Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt
“While a person lives, everything can be hoped for.”
Latin saying
What does “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt” mean?
Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt translates as “While a person lives, everything can be hoped for.”
As long as there is life, there is hope.
“Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Omnia | all things, everything | neuter plural accusative (subject of the passive periphrastic) of omnis, “all”; used here as a noun |
| homini | for a person | dative singular of homo, “human being, person”; dative of the agent with speranda sunt: “by a person” |
| dum | while, as long as | conjunction taking the present indicative |
| vivit | he or she lives | 3rd person singular present indicative active of vivo, “to live” |
| speranda | to be hoped for, can be hoped for | neuter plural gerundive (future passive participle) of spero, “to hope”; agrees with omnia |
| sunt | are | 3rd person plural present indicative of sum, “to be”; with speranda it forms the passive periphrastic: “must or can be hoped for” |
How to pronounce “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt”
The main differences are the v (w in Classical, v in Church Latin) and the h of homini, which Church Latin often drops. Stress falls on OM in omnia, HO in homini, WEE in vivit and RAN in speranda.
The story behind it
Word for word the saying runs “all things are to be hoped for by a person, while he lives”. The Latin construction with speranda sunt carries a sense of what may reasonably be hoped, so “everything can be hoped for” fits well.
No author is known, so it is best described as a traditional Latin saying. A close parallel appears in the Roman statesman Cicero, who quotes a similar thought, “while there is life, there is hope”, in a letter to Atticus, though that wording is not identical to this version.
Today the line is used as a short motto of perseverance, often in the English form “while there is life, there is hope”. Its simple structure makes it easy to quote on a card or a wall print.
How to use “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt”
Suited to a card for someone going through illness or a hard stretch, a tattoo about resilience, or a personal motto for your desk. It also fits an essay on hope, patience or perseverance.
- Latin
- Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt
- English
- While a person lives, everything can be hoped for.
- Source
- Latin saying
- Era
- Traditional
- Theme
- Hope
Common mistakes
- It is often shortened to “Dum vivo spero” (“while I live, I hope”), which is a different, first-person saying.
- Do not read speranda as “hopeful”. It is a gerundive meaning “to be hoped for”, so the sense is what may be hoped, not a feeling.
- Dum with the present vivit means “while / as long as”. It does not mean “until”.
- Do not attribute it to a famous author. Its origin is unknown.
Questions about “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt”
What does “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt” mean literally?
Literally it means “all things are to be hoped for by a person, while he lives”. In natural English: as long as you live, anything may still be hoped for.
Who said “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt”?
The author is not known. It is a traditional Latin saying, and similar ideas appear in ancient writers such as Cicero.
How do you pronounce “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt”?
In Classical Latin: OM-nee-ah HOH-mih-nee doom WEE-wit speh-RAHN-dah soont. In Church Latin the v is pronounced as in English and the h in homini is often silent.
Is “Omnia homini, dum vivit, speranda sunt” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound. Note that homini means “person” in general, so it works for anyone. Keep the commas and spelling exactly as given.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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