fortis Fortuna adiuvat

Latin

Alternative forms

• fortēs Fortuna iuvat (Pliny Epistles 6 16)
• audentēs Fortuna iuvat (Virgil Aeneid 10 284)
• audentēs deus ipse iuvat (Ovid Metamorphoses 10 586)

Etymology

Literally "(the) strong (one), Fortune helps." From Terence's comedy play Phormio, line 203. Cited by Cicero in the 1st century BCE as a vetum prōverbium (“old proverb”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA: /ˈfor.ti:s forˌtuː.na ˈad.ju.wat/

Proverb

fortis Fortūna adiuvat

1. fortune favors the bold
   • c. 160 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Phormio, line 203

     Ergo istaec quom ita sint, Antipho,
     Tanto magis te advigilare aequom est: fortis fortuna adiuvat.

Usage notes

Often misquoted in English texts as fortes Fortuna adiuvat, which uses the accusative plural ending -ēs instead of the "Republican" accusative ending –īs. Although grammatically correct, the form ending in -ēs is not the one used in Terence's play.

Descendants

• English: fortune favors the bold (calque)