LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Dum spīrō, spērō

“While I breathe, I hope”

DVM · SPIRO · SPERO

Later Latin: medieval or modern

later motto; compare Cicero, Letters to Atticus 9.10.3

dum anima est, spēs esse dīcitur

Cicero quotes the saying 'while there is life, there is said to be hope'; the rhyming form is later.

Word by word

  1. Dumdumwhile (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
  2. spīrōspīrō -āreto breathe, draw breath, respire1st sg. pres. act. ind.
  3. spērōspērō -āreto hope1st 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 “Dum spiro, spero” mean?
“Dum spīrō, spērō” means “While I breathe, I hope”. Cicero quotes the saying 'while there is life, there is said to be hope'; the rhyming form is later.
Who said “Dum spiro, spero”?
It is not classical: later motto; compare Cicero, Letters to Atticus 9.10.3.

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