Semper excelsius
“Always higher.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Semper excelsius” mean?
Semper excelsius translates as “Always higher.”
Keep aiming higher, never settling for what you have already achieved. It is a motto of ambition and continual effort.
“Semper excelsius” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Semper | always | adverb of time, “always, at all times”; it does not change form |
| excelsius | higher | comparative adverb, from excelsus, “high, lofty”; the neuter comparative form is used as an adverb, “more highly” |
How to pronounce “Semper excelsius”
The difference is the c in the third syllable: a hard k in Classical, ch in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of semper and the second syllable of excelsius.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “always higher”, with the sense of “always more loftily”. Excelsus comes from the verb excellere, “to rise above, to excel”, the same root as the English words excel and excellent.
It is a traditional motto rather than a line from one ancient author, and there is no classical source for it. Its form follows the model of a better-known motto, Excelsior (“ever higher”), and its first user is not known.
Schools, clubs and other organizations have taken it up because it states an aim without naming any particular field. It fits sport, study and flight equally well, since the sense of climbing upward is easy to see.
How to use “Semper excelsius”
Suited to a sports club or team motto, a graduation card or a gift for someone starting a new stage of study or work. Its upward sense also suits aviation-themed gifts, and it works as a short tattoo or desk motto about continual improvement.
- Latin
- Semper excelsius
- English
- Always higher.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Excellence
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse it with “Excelsior”, a separate and more famous motto. “Excelsior” is the comparative adjective, while “excelsius” is the adverb, and they are not interchangeable.
- Do not read it as “higher than all”. The comparative here means “more highly than before”, a call for steady progress, not a claim to be the best.
- Do not split it into two words, as in “ex celsius”. It is one word, and the misspelling would also suggest the temperature scale.
Questions about “Semper excelsius”
What does “Semper excelsius” mean literally?
“Always higher”. Semper means “always” and excelsius is the comparative adverb “more highly”, so it reads as “always more highly” or “ever higher”.
Who said “Semper excelsius”?
It is a traditional Latin motto with no known ancient author or first speaker. It should not be credited to any single person.
How do you pronounce “Semper excelsius”?
In Classical Latin, SEM-per eks-KEL-see-oos. In Church Latin the c is soft, giving SEM-per eks-CHEL-see-oos.
What is the difference between “Semper excelsius” and “Excelsior”?
“Excelsior” is a comparative adjective meaning “higher”, while “semper excelsius” is an adverbial phrase meaning “always higher”. Both are mottos about aiming upward but they are different phrases.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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