Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina
“Everything said is stronger if said in Latin.”
Modern Latin saying
What does “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina” mean?
Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina translates as “Everything said is stronger if said in Latin.”
A joke about how any statement sounds more impressive in Latin.
“Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Omnia | everything, all things | neuter plural (nominative or accusative) of omnis, “all”, used here as a noun |
| dicta | things said, statements | neuter plural (nominative) of the perfect passive participle of dico, “I say”; the subject of the sentence |
| fortiora | stronger | neuter plural (nominative) comparative of fortis, “strong”, agreeing with omnia dicta |
| si | if | conjunction introducing the condition |
| dicta | said | neuter plural (nominative) perfect passive participle of dico, “I say” |
| Latina | Latin, in Latin | neuter plural (nominative) of the adjective Latinus, “Latin”, agreeing with dicta |
How to pronounce “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina”
The two systems differ only in si, which sounds the same in both, and in the c of dicta, which stays hard in both. Stress dicta on the first syllable, fortiora on the third (-OH-) and Latina on the second (-TEE-).
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “all things said [are] stronger, if said [in] Latin”. The verb “are” is left out, as Latin often does, and the final Latina works like an adverb, “in Latin”.
It is a modern, humorous saying with no known author or date. It plays on the way even a plain remark sounds weighty once it is put into a dead language.
A better-known phrase makes the same joke: quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur, “whatever is said in Latin seems profound”. Both are used today as light-hearted mottos on mugs, T-shirts and social media.
How to use “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina”
Best as a joke caption on a Latin-themed post, a card for a Latin teacher or classics student, or a desk motto. It suits a playful tone rather than a serious tattoo or formal speech.
- Latin
- Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina
- English
- Everything said is stronger if said in Latin.
- Source
- Modern Latin saying
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Humor
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman proverb. It is a modern joke, so do not attribute it to Cicero or any classical author.
- The word si means “if”. Do not confuse it with sic (“thus”) or with the English word “see”.
- It is often confused with the more common “quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur”, a different phrase that means “whatever is said in Latin seems profound”.
- The second dicta is a participle meaning “said”, not a noun, and Latina must agree with it in gender and number.
Questions about “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina”
What does “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina” mean?
It means “Everything said is stronger if said in Latin”. It is a joke about how any statement sounds more impressive in Latin.
Who said “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina”?
No one knows. It is a modern humorous Latin saying of unknown origin, not a quotation from a Roman author.
How do you pronounce “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina”?
In classical Latin: OM-nee-ah DIK-tah for-tee-OH-rah see DIK-tah lah-TEE-nah. In church Latin the c of dicta is still hard, so only the sound of the vowels changes slightly.
Is “Omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina” good Latin for a tattoo?
The grammar is acceptable, but it is a jokey modern line with no classical source. It suits a humorous tattoo, but think twice if you want something with real ancient authority.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
Related Latin quotes
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.