errare humanum est

Latin

To err is human.

Alternative forms

• errāre est hūmānum
• hūmānum est errāre

Etymology

The beginning of a longer Latin saying: "Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum." It translates to: "To err is human, but to persist [in error] is diabolical." The saying is often attributed to Seneca but not attested in his works.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ɛrˈraː.rɛ huːˈmaː.nũː ˈɛst]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [erˈraː.re uˈmaː.num ˈɛst]

Proverb

errāre hūmānum est

1. to err is human

Hyponyms

• errāre hūmānum est, persevērāre diabolicum