Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet
“Where it hurts, there one keeps one’s hand.”
Latin proverb
What does “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet” mean?
Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet translates as “Where it hurts, there one keeps one’s hand.”
People keep returning to what troubles them, in speech and in thought.
“Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ubi | where | adverb of place introducing the clause |
| quis | someone, one | indefinite pronoun (nominative singular); it normally follows ubi, “where”, and means “anyone, one” |
| dolet | hurts, is in pain | present indicative active, 3rd person singular, of doleo, “to feel pain, to grieve” |
| ibidem | right there, in that very place | adverb of place, an emphatic form of ibi, “there” |
| et | also, too | here a particle meaning “also”, not simply “and” |
| manum | hand | accusative singular of manus, “hand” (feminine, 4th declension); the direct object of habet |
| habet | has, keeps | present indicative active, 3rd person singular, of habeo, “to have, to hold” |
How to pronounce “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet”
Both pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c or g before e or i and no ae. The stress falls on the first syllable of ubi, quis, dolet, manum and habet, and on the second syllable of ibidem.
The story behind it
Word for word the proverb says “where someone hurts, there he also has his hand”. The picture is simple: when a part of the body aches, the hand goes to it again and again, almost without thinking.
It is a traditional proverb, not a line from one named author. Versions of it exist in many European languages, and the Latin form appears in the collections of sayings that Renaissance scholars compiled.
The image stands for the mind as well as the body. We keep touching a sore spot, and in the same way we keep coming back to a worry or a grievance in conversation and in thought. Some people use the line as a gentle way of explaining why a person keeps raising the same topic.
How to use “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet”
It suits a card or caption about someone who cannot stop talking about what troubles them, or a speech or essay on how attention drifts to pain. As a tattoo or motto it is unusual and fairly dark, so it works best for someone who wants a wry comment on human nature.
- Latin
- Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet
- English
- Where it hurts, there one keeps one’s hand.
- Source
- Latin proverb
- Era
- Traditional
- Theme
- Wisdom
Common mistakes
- The “hand” is not a hand of help or healing. The point is that attention keeps returning to the sore place.
- In this line quis means “someone, one”, not “who?”. Read it with ubi as “where anyone…”, not as a question.
- et here means “also, too”, not “and”. Dropping it changes the rhythm and the sense.
- Do not change dolet to doleo or dolent and keep the rest unchanged. The verb must agree with quis, so use dolet for “one” and adapt both parts if you need another subject.
Questions about “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet”
What does “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet” mean literally?
“Where someone hurts, right there he also has his hand.” In plain English: where it hurts, there one keeps one’s hand.
Who said “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet”?
No single author. It is a traditional proverb, found in many languages and in Renaissance collections of Latin sayings.
How do you pronounce “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet”?
Roughly OO-bee kwis DOH-let ee-BEE-dem et MAH-noom HAH-bet. Classical and Church Latin sound the same here.
Is “Ubi quis dolet, ibidem et manum habet” a good tattoo?
The Latin is correct and the idea is clear, but the line is long and not widely known. Check that the meaning, a hand drawn to the sore spot, is really what you want to wear.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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