confiteor
[kõːˈfɪ.te.ɔr]
confiteor is the Latin term for the Confiteor, a prayer of confession used in the Catholic Mass.
In English, one refers to the prayer as 'the Confiteor', but in Latin, the single word confiteor is often used to name the prayer itself. Within the text of the prayer, you may encounter the phrase Deo omnipotenti, which means 'to God Almighty'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word confiteor is a first-person singular verb meaning 'I confess'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb confiteor is in the present tense, which indicates a continuous or habitual action of confession.
Did you know?
- The word confiteor shares a deep linguistic ancestry with the English word 'fate', stemming from the same root that implies something that must be acknowledged or accepted.
- In a traditional Catholic Mass, the confiteor is often accompanied by the gesture of striking the breast. This physical act symbolizes the internal sorrow and repentance expressed by the words.
- The verb confiteor is closely related to the English word 'confide', as both originate from the Latin idea of trusting or acknowledging something to another.
Examples in context
- Ego confiteor Deo omnipotenti et vobis, fratres (et tibi, pater), quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, opere et omissione: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed, and omission: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
- Confiteor est oratio penitentiae.The confiteor is a prayer of penance.
Example conversation
Claudia and Quintus are preparing for a Latin mass.
- ClaudiaQuinte, visne recitare confiteor?Quintus, do you want to recite the confiteor?
- QuintusIta, Claudia, libenter recito.Yes, Claudia, I will recite it gladly.
- ClaudiaTunc incipiamus precem nunc.Then let us begin the prayer now.
- QuintusSum paratus ad orandum.I am ready to pray.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry confiteor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries confiteor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
