LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Carpe diem

“Pluck the day”

CARPE · DIEM

Classical: the author's own words

Horace, Odes 1.11.8

carpe diem, quam minimum crēdula posterō

Horace's image is of picking fruit while it is ripe: enjoy today and trust tomorrow as little as you can.

Word by word

  1. Carpecarpō -ereto pluck, pick, harvest2nd sg. pres. act. imper.
  2. diemdiēs -ēī m.daysg. acc.

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 “Carpe diem” mean?
“Carpe diem” means “Pluck the day”. Horace's image is of picking fruit while it is ripe: enjoy today and trust tomorrow as little as you can.
Who said “Carpe diem”?
Horace, Odes 1.11.8, where the Latin reads “carpe diem, quam minimum crēdula posterō”.

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