Expert: Maria - 10/25/2009

Question
What does "Nostra Es Oves Spes " mean ? I tried many ways for translating, but could only get a few words, but not in a sentence sequence that makes sense to me.  I feel so stupid !   Thanks !  Connie

Answer
Hello,

actually you mustn't feel stupid as it is the Latin sentence which is wrong!

The correct Latin phrase could be “ Nostra Es Devs Spes"  meaning “You are our hope, o God!”

The word “oves” which is the nominative plural of the feminine noun OVIS meaning “sheep” makes no sense at all in this context, as you can see.

Therefore the only one  explanation for the strange "oves" is that it is a typo for "Devs".

No other translation is possible, of course.

Have a nice day,
Maria
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Note that:            

-NOSTRA (nominative feminine singular of NOSTER agreed with SPES)= our

-ES (2nd.person singular, present indicative of SUM) = you are

-DEVS or DEUS ( vocative case, 2nd.declension) = o God

-SPES (feminine noun in the nominative singular, 5th.declension) = hope