Latin quote · Love

Ut ameris, amabilis esto

“To be loved, be lovable.”

Ovid, Ars Amatoria 2.107

Translation

What does “Ut ameris, amabilis esto” mean?

Ut ameris, amabilis esto translates as “To be loved, be lovable.”

Love and affection are not demanded but earned through kindness, warmth and good character. If you want people to care for you, start by being someone worth caring for.

Word by word

“Ut ameris, amabilis esto” word by word

Latin	English	Grammar
Ut	so that, in order that	conjunction introducing a purpose clause; it takes the subjunctive
ameris	you may be loved	present subjunctive passive, 2nd person singular, of amo, “I love”; the form is the same as the indicative in the passive
amabilis	lovable, worthy of love	adjective, nominative singular, of amabilis, “lovable”; agrees with the unstated “you”
esto	be!	future imperative, 2nd person singular, of sum, “I am”; a firm, general command

Pronunciation

How to pronounce “Ut ameris, amabilis esto”

Classical Latinoot ah-MEH-rihs ah-MAH-bih-lihs EHS-toh

Church Latinoot ah-MEH-rees ah-MAH-bee-lees EHS-toh

The two systems differ only slightly: the i in ameris, amabilis and the like is short in Classical Latin and a clear ee in Church Latin. Stress falls on the second syllable of ameris, the second of amabilis and the first of esto.

Origin & context

The story behind it

Word for word the line says “so that you may be loved, be lovable”. It is a purpose clause (ut ameris) followed by a command (amabilis esto), which gives the saying its neat, balanced sound.

It comes from the Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love), the playful verse handbook on seduction that Ovid wrote around the turn of the first century AD. In the second book he turns to keeping a lover once you have won them, and the point is that looks alone do not last, while charm, kindness and good manners do.

The line lives on as a saying about earning affection through character rather than demanding it. It is often quoted without its context, which makes it sound more like a general maxim of friendship and family life than a tip for lovers.

When to use it

How to use “Ut ameris, amabilis esto”

It suits a wedding card, an anniversary note or a message to a partner or close friend. It also works as a personal motto about kindness or as an engraving, where a short, positive reminder about character fits well.

Latin: Ut ameris, amabilis esto
English: To be loved, be lovable.
Source: Ovid, Ars Amatoria 2.107
Era: Classical
Theme: Love

Good to know

Common mistakes

Do not read it as “love and you will be loved”. The verb is amabilis (lovable), so the advice is to be worthy of love, not just to give it.
The ending of amabilis does not change for gender, since it is an adjective of two endings for masculine and feminine. If you address several people, the plural is amabiles estote.
Ameris is passive (“you are loved”), not active. Do not confuse it with ames, “you may love”.
It is sometimes shortened to “Amabilis esto”, which loses the purpose clause and the point about being loved.

FAQ

Questions about “Ut ameris, amabilis esto”

What does “Ut ameris, amabilis esto” mean literally?

“So that you may be loved, be lovable.” The first half gives the goal and the second half gives the command that leads to it.

Who said “Ut ameris, amabilis esto”?

The Roman poet Ovid wrote it in his Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love), book 2, around line 107, in the early first century AD.

How do you pronounce “Ut ameris, amabilis esto”?

In Classical Latin: oot ah-MEH-rihs ah-MAH-bih-lihs EHS-toh. The Church pronunciation is nearly identical, with the i sounding more like ee.

Is “Ut ameris, amabilis esto” correct Latin for a tattoo?

Yes, it is correct and taken from a real classical source. If you want to address more than one person, the plural is “Ut ameremini, amabiles estote”, though the singular is the standard form.

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