How to Say “What Is Truth?” in Latin

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quid est veritas?
[ˈkʷɪd ˈɛst ˈweː.rɪ.taːs]word by word
The English phrase "what is truth?" is translated into Latin as quid est veritas?
This phrase is used to pose a philosophical question regarding the definition or the fundamental nature of truth. It relies on the interrogative pronoun Quid (what) and the noun veritas (truth).

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of quid (what), est (is) and veritas (truth).

Which one should you use?

Quae est veritas? is a formal alternative.

How does it change in a sentence?

The word veritas is a feminine singular noun in the nominative case.

Did you know?

  • The phrase quid est veritas? is famously attributed to Pontius Pilate during the trial of Jesus in the Gospel of John.
  • In Latin, the word est can mean both 'is' and 'eats', depending on the context of the sentence.

Examples in context

  • Socrates interrogat: quid est veritas?
    Socrates asks: what is truth?
  • In hoc libro scriptum est, quid est veritas?
    In this book it is written, what is truth?

Example conversation

Two students are discussing philosophy in a library.

  1. Quintus

    Aurelia, quid est veritas?
    Aurelia, what is truth?
  2. Aurelia

    Id est difficile definire, Quinte.
    That is difficult to define, Quintus.
  3. Quintus

    Sed quid est veritas pro te?
    But what is truth for you?
  4. Aurelia

    Veritas est lux mentis.
    Truth is the light of the mind.

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (quid, est, veritas) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, quid, veritas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Hannah Carly
Hannah CarlyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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