new thread
Hope the board will forgive this O/T post. Any of the Latin scholars on the board - please help!
I'm designing a new tattoo and want to include one or both of the following phrases. I need to know that the translations from English into Latin are correct - here they are!
No steps backwards
VESTIGA NULLA RETRORSUM
In this sign, my hope
IN HOC SIGNO SPES MEA
Thank you in advance,
Laurence
Good luck designing your tattoo. I think Hans Uwe or maybe Bragi can help you out with the translation as they have some linguist knowledge.
Hi Big L:
Your second one is fine as is. I would suggest some changes for the first one.
"Vestigia" can mean "steps" but it has the usual sense of footprints or animal tracks. The better word if I understand your intent is "passus" from which we get "pace".
Also, you could use "Nulli passus" to mean "no steps" but there is a construction that is stronger, and it sounds like you are making a strong message. So, the whole thing would read:
"Nihil passuum retrorsum" literally: no steps (at all!) backwards. Just to clarify, there are two s's and two u's in the word "passuum".
Hope this helps.
Robert
I'll post a pic of the tattoo in due course - I'll make sure my hair's visible to make it on-topic! BTW, I don't bother posting progress pics or the like as my hair reached terminal length ages ago and although possessing it makes me happy, it's not much to look at. I'm not entirely invisible though - I've posted two or three pics over the years!
I studied Latin at University and while my time with it reminded me of an old adage ('Learning Latin, hard as hard can be, first it killed the Romans and now it's killing me') , I am very glad to see it being put to such great use.
All the best with things Big L, having these words on you will be a powerful message to yourself.
By the way, I agree with Roberts translation!
Thank you to all of you that replied.
Hello. Im a SSG in the Army. Im currently on R&R leave form Afghanistan. I came up with an idea for a tattoo but after doing some web searching i realize that latin is more confusing then i thought. I have a cross on my right forearm. Above it it says ''no rest'' below it it says ''no redemption''. I am getting the same cross on my left arm tommorow. I wanted to put only death awaits me in Latin. The internet gave me two different forms 1. ''Tantum nex exspecto mihi'' its either exspecto or specto. OR 2. ''tantum letum exspecto mihi'' If you could help me figure out which one is proper latin and what the difference is I would appreciate it very much. Thank you for your help.
The tattoos sound very cool, look forward to seeing them, will also be good to see your pic because even if your hair has stopped growing, this board sure has not (as noted above :) ) and I'm sure many people, including myself haven't yet seen it!
I am also getting a Latin tattoo...I'm wanting it to say-"Life is what you make it"...I've gotten "vita est quis vos planto is", does anyone know if this is right. I'm also trying to track down the Ancient Latin Alphabet...does anyone know where I might be able to find this?
hey sorry i need someones help, i need to find out what this means in latin....
through thick and thin
any ideas please help
tracy x
