Veritatem cognoscere
“To know the truth.”
Traditional Latin motto
What does “Veritatem cognoscere” mean?
Veritatem cognoscere translates as “To know the truth.”
The pursuit of truth as the central goal of learning. It encourages curiosity and honest investigation.
“Veritatem cognoscere” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Veritatem | the truth | accusative singular (accusative case) of veritas, “truth”; the object of the verb |
| cognoscere | to know, to come to know | present infinitive (active) of cognosco, “I get to know, I learn”; it also suggests the act of finding out |
How to pronounce “Veritatem cognoscere”
The two differ in several places: v is “w” in Classical and “v” in Church Latin, gn is a hard “g” plus “n” in Classical and a soft “ny” in Church Latin, and sc before e becomes “sh”-like “ch” in Church Latin. In both, stress the third syllable of veritatem and the second of cognoscere.
The story behind it
Word for word the motto says “the truth, to know”, in natural English “to know the truth”. Cognoscere is an infinitive, so the phrase works as a goal or aim rather than a complete statement.
It is a traditional Latin motto rather than a line from a particular ancient author. It echoes the Gospel promise in John 8:32, “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”.
Because it is short and states an aim, it suits schools, societies and journals that place learning and honest inquiry at the centre of their work.
How to use “Veritatem cognoscere”
A clean motto for a philosophy club, a student journal or a university society, and a fitting inscription for a book, a bookplate or a desk. It also works as a tattoo for someone who values curiosity and honest inquiry.
- Latin
- Veritatem cognoscere
- English
- To know the truth.
- Source
- Traditional Latin motto
- Era
- Modern Latin
- Theme
- Learning
Common mistakes
- The Latin is an infinitive phrase, not a sentence. It means “to know the truth” as an aim, not “I know the truth”.
- The ending matters: veritatem is the accusative form. Using the nominative veritas (“Veritas cognoscere”) would be wrong here.
- Do not confuse it with “Veritas vos liberabit” (“the truth will set you free”), which is a different motto based on the same verse.
Questions about “Veritatem cognoscere”
What does “Veritatem cognoscere” mean literally?
“To know the truth”. Veritatem is “the truth” as the object, and cognoscere is the infinitive “to know” or “to come to know”.
Who said “Veritatem cognoscere”?
No single author is known. It is a traditional Latin motto that echoes the Gospel promise in John 8:32, not a quotation from a Roman writer.
How do you pronounce “Veritatem cognoscere”?
Classically, weh-ree-TAH-tem kog-NOS-keh-reh. In Church Latin, veh-ree-TAH-tem kon-YOS-cheh-reh.
Is “Veritatem cognoscere” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is grammatical: an accusative object with an infinitive. It reads as a goal or motto, so make sure that sense is what you want.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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