What does “Alea iacta est” mean?

“Ālea iacta est” means “The die is cast”. Caesar at the Rubicon in 49 BC, committing himself to civil war.

Who said “Alea iacta est”?

Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar 32, where the Latin reads “iacta ālea est”.

Ālea iacta est

“The die is cast”

ALEA · IACTA · EST

Classical: the author's own words

Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar 32

iacta ālea est

Caesar at the Rubicon in 49 BC, committing himself to civil war.

Word by word

Āleaālea -ae f.a diesg. nom.
iactaiaciō -erethrow, hurlsg. nom. f. perf. pass. ptcp.
estsum essebe, exist; fut. infin. often = fore, impf. subj. often = forem for essem3rd sg. pres. act. ind.

Using it as a motto or tattoo

Latin endings carry gender and number, so a saying about one person may need changing for another. Check your own version, or have three new ones composed, on the motto desk.

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Quick answers

What does “Alea iacta est” mean?: “Ālea iacta est” means “The die is cast”. Caesar at the Rubicon in 49 BC, committing himself to civil war.
Who said “Alea iacta est”?: Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar 32, where the Latin reads “iacta ālea est”.