List of national mottos
This page lists state and national mottos for the world's nations. The mottos for some states lacking general international recognition, extinct states, non-sovereign nations, regions, and territories are listed, but their names are not bolded.
A state motto is used to describe the intent or motivation of the state in a short phrase. For example, it can be included on a country's flag, coat of arms, or currency. Some countries choose not to have a national motto.
A
- ':
- ': Ti Shqipëri Më Jep Nder, Më jep Emrin Shqipëtar
- ': بالشعب و للشعب
- :
- ':
- :
- ':
- ':
- :
- ': No official motto. Formerly
- : Odlar Yurdu
- * Azerbaijan Democratic Republic: Bir kərə yüksələn bayraq bir daha enməz!
- :
B
- ': Forward, Upward, Onward Together
- ': No official motto.
- ': No official motto. National slogan and war cry: Joy Bangla,. Four fundamental principles: Democracy, Socialism, Secularism and Nationalism
- ': Pride and Industry
- Bavaria: formerly, In Treue fest
- ': No official motto. Unofficial motto is: "Long Live Belarus!"
- *: Пралетарыі ўсіх краін, яднайцеся!
- ': Eendracht maakt macht, L'union fait la force and Einigkeit macht stark
- ': Sub umbra floreo
- ': Fraternité, Justice, Travail
- : Quo fata ferunt
- ': No official motto.
- Republic of Biafra: Peace, Unity, Freedom
- ': La Unión es la Fuerza
- ': No official motto.
- ': Pula
- ': Ordem e progresso
- *: Independência ou Morte!
- : Research and Discovery
- : In tutela nostra Limuria
- : Vigilate
- : Kentoc'h mervel eget bezañ saotret
- ': الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى
- ': Съединението прави силата
- ': Unité, Progrès, Justice
- *: Unité, Travail, Justice
- : Unité, Travail, Progrès
C
- : "Eureka"
- ': ជាតិ សាសនា ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ
- ': Paix - Travail - Patrie
- ': A mari usque ad mare
- : Oceano
- ': Unidade, Trabalho, Progresso
- : He hath founded it upon the seas
- ': Unité, Dignité, Travail
- ': Unité, Travail, Progrès
- ': Por la razón o la fuerza
- ': No official motto. “为人民服务” is the motto of the government.
- : Чаваш Республики; Чувашская Республика
- ': Libertad y orden
- ': Unité, Solidarité, Développement
- : Deo vindice
- ': Justice - Paix - Travail
- ': Unité, Travail, Progrès
- : No official motto.
- ': No official motto. Pura Vida is the de facto motto.
- ': Union, Discipline, Travail
- ': No official motto. Unofficial motto: Bog i Hrvati
- ': Patria o muerte
- ': No official motto
- : No official motto
- ': Pravda vítězí
- : Pravda vítězí, Pravda víťazí, Veritas vincit'', all meaning "Truth prevails"
D
- ': Gud, konge og fædreland. Royal motto of Margrethe II: Guds hjælp, Folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke
- ': Itixaad, Gudboonaan, Ammaan and Unité, Égalité, Paix
- ': Après Bondié, C'est la Ter
- ': Dios, Patria, Libertad
E
- ': Unidade, Acção, Progresso
- : Traditional motto / unofficial; "He hanga te Atu'a he pakea te ma'eha ote mori nei ite he nua ta'atoa"
- ': Dios, patria y libertad
- ': No official motto
- ': Dios, Unión, Libertad
- : Sovereign's motto: Dieu et mon droit.
- ': Unidad, Paz, Justicia
- ': دولة إرترݐا, "Hagere Ertra"
- ': No official motto.
- ': formerly ኢትዮጵያ ታበድ አደዊሃ ሃበ አግዚአብሐር , taken from Psalm 68:31. Currently none.
- * ሞዓ አንበሰ ዘአምነባደ ይሁዳ .
- : In varietate concordia ; see motto of the European Union.
F
- : Desire the Right
- : No official motto.
- ': Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui
- ': No official motto.
- *: "Islands of Peace"
- : Regna cadunt luxu surgunt virtutibus urbes!
- : Liberté, égalité, fraternité
- : Tahiti Nui Māre'are'a
- : Liberté, égalité, fraternité''
G
- ': Union, Travail, Justice
- ': "Hoc hic mysterium fidei firmiter profitemur"
- *': "Hoc hic mysterium fidei firmiter profitemur"
- ': Progress, Peace, Prosperity
- ': ძალა ერთობაშია!
- ': No official motto, commonly referred as Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
- * : Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
- * : Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt Euch!
- * : Gott mit uns
- * : Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer
- ': Freedom and Justice
- : Montis Insignia Calpi and Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti
- ': Ελευθερία ή θάνατος
- * : Ίσχύς μου ή άγάπη του λαού
- : No official motto.
