# Anyone know Latin\> **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437 "2003-05-15T14:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/1 "2003-05-15T14:08:45Z")
My brothers wedding is on the horizon and as best man I am buying him a pocket watch for a wedding gift. I want to get something engraved on it, but am unsure of what. I was thinking a latin prase, but I barely passed spanish 101. I could use a little help. I was thinking of “for my brother and good friend”, or “my brother, my friend, forever”. Can anyone help me translate these, or help me come up with something good? Thank you all! ---
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/2 "2003-05-15T14:39:15Z")
here’ another idea had, but need a translation. I sure hope someone out there still knows latin. “A true friend stands beside you” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/3 "2003-05-15T14:40:33Z")
My Latin is extremely rusty,so I can’t vouch for it, but try this on until somebody who knows what they’re talking about comes along: **Mei Frater, Semper Mei Amicus** ---
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/4 "2003-05-15T14:47:20Z")
Thank you so much **CalMeacham**!!! Can anyone else confirm, or help with the others? I knew I could rely on you guys when in need! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/5 "2003-05-15T14:49:24Z")
I hope you mean Latin as in classic latin and not latin america latin… if classic latin: the grammer might be alittle off but… ego fratus, ego amicus, æternus My brother, my friend, forever… ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/6 "2003-05-15T14:51:40Z")
OOPS **Cal** …I didn’t see your post…Hmmmm. Not sure… My latin comes from Grecko-Roman latin classics classes eons ago, and from a smattering of nuns along the way… ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/7 "2003-05-15T14:54:13Z")
ego fratus sic semper amicus! I think is even closer… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/8 "2003-05-15T14:54:38Z")
I don’t know about you gramm **a** r, but your spelling’s off, **Phlosphr**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/9 "2003-05-15T14:55:14Z")
For the record, I am looking for classic latin. Thanks again for all your help. I want to make sure I get the correct grammer and spelling, so any input is really appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/10 "2003-05-15T14:55:49Z")
And of course so is mine: “you **r** ”. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/11 "2003-05-15T14:55:52Z")
**Phlosphr** – I like your “æternus”, 'specially with the ligature. But I think you need that possessive “mei” instead of “ego”. That’s a bit too much like “Me Tarzan, You Jane.” Don’t take my suggestion as final – I’m still really rusty. Think of it as a stopgap measure. ---
**Author:** ![G-Unit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@G-Unit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-Unit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/12 "2003-05-15T15:01:23Z")
A Ruetay riendfay tandsay esidebay ouyay “A true friend stands beside you” ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/13 "2003-05-15T15:01:25Z")
I conjugate like a coy young maiden **Cal**. Plus I am working on grading finals right now… ILK! **Cal** don’t take this the wrong way but you remind me of a man I once knew when I was in undergrad who used to say to me: Non est discipulus super magistrum nec servus super dominum. ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/14 "2003-05-15T15:04:48Z")
have a look at this, just for fun: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin\_proverbs](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_proverbs) ---
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/15 "2003-05-15T15:07:51Z")
Pig latin on the watch would be humerous! Thanks \*\* Phlosphr \*\* and **Cal** you two have been very helpful. Using a portion from both of you, can we assume that: “Mei ego fratus sic semper amicus” would be a correct translation of “My brother, my friend always”? ---
**Author:** ![mjcocat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mjcocat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjcocat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/16 "2003-05-15T15:14:22Z")
oops, I mean: “Mei fratus sic semper amicus” ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/17 "2003-05-15T15:22:28Z")
The word ‘always’ has several meanings and definitions. Eternal-ly, perpetual-ly, are rooted differently than simply ‘always’. eternus, would essentially mean forever, sic semper is a modifyer if I remember correctly for ‘thus ever or always’… ---
**Author:** ![Tir\_Tinuviel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tir\_Tinuviel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tir_Tinuviel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/18 "2003-05-15T15:41:00Z")
Well, I’m gonna suggest **Maeglin** in case he does a vanity search, but don’t hold your breath, I know he’s a busy bunny right now! 🙂 [sub]Hi Maegy![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Sappho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sappho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sappho)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/19 "2003-05-15T15:47:41Z")
“Mi Frater, Semper Mi Amice” with an acute accent over the “i” of “mi” if you’re addressing him as “amicus” and “meus” have vocative forms or “fratro meo, quo semper meo amicus est” if you want “for my brother, who is always my friend”. ---
**Author:** ![Sappho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sappho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sappho)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437/20 "2003-05-15T15:49:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mjcocat \* > \*\*Using a portion from both of you, can we assume that: > > “Mei ego fratus sic semper amicus” > > would be a correct translation of “My brother, my friend always”? \*\* No, that’s more like “I brother to me therefore always friend”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-latin/175437.md?page=2)