Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.
“Truth. Virtue. Freedom.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.” mean?
Veritas. Virtus. Libertas. translates as “Truth. Virtue. Freedom.”
Three short words for a life of honesty, good character and liberty. Each word stands like a column on its own.
“Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Veritas | truth | nominative singular (feminine) of veritas, “truth”; third declension. Here it is the whole statement, so no verb is needed |
| Virtus | virtue, excellence | nominative singular (feminine) of virtus, “virtue, courage, moral excellence”; third declension. Related to vir, “man” |
| Libertas | freedom | nominative singular (feminine) of libertas, “freedom, liberty”; third declension, formed from liber, “free” |
How to pronounce “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.”
The differences are in the first letters and vowels: classical has a w sound for v and a short i in libertas, while church Latin has a v sound and a longer ee. Stress falls on the first syllable of veritas and virtus, and on the second syllable of libertas.
The story behind it
Taken word for word, the motto is a list of three nouns with no verb: “Truth. Virtue. Freedom.” Each noun is in the nominative case and stands alone as a statement or an ideal.
It is not a quotation from a classical author. It is a traditional Latin motto of the kind adopted by schools, colleges and societies, which is why it is labelled modern Latin.
Each word has a long history behind it. Veritas, virtus and libertas were central values in Roman moral and political thought, and Libertas was even worshipped as a goddess in Rome. Putting them side by side as a trio is the modern part.
How to use “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.”
Works well as a three-word poster, a crest or banner for a school, club or society, or a tattoo for someone who wants three values rather than one. The short, equal-weight words suit a stacked or columned design.
- Latin
- Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.
- English
- Truth. Virtue. Freedom.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Freedom
Common mistakes
- Virtus does not simply mean “virtue” in the modern, gentle sense. In Roman use it carried courage and strength of character, so “excellence” or “valor” is sometimes closer.
- The words are nouns, so there is nothing to conjugate, but they cannot be swapped for adjectives like verus (“true”) or liber (“free”) without changing the meaning.
- It is often credited to Cicero or another Roman author. It is a later motto, not an ancient quotation.
- Different institutions use the same three words in a different order, so check the order if you are matching an existing crest.
Questions about “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.”
What does “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.” mean?
“Truth. Virtue. Freedom.” Each word is a Latin noun naming one ideal, with no verb connecting them.
Who said “Veritas, Virtus, Libertas”?
No one in particular. It is a traditional motto used by academic and other institutions, not a quotation from a classical author.
How do you pronounce “Veritas, Virtus, Libertas”?
In classical Latin: WEH-ri-tahs WIR-toos lih-BEHR-tahs. In church Latin: VEH-ri-tahs VIR-toos lee-BEHR-tahs.
Is “Veritas. Virtus. Libertas.” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. These are three correct Latin nouns in the nominative case, and the motto is grammatically sound as a list of three ideals.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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