sic transit gloria mundi

Latin

Etymology

From sīc (“thus, so”) + trānsit (“it goes over, it crosses”) the third person singular of trānseō (“I go over, I cross”) + glōria (“glory”) + mundī (“of the world”) the genitive of mundus (“the world”). Literally meaning "thus passes the glory of the world" or "thus goes the glory of the world". The traditional translation is "thus passes earthly glory".

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /siːk ˈtran.sit ˈɡloː.ri.a ˈmun.diː/, [s̠iːk ˈt̪rä̃ːs̠ɪt̪ ˈɡɫ̪oːriä ˈmʊn̪d̪iː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /sik ˈtran.sit ˈɡlo.ri.a ˈmun.di/, [sik ˈt̪ränsit̪ ˈɡlɔːriä ˈmun̪d̪i]

Phrase

sīc trānsit glōria mundī

1. ‘Thus passeth the glory of the world’, a traditional phrase used in the ritual of papal coronation
2. Glory is fleeting; fame is fleeting