LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Homō sum: hūmānī nihil ā mē aliēnum putō

“I am human: I think nothing human foreign to me”

HOMO · SVM · HVMANI · NIHIL · A · ME · ALIENVM · PVTO

Classical: the author's own words

Terence, The Self-Tormentor 77

A busybody's excuse in the comedy, later a motto of humane learning.

Word by word

  1. Homōhomō̆ -inis m.human beingsg. nom.
  2. sumsum essebe, exist; fut. infin. often = fore, impf. subj. often = forem for essem1st sg. pres. act. ind.
  3. hūmānīhūmānus -a -umhumanpl. nom. m.
  4. nihilnihilnothing; not at allnom. n.
  5. āabfrom, by (+abl.)
  6. mēegō̆I, mesg. acc.
  7. aliēnumaliēnus -a -umforeign, strangesg. acc. m.
  8. putōputō -ārethink, suppose1st 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 “Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto” mean?
“Homō sum: hūmānī nihil ā mē aliēnum putō” means “I am human: I think nothing human foreign to me”. A busybody's excuse in the comedy, later a motto of humane learning.
Who said “Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto”?
Terence, The Self-Tormentor 77.

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