LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Forsan et haec ōlim meminisse iuvābit

“Perhaps one day it will be a joy to remember even this”

FORSAN · ET · HAEC · OLIM · MEMINISSE · IVVABIT

Classical: the author's own words

Vergil, Aeneid 1.203

Aeneas cheers his shipwrecked men.

Word by word

  1. Forsanforsanperhaps, perchance, maybe
  2. etetand
  3. haechic haecthis, thesef.
  4. ōlimōlimformerly, at that time
  5. meminissememinī -isseremember, recollectpres. act. inf.
  6. iuvābitiuvō -ārehelp, assist; please, delight3rd sg. fut. 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 “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit” mean?
“Forsan et haec ōlim meminisse iuvābit” means “Perhaps one day it will be a joy to remember even this”. Aeneas cheers his shipwrecked men.
Who said “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit”?
Vergil, Aeneid 1.203.

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