motto

See also: Motto, mottó, and mòtto

English

Motto of Alabama

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”), from Latin muttum (“a mutter, a grunt”), late 16th c.. Doublet of mot.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ.toʊ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɒ.təʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: (General American) -ɑtoʊ, (Received Pronunciation) -ɒtəʊ

Noun

motto (plural mottos or mottoes)

1. (heraldry) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievement.
   • 2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 10:

     ‘Gentlemen, I can tell you what the new queen will take as her motto. It is Bound to Obey and Serve.’

2. A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim.
   • 1715 June 5 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 45. Wednesday, May 25. [1715.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:

     It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, ... Serve God, and be cheerful.

   • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:

     “ […] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
       Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […] ”

3. (obsolete) A paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, etc., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:saying

Translations

sentence, phrase or word forming part of an heraldic achievement

• Afrikaans: leuse
• Albanian: devizë (sq) f
• Arabic: شِعَار (ar) m (šiʕār)
• Armenian: նշանաբան (hy) (nšanaban)
• Azerbaijani: şüar (az)
• Basque: goiburu
• Belarusian: дэві́з m (devíz)
• Bengali: নীতিবাক্য (bn) (nitibakko)
• Breton: sturienn m
• Bulgarian: деви́з (bg) m (devíz)
• Burmese: ဆောင်ပုဒ် (my) (hcaungpud)
• Catalan: divisa (ca) f, lema (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 座右銘／座右铭 (zh) (zuòyòumíng)

• Czech: motto (cs) n
• Danish: motto n
• Dutch: motto (nl) n, wapenspreuk (nl) m, (personal) lijfspreuk (nl) m
• Esperanto: moto (eo)
• Estonian: tunnuslause
• Finnish: motto (fi), tunnuslause (fi), vaalilause
• French: devise (fr) f
• Georgian: დევიზი (devizi)
• German: Motto (de) n, Wahlspruch m
• Greek: ρητό (el) n (ritó)
• Hebrew: מוֹטוֹ m (moto)
• Hindi: ध्येयवाक्य m (dhyeyvākya), सिद्धांत (hi) m (siddhānt), नीतिवाक्य (nītivākya)
• Hungarian: mottó (hu)
• Icelandic: kjörorð (is) n
• Ido: moto (io)
• Indonesian: semboyan (id)
• Irish: mana (ga) m
• Italian: motto (it) m
• Japanese: モットー (mottō), 座右の銘 (ja) (ざゆうのめい, zayūnomei), 標語 (ja) (ひょうご, hyōgo)
• Kazakh: ұран (ūran)
• Khmer: បាវចនា (paavaʼcaʼnaa)
• Korean: 좌우명(座右銘) (jwaumyeong), 모토 (ko) (moto), 표어(標語) (ko) (pyoeo)
• Kyrgyz: ураан (ky) (uraan), девиз (deviz)
• Lao: ຄຳຂວັນ (kham khuan)
• Latvian: devīze m
• Lithuanian: devizas m
• Macedonian: мото n (moto), гесло n (geslo)
• Malay: slogan, cogan kata, moto (ms)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: motto (no) n

  Nynorsk: motto n

• Occitan: devisa (oc) f
• Pashto: شعار (ps) m (šo'ār)
• Persian:

  Dari: شِعَار (fa) (ši'ār)

  Iranian Persian: شِعار (fa) (še'âr)

• Polish: dewiza (pl) f, motto (pl) n
• Portuguese: lema (pt) m, divisa (pt) f, mote (pt) m
• Romanian: deviză (ro) f
• Russian: деви́з (ru) m (devíz)
• Scottish Gaelic: facal-suaicheantais m
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: деви́за f, мо̏то m

  Roman: deviza (sh) f, mȍto (sh) m

• Slovak: motto n
• Slovene: moto n
• Spanish: mote (es) m, divisa (es) f (extends to figures), lema (es) m
• Swedish: motto (sv) n, valspråk (sv) n, devis (sv) c
• Tagalog: bansag, lema, moto
• Tajik: шиор (šior)
• Tamil: குறிக்கோளுரை (kuṟikkōḷurai)
• Thai: คำขวัญ (th) (kam-kwǎn), คติพจน์ (th) (ká–dtì–pót)
• Turkish: slogan (tr), motto (tr), şiar (tr)
• Turkmen: şygar
• Ukrainian: деві́з m (devíz), га́сло n (háslo)
• Urdu: شِعار m (śi'ār)
• Uzbek: deviz (uz), shior (uz)
• Vietnamese: tiêu ngữ (vi)
• Welsh: arwyddair (cy) m
• West Frisian: biedwurd

suggestive sentence, phrase or word

• Armenian: նշանաբան (hy) (nšanaban), բնաբան (hy) (bnaban)
• Bulgarian: мо́то (bg) n (móto)
• Catalan: lema (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 格言 (zh) (géyán), 座右銘／座右铭 (zh) (zuòyòumíng), 標語／标语 (zh) (biāoyǔ)

