Veritas, unitas, caritas
“Truth, unity, love.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Veritas, unitas, caritas” mean?
Veritas, unitas, caritas translates as “Truth, unity, love.”
The motto joins honest inquiry, community and love. It suggests that truth is best sought together and in charity.
“Veritas, unitas, caritas” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Veritas | truth | nominative singular (feminine) of veritas, “truth”; third declension, genitive veritatis |
| unitas | unity | nominative singular (feminine) of unitas, “oneness, unity”; third declension, genitive unitatis |
| caritas | love, charity | nominative singular (feminine) of caritas, “affection, love”; third declension, genitive caritatis |
How to pronounce “Veritas, unitas, caritas”
The two systems differ only in the first letter of veritas: w in Classical, v in Church Latin. The stress falls on the first syllable of all three words.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto is a list of three nouns: “truth, unity, love”. There is no verb, so each word stands alone as an ideal, and the line reads as a short creed rather than a sentence.
It is associated with the Augustinian tradition, the religious family that follows the teaching of St Augustine of Hippo. Augustine wrote often about seeking truth in community and about love, caritas, as the bond that holds people together.
Villanova University, an Augustinian school near Philadelphia, uses the motto today. Because its wording is plain, the line is easy to borrow for parishes, schools and volunteer groups, even though its exact origin as a three-word motto is traditional rather than tied to one author.
How to use “Veritas, unitas, caritas”
Suits a parish group, school, charity or volunteer team that wants a short statement of shared values. It also works for a wedding or family motto, or a tattoo for someone who values honesty, belonging and compassion.
- Latin
- Veritas, unitas, caritas
- English
- Truth, unity, love.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Unity
Common mistakes
- Caritas is not the same as modern English “charity” in the sense of donations. It means love, esteem or affection, often in a Christian sense.
- It is not a quote from Augustine himself. It is a later motto linked to the Augustinian tradition, so avoid presenting it as his words.
- Do not add “et” or change the order without a reason: the three-word rhythm of veritas, unitas, caritas is part of its appeal.
- The words are nominative singular, so they do not change to suit the speaker. Do not alter the endings to make it “personal”.
Questions about “Veritas, unitas, caritas”
What does “Veritas, unitas, caritas” mean?
It means “truth, unity, love”. The three nouns name ideals rather than forming a full sentence.
Who said “Veritas, unitas, caritas”?
No single author is known. It is a traditional motto linked to the Augustinian tradition and used by Villanova University.
How do you pronounce “Veritas, unitas, caritas”?
Classical: WEH-ree-tahs OO-nee-tahs KAH-ree-tahs. Church Latin: VEH-ree-tahs OO-nee-tahs KAH-ree-tahs. All three words are stressed on the first syllable.
Is “Veritas, unitas, caritas” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is a correct list of three nominative nouns, and the grammar needs no changes. Just keep the spelling and word order as written.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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