Sumus quod sumus
“We are what we are.”
Latin phrase
What does “Sumus quod sumus” mean?
Sumus quod sumus translates as “We are what we are.”
Self-acceptance: be authentic and proud of who you are.
“Sumus quod sumus” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Sumus | we are | first person plural, present tense, indicative mood, of sum, esse, “to be” |
| quod | what | relative pronoun (neuter singular, here the complement of the verb) of qui, quae, quod; “that which”, “what” |
| sumus | we are | first person plural, present tense, indicative mood, of sum, esse, “to be” |
How to pronounce “Sumus quod sumus”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of each sumus. Quod is a single syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “we are what we are”: the verb sum, “to be”, appears twice, with the relative pronoun quod, “what”, in between.
There is no known ancient source. It is a modern Latin motto, built from simple, correct Latin, and it should not be credited to any Roman author.
Its repeated verb gives it the feel of a slogan about identity and self-acceptance. Today it suits personal mottos, group or family slogans, captions and tattoos.
How to use “Sumus quod sumus”
A good fit for a tattoo or caption about self-acceptance, a family or friends’ motto, or a short line on a card for someone who is proud of who they are. Because it says “we”, it suits a shared identity better than a personal one.
- Latin
- Sumus quod sumus
- English
- We are what we are.
- Source
- Latin phrase
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Identity
Common mistakes
- Sumus is “we are”. For “I am what I am” use sum quod sum, and for a single person addressed as “you”, es quod es.
- It is not a quotation from a Roman author. It is a modern phrase, so do not attribute it to Cicero or anyone else.
- Quod is neuter, so it means “that which”. It does not mean “who”; for people you would normally use quales (“of the kind that”) or qui.
Questions about “Sumus quod sumus”
What does “Sumus quod sumus” mean literally?
“We are what we are.” Sumus is “we are”, quod is “what” (literally “that which”), and the verb repeats.
Who said “Sumus quod sumus”?
No ancient author is known for it. It is a modern Latin motto, so any attribution to a Roman writer would be wrong.
How do you pronounce “Sumus quod sumus”?
In both Classical and Church Latin: SOO-moos kwod SOO-moos, with the stress on the first syllable of each sumus.
How do I say “I am what I am” in Latin?
Sum quod sum. Change sumus to sum in both places. For “you are what you are” to one person, use es quod es.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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