Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno
“One for all, all for one.”
Traditional motto of Switzerland
What does “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” mean?
Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno translates as “One for all, all for one.”
Solidarity: each supports the group and the group supports each person.
“Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Unus | one | nominative singular masculine of unus, “one”; subject of the first half |
| pro | for, on behalf of | preposition taking the ablative |
| omnibus | all | ablative plural of omnis, “all”, used as a noun, “all people” |
| omnes | all | nominative plural of omnis, used as a noun; subject of the second half |
| pro | for, on behalf of | preposition taking the ablative |
| uno | one | ablative singular masculine of unus, “one” |
How to pronounce “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno”
The two systems are almost identical here. Church Latin gives the i of omnibus an ee sound. Each word is stressed on its first syllable.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “one for all, all for one”. The Latin is a mirror: unus and omnibus in the first half, omnes and uno in the second, with pro as the hinge.
It is the traditional, unofficial motto of Switzerland, expressing the idea of a confederation in which each part stands for the whole and the whole for each part. Since 1902 the Latin words have been inscribed in the dome of the Federal Palace in Bern.
The French form “un pour tous, tous pour un” became world famous through Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Three Musketeers (1844). Today the phrase is used by teams, clubs and families as a short statement of solidarity.
How to use “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno”
It fits a team or club motto, a message for siblings or close friends, or an essay on solidarity and civic duty.
- Latin
- Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno
- English
- One for all, all for one.
- Source
- Traditional motto of Switzerland
- Era
- Modern
- Theme
- Unity
Common mistakes
- It is not an ancient Roman saying, so do not credit it to a classical author.
- It is a traditional motto. Switzerland has no official motto fixed in its constitution.
- After pro the ablative is required: pro omnibus and pro uno. Writing pro omnes or pro unus is wrong.
Questions about “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno”
What does “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” mean?
“One for all, all for one.”
Is “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” the motto of Switzerland?
It is Switzerland’s traditional, unofficial motto, and it is inscribed in the dome of the Federal Palace in Bern.
Did Alexandre Dumas write “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno” in Latin?
No. Dumas used the French form in The Three Musketeers; the Latin is the Swiss form of the same idea.
How do you pronounce “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno”?
Classical: OO-noos proh OM-nih-boos OM-nays proh OO-noh. Church Latin: OO-noos proh OM-nee-boos OM-nehs proh OO-noh.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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