albus an ater sit

Latin

Etymology

From albus (“white”) + an (“whether”) + āter (“black”) + sit (“he may be”) the present subjunctive third person singular of sum (“I am”). Literally meaning "he may be white or black". Compare homō nūllīus colōris (“a man of no color”).

Originally from the longer:

Albus an ater sit, nescio.

I don't know whether he is white or black.

or

Albus an ater sit, non curo.

I care not whether he is white or black.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈal.bus an ˈaː.ter sit/, [ˈäɫ̪bʊs̠ än ˈäːt̪ɛr s̠ɪt̪]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈal.bus an ˈa.ter sit/, [ˈälbus än ˈäːt̪er sit̪]

Proverb

albus an āter sit

1. he is entirely indifferent to me

   Vide, quam te amārit is, qui albus aterve fueris ignorans, fratris filium praeteriit.

   Unde illa scivit, ater an albus nascerer.