LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Ēheu fugācēs, Postume, Postume, lābuntur annī

“Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by”

EHEV · FVGACES · POSTVME · POSTVME · LABVNTVR · ANNI

Classical: the author's own words

Horace, Odes 2.14.1–2

No piety delays wrinkles, old age or death.

Word by word

  1. Ēheuē̆heuexpression of pain
  2. fugācēsfugāx fugācisswiftpl. nom. m./f.
  3. Postumepostumus -ī m.a posthumous childsg. voc.
  4. Postumepostumus -ī m.a posthumous childsg. voc.
  5. lābunturlābor -ītoil, exertion3rd pl. pres. act. ind.
  6. annīannus -ī m.yearpl. nom.

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 “Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume, labuntur anni” mean?
“Ēheu fugācēs, Postume, Postume, lābuntur annī” means “Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by”. No piety delays wrinkles, old age or death.
Who said “Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume, labuntur anni”?
Horace, Odes 2.14.1–2.

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