Vinum laetificat cor hominis
“Wine gladdens the heart of man.”
After Vulgate, Psalm 103:15
What does “Vinum laetificat cor hominis” mean?
Vinum laetificat cor hominis translates as “Wine gladdens the heart of man.”
Good wine brings joy, a gift to be enjoyed with gratitude and in moderation.
“Vinum laetificat cor hominis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Vinum | wine | nominative singular neuter of vinum, “wine”; the subject of the sentence |
| laetificat | gladdens, makes glad | third person singular present active indicative of laetifico, “I gladden”, from laetus, “glad” |
| cor | the heart | accusative singular neuter of cor, “heart”; the object of the verb |
| hominis | of man | genitive singular masculine of homo, “human being, man”; shows whose heart |
How to pronounce “Vinum laetificat cor hominis”
The differences are the v (w or v), ae (eye or eh), the h of hominis (sounded in Classical, silent in Church) and the vowel sounds. The stress falls on the same syllables in both: VI-num, lae-TI-fi-cat, HO-mi-nis.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “wine gladdens the heart of man”. It comes from Psalm 104, numbered 103 in the Latin Vulgate, a hymn that praises God for the gifts of creation. The words come from the verse that names bread, oil and wine as gifts to humankind.
In that psalm the wine is one gift among several, listed beside bread that strengthens and oil that brightens the face. The line is therefore a statement of thanks, not an invitation to excess.
The sentence has long lived apart from the psalm. It turns up as a toast, an inscription on wine cellars and tasting rooms, and a motto in winemaking regions. Note that the given source is a rendering after the Vulgate, so the exact wording can differ between Latin editions.
How to use “Vinum laetificat cor hominis”
It suits a toast at a dinner, a note on a bottle given as a gift, a sign for a kitchen, cellar or wine bar, or a short motto for someone who values good company at the table. As a tattoo it reads as a quiet nod to hospitality and thanks, not to drinking for its own sake.
- Latin
- Vinum laetificat cor hominis
- English
- Wine gladdens the heart of man.
- Source
- After Vulgate, Psalm 103:15
- Era
- Biblical
- Theme
- Joy
Common mistakes
- The line is a verse from the Psalms, not a classical Roman drinking song. Classical authors have their own wine sayings, but this is a biblical one.
- Psalm numbering differs: the Vulgate gives 103:15, while most modern English Bibles give 104:15. Cite both if you quote the source.
- Do not alter the endings carelessly: cor hominis means “the heart of man”, and changing hominis to a plural changes the sense.
- The verb is laetificat, with the ending -at for “he/she/it”. Writing laetificant would mean “they gladden” and requires a plural subject such as vina.
Questions about “Vinum laetificat cor hominis”
What does “Vinum laetificat cor hominis” mean literally?
“Wine gladdens the heart of man.” Vinum is wine, laetificat means makes glad, cor is heart, and hominis means of man.
Where does “Vinum laetificat cor hominis” come from?
From the Latin Vulgate Psalm 103:15, which is Psalm 104:15 in most modern Bibles. It belongs to a hymn praising God for creation.
How do you pronounce “Vinum laetificat cor hominis”?
In Classical Latin: WEE-noom lye-TEE-fih-kat kor HOH-mih-nis. In the Church style: VEE-noom leh-tee-FEE-kaht kor OH-mee-nees.
Is “Vinum laetificat cor hominis” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, it is correct Latin as it appears in the Vulgate tradition. It is a complete sentence, so keep all four words together.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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