• Czech: motto (cs) n
• Danish: motto n
• Dutch: motto (nl) n
• Finnish: motto (fi), tunnuslause (fi)
• French: devise (fr) f
• German: Motto (de) n
• Hungarian: mottó (hu)
• Japanese: モットー (mottō), 標語 (ja) (ひょうご, hyōgo)
• Korean: 표어(標語) (ko) (pyoeo)
• Polish: dewiza (pl) f, motto (pl) n
• Portuguese: lema (pt) m, mote (pt) m
• Russian: деви́з (ru) m (devíz)
• Scottish Gaelic: ceann-sgrìobhadh m
• Spanish: lema (es) m
• Swedish: motto (sv) n
• Tagalog: kasabihan
• Thai: คำขวัญ (th) (kam-kwǎn), คติ (th) (ká-dtì), คติพจน์ (th) (ká–dtì–pót)
• Turkish: motto (tr)

Verb

motto (third-person singular simple present mottos, present participle mottoing, simple past and past participle mottoed)

1. (intransitive) To compose mottos.
   • 2003, Nineteenth Century Prose, volume 30, page 304:

     The singularity of his epigraphic strategy notwithstanding, Emerson does not draw attention to his own mottoing. One exchange suggests that his practice was a convention imposed from without.

Further reading

• motto (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Czech

Alternative forms

• moto n (less common)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmoto]
• Rhymes: -oto

Noun

motto n

1. motto
2. epigraph

Declension

Declension of motto (hard neuter)

	singular	plural
nominative	motto	motta
genitive	motta	mott
dative	mottu	mottům
accusative	motto	motta
vocative	motto	motta
locative	mottu	mottech
instrumental	mottem	motty

See also

• krédo

Further reading

• “motto”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “motto”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Danish

Noun

motto n (singular definite mottoet, plural indefinite mottoer)

1. motto

References

• “motto” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

From Italian motto (“a word, a saying”).

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mot‧to

Noun

motto n (plural motto's, diminutive mottootje n)

1. motto
2. (heraldry) motto

Hyponyms

• leus, leuze
• wapenspreuk

Finnish

Etymology

Ultimately from Italian motto (“a word, a saying”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmotːo/, [ˈmo̞t̪ːo̞]
• Rhymes: -otːo
• Syllabification^(key): mot‧to

Noun

motto

1. motto (sentence or a phrase with guiding principle)

   Synonym: tunnuslause

2. epigraph (literary quotation placed at the beginning of a book or other text)

   Synonym: epigrafi

3. (heraldry) motto

   Synonyms: tunnuslause, vaalilause

Declension

Inflection of motto (Kotus type 1*C/valo, tt-t gradation)
nominative		motto	motot
genitive		moton	mottojen
partitive		mottoa	mottoja
illative		mottoon	mottoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		motto	motot
accusative	nom.	motto	motot
	gen.	moton
genitive		moton	mottojen
partitive		mottoa	mottoja
inessive		motossa	motoissa
elative		motosta	motoista
illative		mottoon	mottoihin
adessive		motolla	motoilla
ablative		motolta	motoilta
allative		motolle	motoille
essive		mottona	mottoina
translative		motoksi	motoiksi
abessive		mototta	motoitta
instructive		—	motoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of motto (Kotus type 1*C/valo, tt-t gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative mottoni mottoni accusative nom. mottoni mottoni gen. mottoni genitive mottoni mottojeni partitive mottoani mottojani inessive motossani motoissani elative motostani motoistani illative mottooni mottoihini adessive motollani motoillani ablative motoltani motoiltani allative motolleni motoilleni essive mottonani mottoinani translative motokseni motoikseni abessive motottani motoittani instructive — — comitative — mottoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative mottosi mottosi accusative nom. mottosi mottosi gen. mottosi genitive mottosi mottojesi partitive mottoasi mottojasi inessive motossasi motoissasi elative motostasi motoistasi illative mottoosi mottoihisi adessive motollasi motoillasi ablative motoltasi motoiltasi allative motollesi motoillesi essive mottonasi mottoinasi translative motoksesi motoiksesi abessive motottasi motoittasi instructive — — comitative — mottoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative mottomme mottomme accusative nom. mottomme mottomme gen. mottomme genitive mottomme mottojemme partitive mottoamme mottojamme inessive motossamme motoissamme elative motostamme motoistamme illative mottoomme mottoihimme adessive motollamme motoillamme ablative motoltamme motoiltamme allative motollemme motoillemme essive mottonamme mottoinamme translative motoksemme motoiksemme abessive motottamme motoittamme instructive — — comitative — mottoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative mottonne mottonne accusative nom. mottonne mottonne gen. mottonne genitive mottonne mottojenne partitive mottoanne mottojanne inessive motossanne motoissanne elative motostanne motoistanne illative mottoonne mottoihinne adessive motollanne motoillanne ablative motoltanne motoiltanne allative motollenne motoillenne essive mottonanne mottoinanne translative motoksenne motoiksenne abessive motottanne motoittanne instructive — — comitative — mottoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative mottonsa mottonsa accusative nom. mottonsa mottonsa gen. mottonsa genitive mottonsa mottojensa partitive mottoaan mottoansa mottojaan mottojansa inessive motossaan motossansa motoissaan motoissansa elative motostaan motostansa motoistaan motoistansa illative mottoonsa mottoihinsa adessive motollaan motollansa motoillaan motoillansa ablative motoltaan motoltansa motoiltaan motoiltansa allative motolleen motollensa motoilleen motoillensa essive mottonaan mottonansa mottoinaan mottoinansa translative motokseen motoksensa motoikseen motoiksensa abessive motottaan motottansa motoittaan motoittansa instructive — — comitative — mottoineen mottoinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• mottolause

