Ut prosim
“That I may serve.”
Motto of Virginia Tech
What does “Ut prosim” mean?
Ut prosim translates as “That I may serve.”
Two words sum up a life of service: everything learned is meant to benefit others. The motto turns education into a commitment to the common good.
“Ut prosim” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Ut | so that, in order that | a conjunction that introduces a purpose clause and takes the subjunctive |
| prosim | I may be of use, I may serve | first person singular present subjunctive of prosum, “to be useful, to benefit” (from pro- + sum) |
How to pronounce “Ut prosim”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Stress the first syllable of prosim. In Classical Latin the u of ut is a short “oo”, never “yoo”.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “so that I may be useful”, in smooth English “that I may serve”. It is a purpose clause with its main verb left out: the unspoken thought is something like “I learn, I work, so that I may serve”.
The motto belongs to Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), a public university in the United States. It is modern Latin, written for the university rather than taken from an ancient author.
At Virginia Tech the words are tied to the idea that education exists to benefit others, and they appear on the university’s seal and in its public identity. The phrase has been adopted by many alumni and students as a personal motto.
How to use “Ut prosim”
It suits a tattoo or ring for someone who sees their work or training as a form of service, a volunteer or service award, a graduation gift for a Virginia Tech graduate, or a personal motto for a nurse, teacher or soldier.
- Latin
- Ut prosim
- English
- That I may serve.
- Source
- Motto of Virginia Tech
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Service
Common mistakes
- Ut prosim is not a full sentence. It is a purpose clause, so it reads best as “that I may serve” or “so that I may be of use”.
- Do not split it into “Ut pro sim”. Prosim is one word, the subjunctive of prosum.
- It does not mean “to serve” in the sense of being a servant. Prosum means “to be useful or beneficial”.
- It is a university motto, not an ancient Roman saying, so do not credit it to Cicero or any classical author.
Questions about “Ut prosim”
What does “Ut prosim” mean literally?
“So that I may be of use” or “that I may serve”. Ut introduces a purpose, and prosim is the subjunctive of prosum, “to be useful”.
Whose motto is “Ut prosim”?
It is the motto of Virginia Tech, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the United States.
How do you pronounce “Ut prosim”?
Classical: “oot PROH-sim”. Church Latin sounds the same here. Stress the first syllable of prosim.
Is “Ut prosim” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is grammatical Latin: ut with the subjunctive prosim forms a purpose clause. It reads as a motto and carries the meaning “that I may serve”.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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