nōbilis
The English word 'noble' can be translated into Latin using nōbilis. Wiktionary also lists pulcher.
Meaning: having honorable qualities (adj)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| nōbilis | |
| pulcher | [ˈpʊɫ.kʰɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈpul.ker] (narrow) |
The term is used to describe someone or something having honorable qualities.
Did you know?
- In Roman society, nōbilis specifically referred to those whose ancestors had held the consulship, the highest office in the Republic.
- The word pulcher may have originally meant something 'variegated' or 'motley' rather than 'beautiful'.
- The Latin concept of nobility was not just about birth but also about virtus, a specific kind of courageous nobility associated with military valor.
Examples in context
- Causam itaque pulcherrimam hac certâ fiduciâ lati aggrediamur, illinc fraudem, fallaeciam, ignorantiam, atque, barbariem, hinc lucem, veritatem, rationem, et seculorum ommium optimorum studia, atque, doctrinam nobiscum stare.Let me therefore enter upon this noble cause with a chearfulness, grounded upon this assurance, that my adversary's cause is maintain'd by nothing but fraud, fallacy, ignorance and barbarity, whereas mine has light, truth, reason, the practice and the learning of the best ages of the world, of its side.This sentence is useful for seeing how the related form pulcher is used to describe a noble cause.Tatoeba #7366469 by jimkillock, translation #7366471 by jimkillock
- vir nobilisA noble man
- mulier nobilisA noble woman
- sanguis nobilisNoble bloodline
- generosa prosapiaA noble ancestry
- actio honestaA noble deed
- virtutes honestaeNoble virtues
- honestus animoA person of noble character
- tu magnus esYou are noble
- vir egregiusA truly noble person
- Marcus nōbilis est vir.Marcus is a noble man.
- Hic est nōbilis gestus.This is a noble gesture.
Example conversation
Marcus and Lucia are discussing a respected leader.
- MarcusEstne ille rex nōbilis?Is that king noble?
- LuciaIta, Lucia dicit eum esse nōbilem.Yes, Lucia says that he is noble.
- MarcusOmnes eum laudant.Everyone praises him.
- LuciaIustum est laudare nōbilem virum.It is right to praise a noble man.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noble” translations and entries pulcher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pulcher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
