Mottoes

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Overview of mottoes
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in Heraldry of the World


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Heraldry of the World


  • Total number of mottoes : 12,743

Main languages:

MOTTOES USED IN CIVIC HERALDRY

Mottoes are very common in the British-style heraldry (UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand), and much less common in other countries. Therefore the large majority of the mottoes listed here are from towns and councils in the British heraldic region.

As this page got too large, mottoes in the following languages are separated :

If you see a motto on the site that is not yet listed here or have any other addition, please mail me !

Only true mottoes are listed here, no town names in banners around the arms.

The mottoes are listed by language and sorted by first letter. For clarity no capital letters are used, except the first letter as well as personal or town names. A translation in English is provided when available.

Mottoes in African languages

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Mottoes with any African language as the original language. For Afrikaans, see Dutch, for Malagasy, see below.

Motto Language Translation in English Used by
! gai uiba gisenba ? Nama Khoi
!ke e:/xarra//ke Khoisan Diverse people unite South Africa
sa k//?a: !a1si ?u1si Auni Strive for a better life Northern Cape
Elimu tiba utafiti Swahili Medicine education research Muhimbili University
Harambee Swahili Synergy Kenya
Imbumba yamanyama Xhosa Unity is strength Transkei
Inqubekela phambili ngobuqotho Zulu Service delivery with integrity Zululand
Kathleho ka kopano ? Free State
Khotso pula nala Sotho Peace, rain, prosperity Lesotho
Kutiina mukama niyo nsibuko y’amagezi Nyoro For God and my country Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara
Luyemi Hamoho Lozi East Caprivi
Masisukume sakhe Zulu Let us rise and built KwaZulu-Natal
Naboisho ang, engolon ang Maasai (?) Our unity, our strength Kajiado county
Natulenge juu ? ? Starehe Boys' Centre and School
'Nete ke thebe sotho Truth is the shield or the truth will set you free National University of Lesotho
Pamberi nekushandira pamwe Shona Marching forward in co-operation Chitungwiza
Pamberi nekushandira vanhu Shona Forward with service to the people Harare
Popa popa e a popela Tswana He who builds, builds for himself Tswanaland
Pula Setswana Rain Botswana
Si ye pambili Sindebele Let us go forward Bulawayo
Siyakunqandwa ziinkwenkwezi Xhosa We will be stopped by the stars Ciskei
Sonqoba simunye Zulu We will overcome (or triumph) together; we are one. KwaZulu
Syinqaba Swati We are a fortress Swaziland
Thuto ke thebe Setswana University of Botswana
Tunga nombili Oshiwambo Owamboland
Ubumwe – umurimo – gukunda ighihugu Kinyarwanda Unity, work, patriotism Rwanda
Yinkhaba Swati Manzini


Mottoes in Greek

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Mottoes with ancient or modern Greek as the original language.

Motto Translation in English Used by
ΑΙΕΝ ΑΡΣΤΕΥΕΙΝ Ever to excel National Defence General Staff, Grecce
ΑΙΕΝ ΥΨΙΚΡΑΤΕΙΝ Always dominate the heights Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Greek Air Force
ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΝ ΤΟ ΕΥΨΥΧΟΝ Freedom stems from valour Hellenic Army General Staff, Greek Army
ΜΕΓΑ ΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ (Méga to ti̱s thalássi̱s krátos) The rule of the sea is indeed a great matter Hellenic Navy General Staff, Greek Navy
ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΚΛΥΖΕΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΤΑΝΘΡΩΠΩΝ ΚΑΚΑ Tenby

Mottoes in Indonesian

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Mottoes with Bahasa Indonesia or any other native language in Indonesia as the original language.

Motto Translation in English Used by
Bhinneka tunggal Ika Unity in diversity Indonesia
Gemah ripah loh jinawi Cirebon
Gemah ripah repeh rapih Richness for all and living in harmony Jawa Barat
Gemah ripah wibawa mukti Bandung
Jer basuki mawa bea Achievements are only won through sacrifice Jawa Timur
Karya swadaya On own power Papua
Sekali layar terkembang pantang biduksurut ke pantai. Makassar Papua]]
Soerâ-ing-bâjâ Virtue in battle Surabaya

Mottoes in Spanish

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Mottoes with Spanish as the original language.

