Spem gregis
“The hope of the flock.”
Virgil, Eclogues 1.15
What does “Spem gregis” mean?
Spem gregis translates as “The hope of the flock.”
The young who carry the future of a group or family.
“Spem gregis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Spem | hope | accusative singular of spes, “hope”; it is the object of a verb in the full sentence (here the goat has left the twins) |
| gregis | of the flock | genitive singular of grex, “flock, herd”; the genitive shows possession or belonging |
How to pronounce “Spem gregis”
The only difference is the g of gregis: hard in Classical (as in “get”), soft in Church Latin (as in “gentle”). Spem is a single stressed syllable, and gregis stresses the first syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “hope of the flock”. It comes from Virgil’s first Eclogue (line 15), a pastoral poem from around 40 BC.
In that poem a shepherd named Tityrus is at ease while his neighbour Meliboeus is being driven from his land. Meliboeus describes his own troubles and mentions that a she-goat has just left her newborn twins, “the hope of the flock”, on bare stone.
Outside the poem the phrase is used for the young ones on whom a group, a family or a community depends for its future.
How to use “Spem gregis”
Fits a card for a new baby or a christening, a dedication to children or students, or a tattoo and caption about family and the next generation. As a motto it suits a school, a team or a family that invests in its young.
- Latin
- Spem gregis
- English
- The hope of the flock.
- Source
- Virgil, Eclogues 1.15
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Hope
Common mistakes
- It is a fragment, not a full sentence: spem is an accusative object in Virgil’s line. As a standalone caption it reads as a phrase, which is fine, but it is not a complete statement.
- Do not confuse gregis with the nominative grex. Gregis is the genitive “of the flock”, and changing the ending changes the meaning.
- The “flock” is literal sheep and goats in Virgil. The sense of a family or group is a later, figurative use.
Questions about “Spem gregis”
What does “Spem gregis” mean literally?
“Hope of the flock”. Spem is “hope” and gregis is “of the flock”.
Who wrote “Spem gregis”?
Virgil, in Eclogues 1.15, where a shepherd mentions a goat who has abandoned her newborn twins.
How do you pronounce “Spem gregis”?
Classical: SPEM GREH-gis, with a hard g. Church Latin: SPEM GREH-jis, with a soft g.
Is “Spem gregis” good Latin for a tattoo?
The Latin is correct, but it is a phrase taken from a longer line. If you want a full sentence, check that the meaning you intend suits the quote.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.