LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Gutta cavat lapidem

“Dripping water hollows stone”

GVTTA · CAVAT · LAPIDEM

Classical: the author's own words

Ovid, Letters from the Black Sea 4.10.5

Persistence wins in the end.

Word by word

  1. Guttagutta -ae f.a drop of fluid, especially of natural substances sg. nom.
  2. cavatcavō -āreto make hollow, hollow out, excavate3rd sg. pres. act. ind.
  3. lapidemlapis -dis m.stonesg. acc.

Using it as a motto or tattoo

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Quick answers

What does “Gutta cavat lapidem” mean?
“Gutta cavat lapidem” means “Dripping water hollows stone”. Persistence wins in the end.
Who said “Gutta cavat lapidem”?
Ovid, Letters from the Black Sea 4.10.5.

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