Motto Translation in English Used by
Aqui dios, fuerte y claro Signal Company No 6 of the Parachute Brigade, Spanish Army
Ciencia al servicio del hombre Science in the service of man Meteorological Service, Air Force of Venezuela
Con este palo me basto Ceuta General Command, Spanish Army
Cuna del descubrimiento Palos de la Frontera
Dios, unión, libertad God, union, liberty El Salvador
Especiales en la guerra y en la paz Specialists in war and in peace Special Operations Air Group No 15, Air Force of Venezuela
Ingenio y grandeza Signal Company No 17, Spanish Army
Lealtatem Loyalty Presidental Air Group No 4, Air Force of Venezuela
Libertad y soberania Liberty and sovereignty Air Transport Group No 9, Air Force of Venezuela
Lucha y vence entre dos ríos Palma del Río
Más vale honra sin barcos ... Frigate Méndez Nuñez, Spanish Navy
Nuestro enemigo es el silencio Our enemy is the silence Electronic Warfare Regiment No 31, Spanish Army
Paso honroso Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Spanish Air Force
Patria honor lealtad Country, honour, loyalty Colombian Army
Poder y sabiduria Signal Company No 18, Spanish Army
Por la exelencia a la victoria Signal Regiment No 1, Spanish Army
Rey servido y patria honorada Serve the king and honour the fatherland Frigate Álvaro de Bazán, Spanish Navy
Segura tiene la palma Naval Command of Las Palmas, Spanish Navy
Sobre todo ¡España! Frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, Spanish Navy
Tejemos la red Signal Battalion of the Air Defence Command, Spanish Army
Unidad, paz, justicia Unity, peace, justice Equatorial Guinea
Vencer o morir Win or die Air Force of Paraguay, Navy of Paraguay
Voz permanente del mado Permanent voice of command Signal Regiment No 22, Spanish Army

Mottoes in Welsh

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Mottoes with Welsh as the original language.

Motto Translation in English Used by
A ddioddefws a orfu He who suffered, conquered Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan
A fynno Duw a fydd Cowbridge RDC
A vo penn bit pont He who will be chief, let him be a bridge Bridgend
Amser yw'n golud Ystradgynlais
Awn rhagom Cowbridge
Cadarn pob cyfiawn The just are strong West Glamorgan
Cadernid cyfiawndr cynndd Stability, justice, progress Barry
Canmol dy fro a thrig yno Commend thy locality and dwell therein Brecon
Cyfoeth cymdeithas: cymuned A society's wealth is its community Llanelli
Cynyddaf a llawenychaf I grow and I rejoice Prestatyn
Dawn gorau dyngarwch A nation's wealth is freedom Ceredigion
Diogel dan ddinefwr Safe under Dinefwr Dinefwr
Duw a digon With God, enough Denbighshire
Duwioldeb diwydrwydd Godliness and industry Port Talbot Borough, Port Talbot
Ewch yn uwch Higher and higher Radnorshire, Radnorshire District Council
Gorau gweithio-cyd weithio The best service is co-operation Maesteg
Golud gwlad rhydidd A nation's wealth is freedom Ceredigion
Gorau moes gwasanaeth The best way of life is service Aberystwyth Borough
Gorau nawwd, nawwd duw Hawarden
Gorau tarian cyfiawnder The best shield is justice Flintshire, Islwyn
Gwasanaeth a gwerin Alyn and Deeside
Gwella braint heb golli bro Vaynor and Penderyn
Gwerth cyngor gwasanaeth The virtue of a council is its service Glyndŵr
Gwirionedd undod a chytgord University of Cardiff
Hanfod tref trefn The essential of a good town is orderliness Ammanford
Hwy clod na golud Fame outlasts wealth Rhondda
Iechyd ac addysg Health and learning Ebbw Vale
Iechyd harddwch heddwch Health, beauty, tranquillity Colwyn, Colwyn Bay
Llafur orfu bobpeth Hard work conquers everything Taff-Ely
Llifa'r dwr, llewyrcha'r bobl Brecknock RDC
Llywyddiant o ddiwydiant Connah's Quay
Llywyddiant trwy undeb Success through union Cynon Valley
Llywyddo drwy ymdrech Succeeding through endeavour Neath and Port Talbot
Mon mam Cynru Anglesey, Mother of Wales Isle of Anglesey
Nid cadern ond brodyrdde No strength but in fellowship Merthyr Tydfil
Nid da lle gellir gwell Lliw Valley
Powys paradwys cymru Powys, the paradise of Wales Powys
Rhydd gwerni ffyniant gwlad A free people a prosperous country Carmarthenshire, Dyfed
Rhyddid hedd a llwyddint Freedom, peace and prosperity Carmarthen
Tarian cyfiawnder duw The shield of justice is God Clwyd
Tra mor tra meirion Merionethshire
Undeb a rhyddid Unity and freedom Blaenau Gwent
Undeb hedd llwyddiant Unity, peace, success Brecknock, Brecknockshire
Undod cadernid cynndd Unity Strength Progress Vale of Glamorgan
Unwn i wneud da Denbighshire
Y ddinas a’r fro The city and the vale South Glamorgan
Ymlaen â Delyn Forward with Delyn Delyn
Yr hafan dêg ar fin y dôn The fair haven at the edge of the waves Rhyl