- ': Ever Conscious of God We Aspire, and Advance as One People
- : No official motto.
- ': Libre Crezca Fecundo
- : No official motto.
- ': Travail, Justice, Solidarité
- ': Unidade, Luta, Progresso
- : One People, One Nation, One Destiny
H
- ': Liberté, égalité, fraternité
- : Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Āina i ka Pono
- ': Libre, Soberana E Independiente
- : formerly Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate, battle cry of Prince Francis II Rákóczi in the early 1700s.
I
- ': No official motto.
- ': सत्यमेव जयते
- ': Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
- ': الله أكبر , de facto: استقلال، آزادى، جمهورى اسلامى
- * Imperial State: مرا داد فرمود و خود داور است .
- ': الله أكبر
- ': No official motto. Éirinn go Brách has traditional and historical use.
- : Quocunque Ieceris Stabit
- ': No official motto.
- ': *no motto*
- * Kingdom of Italy: Foedere et Religione Tenemur
- *: Per l'onore d'Italia
J
- ': Out of many, One People
- ': No official motto.
- *Ancient Japan: 養正之心ヲ弘ム , 積慶重暉 , 掩ヒテ㆓ヲ㆒而為ス㆑ト
- *: 開国進取 Charter Oath -> :ja:東亜新秩序|大東亜新秩序建設 :ja:基本国策要綱
- : No official motto.
- : الله، الوطن، الملك
K
- ': No official motto.
- ': Harambee
- ': Te mauri, te raoi ao te tabomoa
- ': No official motto. De facto motto: 강성대국
- ': No official motto. De facto motto: 홍익인간
- *: 광명천지 Let there be light across the land
- : No official motto.
- : No official motto. Unofficial motto/proverb is: "ھیچ دۆستێک جگە لە چیاکان". Also used is the title of the regional anthem "Ey Reqîb
- ': No official motto.
- : No official motto.
L
- ': ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ
- ': Tēvzemei un Brīvībai ; Gods kalpot Latvijai!
- ': كلنا للوطن ، للعلا للعلم
- ': Khotso, Pula, Nala
- ': The love of liberty brought us here
- ': Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland
- ': Laisvė, vienybė, gerovė
- Lower Saxony: Immer eine gute Idee
- ': Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn
M
- ': Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana
- : Das Ilhas, As Mais Belas E Livres
- ': Unity and Freedom
- ': Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu
- ': الدولة المحلديبية
- ': Un peuple, un but, une foi
- ': Virtute et constantia
- ': Jepilpilin ke Ejukaan
- ': شرف، إخاء، عدالة or Honneur, Fraternité, Justice
- ': Stella Clavisque Maris Indici
- ': La Patria Es Primero
- *: Independencia, Unión, Religion
- *: Equidad en la Justicia
- ': Peace, Unity, Liberty
- ': Limba noastră-i o comoară
- ': Deo juvante
- ': No official motto.
- ': No official motto. Unofficial motto: Da je vječna Crna Gora! From the national anthem
- : A people of excellence, moulded by nature, nurtured by God
- ': الله، الوطن، الملك . Sovereign's motto: إن تَنصُروا اللهَ ينصُرُکُم
- ': República de Moçambique
- ': Formerly သမဂ္ဂါနံ တပေါ သုခေါ . Currently none.
N
- ': Unity, liberty, justice
- ': God's will first
- ': जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी
- ': Je maintiendrai; Ik zal handhaven
- : Libertate Unanimus,
- : Terre de parole, terre de partage
- : Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei
- ': none, formerly Onward
- ': En Dios Confiamos
- ': Fraternité, Travail, Progrès
- ': Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress
- : No official motto.
- : Pergo et Perago
- : Ӕппӕт бӕстӕты пролетартӕ баиу ут!
- : No official motto.
- : No official national motto. Royal motto of Harald V : Alt for Norge and Eidsvoll oath: Enige og tro inntil Dovre faller/Einige og tru til Dovre fell .
- : Semper Ascendens.
P
- ':
- ': Republic of Palau
- ': No official motto, Unofficial: من النهر إلى البحر ، ستكون فلسطين حرة
- ': Pro mundi beneficio
- ': Unity in Diversity
- ': Paz y justicia
- ': Firme y feliz por la unión.
- ': Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa
- * Fourth Philippine Republic: Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa. Abolished after the 1986 People Power Revolution.
- ': No official motto. Unofficial mottos of Poland include: Za wolność Naszą i Waszą ; and Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna.
- *Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth: Pro fide, lege, et rege ; Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos.
- ': No official motto
- *: In Hoc Signo Vinces. In a legend retold in the national epic Os Lusiadas by Luís Vaz de Camões, the first King of Portugal saw the Quinas, in a miracle, during the Battle of Ourique. The usage of this motto is well documented on coins, monuments and documents.
