Orando laborando
“By praying, by working.”
Motto of Rugby School
What does “Orando laborando” mean?
Orando laborando translates as “By praying, by working.”
A life that combines prayer and effort, faith and work.
“Orando laborando” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Orando | by praying | ablative of the gerund of oro, “I pray” (orare, to pray); the ablative expresses means or manner, “by praying” |
| laborando | by working | ablative of the gerund of laboro, “I work” (laborare, to work, toil); also expresses means, “by working” |
How to pronounce “Orando laborando”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no v or ae. Stress the second-to-last syllable in both words: oh-RAN-doh, lah-boh-RAN-doh.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “by praying, by working”: two gerunds in the ablative, set side by side without a conjunction. The pairing of prayer and labour is a Christian idea, familiar from the monastic tradition summed up as “ora et labora”.
As a phrase it is best known as the motto of Rugby School, the English school founded in 1567. It sits on the school’s coat of arms, so most people meet it as a school motto and not as a line from an ancient author.
Because it carries no classical source, it is better read as a modern institutional motto in Latin than as a quotation from Roman literature. It has also been used elsewhere as a short statement of faith joined to effort.
How to use “Orando laborando”
Fits a desk motto, a graduation or leaving card, a tattoo for someone who values faith and hard work together, or a caption for a photo of a school, workplace or workshop.
- Latin
- Orando laborando
- English
- By praying, by working.
- Source
- Motto of Rugby School
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Work
Common mistakes
- It is not a Roman quotation. It is a modern school motto in Latin, so do not credit it to a classical author.
- It is often confused with “Ora et labora” (“pray and work”), the Benedictine-style slogan, which is a different phrase using commands.
- Orando and laborando are gerunds, not the ordinary participles. Changing them to orans or laborans would give “praying” and “working” as describing words and would change the grammar.
- The two words are not joined by “and”, so “by praying and by working” adds a word the Latin leaves out, though the sense is much the same.
Questions about “Orando laborando”
What does “Orando laborando” mean literally?
“By praying, by working.” Both words are gerunds in the ablative case, expressing the means by which something is done.
Whose motto is “Orando laborando”?
It is the motto of Rugby School in England.
How do you pronounce “Orando laborando”?
Classical and Church pronunciation are the same: oh-RAN-doh lah-boh-RAN-doh, with the stress on the second-to-last syllable of each word.
Is “Orando laborando” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, the grammar is sound: two ablative gerunds meaning “by praying, by working”. Just be aware it is a school motto, and not a line from a classical writer.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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