 

Further reading

• “motto”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-03

Anagrams

• motot

Italian

Etymology

From Latin muttum (“mutter”). Compare Catalan and French mot (“word”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔt.to/
• Rhymes: -ɔtto
• Hyphenation: mòt‧to

Noun

motto m (plural motti)

1. witty remark
2. motto, maxim
3. posy (motto inscribed inside a ring)
4. (Gallicism) word

Descendants

• → English: motto
• → German: Motto

Further reading

• motto in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Japanese

Romanization

motto

1. Rōmaji transcription of もっと

Nauruan

Noun

motto

1. motto

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Italian motto.

Noun

motto n (definite singular mottoet, indefinite plural motto or mottoer, definite plural mottoa or mottoene)

1. a motto

References

• “motto” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Italian motto.

Noun

motto n (definite singular mottoet, indefinite plural motto, definite plural mottoa)

1. a motto

References

• “motto” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian motto, from Latin muttum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔt.tɔ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔttɔ
• Syllabification: mot‧to

Noun

motto n

1. philosophy, motto, watchword, byword

   Synonyms: dewiza, credo

2. (literature) epigraph (literary quotation placed at the beginning of a text)

   Synonym: epigraf

Declension

Declension of motto

	singular	plural
nominative	motto	motta
genitive	motta	mott
dative	mottu	mottom
accusative	motto	motta
instrumental	mottem	mottami
locative	motcie	mottach
vocative	motto	motta

Further reading

• motto in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• motto in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian motto or German Motto.

Noun

motto n (plural mottouri)

1. motto

Declension

Declension of motto

	singular		plural
	indefinite articulation	definite articulation	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) motto	mottoul	(niște) mottouri	mottourile
genitive/dative	(unui) motto	mottoului	(unor) mottouri	mottourilor
vocative	mottoule		mottourilor

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmɔtɔ]

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Noun

motto n

1. motto

Declension

Declension of motto

	singular	plural
nominative	motto	mottá
genitive	motta	mott
dative	mottu	mottám
accusative	motto	mottá
locative	motte	mottách
instrumental	mottom	mottami

Further reading

• “motto”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2024

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian motto, from Late Latin muttum.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

motto n

1. a motto

Declension

Declension of motto

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	motto	mottos
	definite	mottot	mottots
plural	indefinite	motton	mottons
	definite	mottona	mottonas

See also

• valspråk

References

• motto in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• motto in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• motto in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• motto in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)

Ye'kwana

Variant orthographies

ALIV	motto
Brazilian standard	motto
New Tribes	motto

Alternative forms

• mottoo (Caura River dialect)
• moto (Cunucunuma River dialect and Brazil)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [motto]

Noun

motto

1. a kind of long earthworm or caecilian used as a sacred food during major life events and at the end of any fast, and also for fishing

Related terms

• muttu

 

References

• Cáceres, Natalia (2011) “mottoo”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[2], Lyon
• Costa, Isabella Coutinho, Silva, Marcelo Costa da, Rodrigues, Edmilson Magalhães (2021) “moto”, in Portal Japiim: Dicionário Ye'kwana‎^[3], Museu do Índio/FUNAI
• Hall, Katherine Lee (1988) The morphosyntax of discourse in De'kwana Carib, volumes I and II, Saint Louis, Missouri: PhD Thesis, Washington University, pages 217, 394: “moto 'earthworm' […] motto - earth worm”
• Hall, Katherine (2007) “motto”, in Mary Ritchie Key & Bernard Comrie, editors, The Intercontinental Dictionary Series‎^[4], Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, published 2021
• Guss, David M. (1989) To Weave and Sing: Art, Symbol, and Narrative in the South American Rain Forest, Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, →ISBN, pages 30, 133: “motto”
• Monterrey, Nalúa Rosa Silva (2012) Hombres de curiara y mujeres de conuco. Etnografía de los indigenas Ye’kwana de Venezuela, Ciudad Bolívar: Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana, page 36: “motto”