Expert: Maria - 6/23/2009

Question
I was wondering how to translate into Latin: "Love is strength" or "From love one derives strength" where strength is an internal strength, akin to confidence and moral strength. This is for a family crest, so conciseness is appreciated.

Answer
Hello,

Here’s the  correct and concise translation of "Love is strength" and  "From love one derives strength" just in the sense you have specified:

-“Amor est fortitudo” ("Love is strength")

-“Ex Amore fortitudo” (literally, “From love strength”).

See below for grammatical/lexical analysis.

Best regards,
Maria
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-Love = AMOR (nominative, 3rd.declension)

-is = EST (from SUM, I am)

-strength = FORTITUDO (nominative, 3rd.declension).
Note that FORTITUDO means exactly ‘internal strength’.
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-From = EX (preposition which takes the ablative case)

-love = AMORE (ablative of AMOR)

-one derives = omitted as not necessary in Latin where it is implied

-strength =FORTITUDO