminine of omnis, “all”; the unstated noun is horae, “the hours” |
| vulnerant | they wound | third person plural present active indicative of vulnero, “I wound” |
| ultima | the last | nominative singular feminine of ultimus, “last”, agreeing with an unstated hora, “hour” |
| necat | kills | third person singular present active indicative of neco, “I kill” |
How to pronounce “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat”
The two systems differ only slightly: classical sounds the v as w and the e in omnes as in “day”, while church Latin sounds the v as v. Stress falls on the first syllable of omnes, ultima and necat, and on the first syllable of vulnerant.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “all wound, the last kills”. The word hours is left out, because anyone reading it on a clock or sundial already knows it is about the hours.
It is a traditional sundial and clock inscription, and the exact wording is anonymous. The idea of the hours as small wounds that end in death goes back to ancient thinking about the shortness of life, and it was well suited to a device that shows time passing.
The line appears on sundials and clocks in many parts of Europe, often next to similar mottoes about time. Today people also use it as a memento mori.
How to use “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat”
Fits a clock, a sundial or a garden dial, and works well as a memento mori print or a tattoo for someone who wants a reminder to use time well. It also suits an essay or speech on the passing of time.
- Latin
- Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat
- English
- They all wound; the last one kills.
- Source
- Traditional sundial inscription
- Era
- Early modern
- Theme
- Time
Common mistakes
- It is not about people or enemies wounding one another. The unstated subject is the hours.
- Omnes is plural, so it does not mean “everyone”. In this line it means “all of them”, the hours.
- Do not change necat to a plural. Ultima is singular, so the verb must be singular too.
- Some versions add horae or write the line as part of a longer motto. The two-clause form here is the usual short one.
Questions about “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat”
What does “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat” mean literally?
“All wound, the last kills.” The hidden subject is the hours: each one wounds, and the final hour ends life.
Who said “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat”?
No known author. It is a traditional inscription found on sundials and clocks, so it is best called anonymous.
How do you pronounce “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat”?
Classical: OM-nays WOOL-neh-rant OOL-tih-mah NEH-kaht. Church Latin sounds nearly the same, but with a v in vulnerant and a short e in omnes.
Is “Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat” good for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct and short. Keep the full wording, because shortening it loses the contrast between wounding and killing.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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