# Anyone know Latin well? Need help with phrase. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308 "2017-01-04T14:15:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/1 "2017-01-04T14:15:22Z")
Teeming millions-- I am researching a tattoo that I’d rather have in Latin than English (classier that way :)). Basically, a translation of “We must always talk to each other.” I’ve used Google Translate, and the best looks like “Necesse est nos semper loqui ad invicem,” but I’d obviously like someone who knows Latin factcheck that. Also, whatever the best translation is, I’d love help in proper pronunciation as well-- the online dictionaries are all over the map. Thanks for any help! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/2 "2017-01-04T15:37:52Z")
What’s the context of the quote? Direct translation of a sentence without context almost never works well, in any language. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/3 "2017-01-04T16:21:58Z")
> [@davekhps](#): > > I’d rather have in Latin than English (classier that way :)). Ah, _quidquid latine dictum altum videtur_. 🙂 But yes, we do need the context. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/4 "2017-01-05T01:52:07Z")
I’m not quite sure what the context here would be-- it’s basically just the phrase, “We must always talk to each other.” Context is that I’m getting married to a wonderful woman who I sadly almost lost because, well, we didn’t talk to each other, i.e. poor communication between us in the past. I’m thinking a tattoo of this would be a good reminder of conquering our struggle, “operating instructions,” as it were :). I’d just prefer not putting it in English-- too on the nose for curious onlookers. That help? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/5 "2017-01-05T02:03:50Z")
OK, that helps. I think that the hortative might work a bit better here than the declarative: Basically, more like “Let us always talk to each other”. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/6 "2017-01-05T02:08:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, that helps. I think that the hortative might work a bit better here than the declarative: Basically, more like “Let us always talk to each other”. Okay, works for me… but what would that be? Again: my Latin sucks. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/7 "2017-01-05T02:53:40Z")
I would say: “Semper colloquendum nobis est.” When you want to say, in Latin, that somebody must do something, you take the gerund form of the verb. If you’re trying to say “I must do everything,” you’d say first "Everything is to be done (implying “Everything has to be done)” and then you would assign responsibility to someone in the dative case. So, “Omnia agenda sunt” means “Everything must be done.” And “Omnia agenda sunt mihi” means “I am the one who must do everything.” “Colloquendum est” means “A conversation must be had.” Add “nobis” and you get “WE must have a conversation.” Add “semper” for always. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/8 "2017-01-05T05:33:24Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I would say: > > “Semper colloquendum nobis est.” " **Inter nos conferendum est"** This sounds like better and more natural Latin to me. ‘Conferre’ = to bring together, to consult, consider, deliberate, talk over. The English word ‘confer’ comes from it. If the OP doesn’t know any language except English, he may not realise how complex and debatable translation into another language can be. My advice would be: a) Think twice about getting this tattooed. b) Rather use English, because Latin can come across as pretentious. c) If you are going to get a Latin tattoo, use an existing Latin proverb or well known phrase, instead of translating from English. > **[Latin proverbs - Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Latin_proverbs)** ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/9 "2017-01-05T08:29:56Z")
How about “_semper conferrendum nobis est_”, using GreenWyvern’s verb and astorian’s form? GreenWyvern’s form seems more like an instantaneous present, the _semper_ makes it continuous. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/10 "2017-01-05T13:18:17Z")
Thanks everyone. I’m definitely thinking twice (and thrice) about this, this is just my first stab at it. I’ll likely consult a Latin professor before all is said and done, but wanted to get a start in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/11 "2017-01-05T13:46:06Z")
There might very well be a Latin professor or two among the posters. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/12 "2017-01-05T14:23:46Z")
There are at least two posters who’ve taught Latin at the undergraduate level, but for some reason I’m blanking on their names. ---
**Author:** ![Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/13 "2017-01-05T19:47:34Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > If the OP doesn’t know any language except English, he may not realise how complex and debatable translation into another language can be. Indeed, and the sentence in the OP is dripping with nuance that would not map over cleanly to another language. It wouldn’t be too hard to accidentally translate that into some foreign language as, say, “I’d like to lock everyone in a room for all eternity and force us to have conversations.” How sweet a sentiment! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/14 "2017-01-05T20:05:51Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > There might very well be a Latin professor or two among the posters. Just saying. Useful latin help can be found in [this youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAfKFKBlZbM). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/15 "2017-01-07T22:50:42Z")
There is a line attributed to St. Francis de Sales: _Quantumvīs ōre dīxerīmus, sānē cor cordī loquitur, lingua nōn nisi aurēs pulsat._ “However much we may say by mouth, surely heart speaks to heart, and the tongue strikes nothing but ears.” There is some vagueness in this declaration. I took it at first to mean we should talk, because it’s really our hearts talking, and anyway talking doesn’t hurt anybody. But someone may come along and say this actually means don’t bother talking because your hearts will talk, and that ‘pulsat’ here is a just a more poetic ‘tangit’ – i.e., your words touch only ears and so forget about them. Anyhow this has been shortened to just _cor cordī loquitur_ or _cor ad cor loquitur_, which I think is a similar sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/16 "2017-01-07T23:19:00Z")
To best express the intent I think you might want to go for something along the lines of _Semper loquens semper amans_ - always speaking, always loving. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/17 "2017-01-08T00:23:47Z")
Yes, but loquens doesn’t imply a conversation. In fact, it seems to get at the opposite of what the OP wants. I’d go for colloquor, instead, “to converse,” a bit more specifically speech-related than conferro but less one-sided than loquor. _Utinam usque colloquāmur_ Utinam is a near synonym of ut, and with the subjunctive sets up the idea that "I desire that. . . " usque is like semper, but rather than meaning “at all times” it means “continually,” so rather than saying “I don’t want us to ever shut up,” it means “I want us to keep talking.” This is literally “Let’s always converse,” but the sense is “Let’s make sure we are continually having a mutual conversation.” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/18 "2017-01-08T00:27:13Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > To best express the intent I think you might want to go for something along the lines of _Semper loquens semper amans_ - always speaking, always loving. This is the best one. Simple and when you translate it for people, they will clearly be able to see that that is indeed what it means. But the best idea is not to get this tattoo at all. Have this engraved on a bracelet and give it to your girlfriend. Or on a ring or pendant something. For one thing, on a piece of jewelry, she’ll always have it with her even when you’re not together. In 40 years, I hope y’all are still together and still in love, but that tattoo will look like crap. She can pass the piece of jewelry down to your daughter and tell her how much her dad and mom loved each other. My 2 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/19 "2017-01-08T01:25:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > But the best idea is not to get this tattoo at all. Have this engraved on a bracelet and give it to your girlfriend. Or on a ring or pendant something. For one thing, on a piece of jewelry, she’ll always have it with her even when you’re not together. This. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308/20 "2017-01-08T16:00:06Z")
If you do get it tattoo-ed, make sure there’s a spelling mistake. That’s how all the \*best \*tattoos happen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin-well-need-help-with-phrase/776308.md?page=2)