Expert: Maria - 1/11/2007

Question
A branch of the US Air Force, uses the quote "In the machine, we trust". I would like to get this printed in latin on a coin as a gift for an enlisted member. I saw the translation once as En Veritas Machines and was wondering if this was correct? Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer
Hello,

Here is the correct translation of “In the machine,We Trust“:

“In machina confidimus” or “Machina confidimus”.

In fact IN MACHINA (i.e. IN plus the ablative MACHINA)  or simply the ablative MACHINA mean ‘in machine’, while CONFIDIMUS (from CONFIDO)means ‘we trust’.

Please note that the verb CONFIDO (I trust) takes the ablative or the ablative plus the preposition IN, if the object is a thing, like in this case, not a person.

As for “En Veritas Machines”, I’m sorry, but it is absolutely wrong as EN means "See"," Behold"; VERITAS  means "truth" and MACHINES, in this form,  does not exist in Latin.

Best regards,
Maria