Latin motto translation?
March 27, 2011 10:30 AM Subscribe
Can anyone translate a motto into Latin? I'm looking for something like "I [carry|will carry] the [load|weight|burden]. Whatever works best. I promise not to have the results tattood anywhere absurd.
Feram onus.
Or "Fero onus" if you want the verb in the present-- the above is in the future.
posted by oinopaponton at 11:04 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or "Fero onus" if you want the verb in the present-- the above is in the future.
posted by oinopaponton at 11:04 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The exact words will depend on the sense that you are hoping to convey. Your standard "carry" verb is "fero, ferre" from which the English "confer, transfer, &c." but the meaning I read into your motto has a certain stoic resolve, for which a verb like "perfero, perferre" ("carry out" or idiomatically "see to the end") might be a better choice.
For the burden, onus is the standard and perfectly serviceable word, but you might consider also pondus (the weight) or sarcina (the soldier's pack) or even moles (lit. a crowd of people, but carrying also a sense of the weight of care.
The motto would have the verb in the future indicative: feram or perferam (I will carry / carry out) or the present fero or perfero (I [do] carry / carry out), and the noun in the accusative: onus, pondus, sarcinam, or moles.
E.g., feram onus: I will [bear / carry] the [cargo / load / burden]
perfero onus: I [bear to completion / carry out fully] the [cargo / load / burden]
feram (or perferam) pondus: I will [bear / carry] the [weight / burden]
feram (or perferam) sarcinam: I will carry the soldier's pack / burden
feram (or perferam) moles: I will carry the burden (of responsibility)
Substitute "fero" or "perfero" for "feram" or "perferam" in any of the above to make it the present tense.
On preview: yeah. what they said.
posted by gauche at 11:07 AM on March 27, 2011 [10 favorites]
For the burden, onus is the standard and perfectly serviceable word, but you might consider also pondus (the weight) or sarcina (the soldier's pack) or even moles (lit. a crowd of people, but carrying also a sense of the weight of care.
The motto would have the verb in the future indicative: feram or perferam (I will carry / carry out) or the present fero or perfero (I [do] carry / carry out), and the noun in the accusative: onus, pondus, sarcinam, or moles.
E.g., feram onus: I will [bear / carry] the [cargo / load / burden]
perfero onus: I [bear to completion / carry out fully] the [cargo / load / burden]
feram (or perferam) pondus: I will [bear / carry] the [weight / burden]
feram (or perferam) sarcinam: I will carry the soldier's pack / burden
feram (or perferam) moles: I will carry the burden (of responsibility)
Substitute "fero" or "perfero" for "feram" or "perferam" in any of the above to make it the present tense.
On preview: yeah. what they said.
posted by gauche at 11:07 AM on March 27, 2011 [10 favorites]
Don't you want to signify intent? Like "I shall carry any burden" rather than just agreeing "I will carry the burden".
Quis portabo onus? Portabo onus!
posted by Ideefixe at 11:18 AM on March 27, 2011
Quis portabo onus? Portabo onus!
posted by Ideefixe at 11:18 AM on March 27, 2011
Quis portabo onus?
Apologies for being pedantic, but you need that verb to be in the 3rd person if you're trying to say "Who will carry the burden?" and not the nonsensical "Who/what I will carry the burden?" Like, "Quis portabit onus?"
posted by oinopaponton at 11:34 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Apologies for being pedantic, but you need that verb to be in the 3rd person if you're trying to say "Who will carry the burden?" and not the nonsensical "Who/what I will carry the burden?" Like, "Quis portabit onus?"
posted by oinopaponton at 11:34 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
My bad---thanks for the pointer.
posted by Ideefixe at 11:39 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 11:39 AM on March 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:57 AM on March 27, 2011