Expert: Maria - 10/12/2006

Question
Whats the proper spelling in latin, ive seen lots of variation so i was just wondering.

Audentes  fortuna iuvat
Audaces fortuna iuvat
Fortes fortuna iuvat
Fortes fortuna adiuvat  

Answer
Hello,

All these phrases are correct, as there are only some variations in the use of the verb (iuvat, adiuvat) or the adjectives (audentes, audaces, fortes) which however have the same meaning.

In fact IUVAT / ADIUVAT mean “favours”, and AUDENTES / AUDACES /FORTES mean “the bold”/”the brave”, though FORTES means “the strong” rather than “the bold”/”the brave”.

Anyway, only the first phrase “Audentes fortuna iuvat” is the real quotation from Virgil, The Aeneid, book 10, line 284.

Best regards,
Maria
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Virgil, one of the most famous poet of ancient Rome, born 70BC-died 19 BC.