Thinking about getting the state motto tatted on me....but I want to see the Latin version of it....that way I can say it more. Anybody know Latin?
2007-07-08 20:16:33 · 7 answers · asked by puck 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"Vive in libertate aut morere!" = Live in freedom or die!
There is an adverb for "free" (that's the form you would have to use in Latin) "libere" , but that also means "shamelessly", so "in libertate" seems to be the better option.
If you want the infinitive form "to live" it would be
"Vivere in libertate aut mori".
2007-07-08 22:54:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Vivere liberi aut mori.
1. In mottos, sayings, etc., the infinitive is often used. Subjunctive would also be a choice.
2. It's definitely PLURAL. The original quote was from John Stark of NH.He wrote this as part of a toast to a GROUP of fellow Revolutionary War veterans in 1809. There's no question he was addressing more than one person. The full toast was to be : 'Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.
3. The word 'free' is adjective. Again, no question. The writer used the adjective form. Anyone who can coin the phrase 'Live free or die' has a better command of language than any of us. But this is backed up by more. For one, in English and Latin both, either a command or infinitive phrase can use adjectives. As examples: Look good; Be healthy; To be clean, etc.
For another, there is also a French motto, attested to 1791/2: Vivre libres ou mourir. Infinitives, plural, adjective. There's no indication Stark knew of this before he wrote his toast.
2007-07-10 13:48:11 · answer #2 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
English to LATIN Translation for "Live Free or Die"?
Thinking about getting the state motto tatted on me....but I want to see the Latin version of it....that way I can say it more. Anybody know Latin?
2015-08-18 18:19:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unlike English, Latin used different ways of addressing 'you' as one person and 'you' as more than one person.
Vive liber aut morere - command to one person.
Vivite liberi aut morimini - to more than one person, which is most likely what was meant in the motto. I hve used the adjective for free, which fits this construction.
2007-07-09 03:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by Rosa L 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I actually think that the adjective doesn't fit this construction, as the way you've worded it, you're addressing the "you" as "free men" and therefore saying, "Free men, live or die!" as if "liberi" is vocative.
I like Haggis' answer, though, as "Live in freedom" is really what "Live free" means. Vive in libertate aut morere. Or Vivite in libertate aut morimini (for more the plural).
Singular or plural, I don't really think it matters here. I prefer the singular.
[Even more correct, though, would be "Vitam age in libertate aut morere," since "vivere" typically is more like "to be alive" and "vitam agere" is more like "to live life."]
So you have a lot of options!
Singular: Vive in libertate aut morere
Plural: Vivite in libertate aut morimini
Singular: Vitam age in libertate aut morere
Plural: Vitam agite in libertate aut morimini
With all those, I'm sure you can find one that you like, and I'm sure we can come up with more ways of saying the same thing!
2007-07-09 09:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by jeffrey s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sola mutatio superabit
2016-03-18 05:43:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
live free or die
2016-11-10 02:58:39 · answer #7 · answered by Vance 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on many factors
2016-08-24 08:06:25 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ago solvo vel intereo
2007-07-08 22:18:33 · answer #9 · answered by dezavala_rd 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