- : "Suum cuique" 1525–1947
- : Joannes est nomen ejus. Taken from the Vulgate translation of Luke 1:63, referring to the fact that the island's former name was "San Juan" in honour of Saint John the Baptist.
R
- Republic of Ragusa: Sloboda se ne prodaje za sve zlato svijeta
- and previously Roman Republic: Senatus Populusque Romanus
- ': Formerly Nihil Sine Deo and before that Toţi în unu. Viața-n libertate ori moarte. Currently none.
- ': No official motto.
- *: Съ нами Богъ! and За Вѣру, Царя и Отечество!
- * Russian State: Единая и Неделимая Россия! and Симъ побѣдиши!
- : Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu
S
- : Loyal and unshakeable
- ': Country Above Self
- ': The land, the people, the light
- : A Mare Labor
- ': Pax et justitia
- : Республика Саха; Саха Республиката
- ': Fa'avae i le Atua Samoa
- ': Libertas
- ': Unidade, Disciplina, Trabalho
- : Dum Spiro, Spero
- ': لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
- : Sovereign's motto: In My Defens God Me Defend and Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
- ': Un peuple, un but, une foi
- ': Unofficial: Само слога Србина спасава
- ': Finis coronat opus
- ': Unity, freedom, justice
- ': Majulah Singapura
- : Semper pro grediens
- Slovak Republic: Formerly Pravda víťazí,, Veritas vincit and Verní sebe, svorne napred!. Currently no official motto.
- ': No official motto.
- : To lead is to serve
- ': No official motto.
- : لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
- ': ǃke e꞉ ǀxarra ǁke
- *: Ex Unitate Vires
- : Leo terram propriam protegat
- ': Justice, Liberty, Prosperity
- : Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!
- ': Plus Ultra
- ': No official motto.
- ': النصر لنا
- ': Justitia, pietas, fides
- ': Siyinqaba
- ': No official national motto. Royal motto of Carl XVI Gustaf: För Sverige - i tiden
- ': Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno
- ': وحدة ، حرية ، اشتراكية'' Ba'ath Party
T
- ': No official motto.
- ': No official motto.
- ': Uhuru na Umoja
- : Bez Buldırabız!
- : Friendship
- ': none, unofficially ชาติ ศาสนา พระมหากษัตริย์
- * Siam : สพฺเพสํ สงฺฆภูตานํ สามคฺคี วุฑฺฒิ สาธิกา
- ': Travail, Liberté, Patrie
- : Tokelau mo te Atua
- ': Ko e Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofia
- ': Together we aspire, together we achieve
- : Our faith is our strength
- ': حرية، كرامة، عدالة، نظام
- ': No official motto.
Egemenlik kayıtsız şartsız milletindir
Other mottos;
Ne mutlu Türk'üm diyene
,
Ya istiklâl ya ölüm
- ': No official motto.
- : None officially.
- : Tuvalu mo te Atua
U
- ': For God and My Country
- ': Воля, злагода, добро Traditional:
- ': الله, الوطن, الرئيس
- ': No official motto. Sovereign's motto: Dieu et mon droit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; In My Defens God Me Defend in Scotland.
- *: Nemo me impune lacessit
- *: Cymru am byth
- ': In God We Trust, E Pluribus Unum . See also list of U.S. state and territory mottos
- ': Libertad o Muerte
- : United In Pride And Hope
- : Kuch Adolatdadir!
V
- ': Long God yumi stanap
- ': No official motto. Pope Francis' personal motto: Miserando Atque Eligendo
- ': Historical: Dios y Federación
- ': Historical : Viva San Marco!
- ': Ðộc lập, Tự do, Hạnh phúc
- *': Ðộc lập, Tự do, Hạnh phúc
- *: 1954-67: Tổ quốc, Danh dự, Trách nhiệm ; 1967-75: Tổ quốc, Công minh, Liêm chính
W
- : Țara Românească au unit pentru Dumnezeu și libertate!
- : Cymru am byth
- : To dwell together in unity
- former Kingdom of Württemberg: Furchtlos und treu
Y
- : الڷه، الوطن، الثورة، الوحدة
- Serbo-Croatian: Братство и јединство / Bratstvo i jedinstvo, Macedonian: Братство и единство, Slovene: Bratstvo in enotnost, Albanian: Vllaznim-Bashkim, later Vëllazërim-Bashkim, Hungarian: Testvériség és egység, all meaning: Brotherhood and unity
Z
- : Paix — Justice — Travail
- ': One Zambia, One Nation
- : Zanzibar kwa Afrika; Zanzibar kwa ajili ya Dunia
- ': Unity, Freedom, Work
- *: Sit Nomine Digna