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Q: Translation from english to latin ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Translation from english to latin
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: marcusaraleus-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 29 Nov 2006 23:27 PST
Expires: 29 Dec 2006 23:27 PST
Question ID: 786898
I am really in need of translating the phrase "Only the Strong Survive"
into Latin as I am going to get it tattooed onto my back in less then
2 weeks! and I really want to be sure that I've got it right! What
I've put together is "Solum ille Fortis Superare" but please correct
me if it is wrong!
Answer  
Subject: Re: Translation from english to latin
Answered By: juggler-ga on 30 Nov 2006 00:45 PST
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hello.
The best translation is probably:

"Fortes soli superstites sunt."

See:
online dictionary - "Fortes soli superstites sunt -	only the strong survive."
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Latin/Fortes+soli+superstites+sunt
Also see: Proz.com - translations
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/189437

Breaking it down:
fortis, forte	/ fortes (adjective, plural) - strong
http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romevd/html/vocabf.html
solus, sola, soli (adj, plural) - only, alone
superstes, superstitis / superstites (n., plural) - survivors
sum, esse - is / sunt (v. plural) - are
http://www.classicsunveiled.com/romevd/html/vocabs.html

Also see: 
Cambridge Latin:
 "superstes esse -  to live on"
http://latinagaudium.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!DAC226E755B2C73B!337.entry

Thus, it's acceptable to translate "fortes soli superstites sunt" as 
"only the strong are survivors" or "only the strong survive."

Best of luck with the tattoo!

Request for Answer Clarification by marcusaraleus-ga on 09 Dec 2006 23:28 PST
I talked to a latin proffesor for a local college and she said "fortes
soli supersunt" does this work too? I think it does and I'm getting
the tattoo on tuesday so I'm a little pressed for time, Sorry :)

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 10 Dec 2006 01:50 PST
Yes, that's an acceptable alternate translation!  

As mentioned above, "superstes esse" may be translated as "to
survive." In my translation, the third person plural form becomes
"superstites sunt."

The professor is correct that the verb "superesse" may also be
translated as "to survive."  In the professor's translation, the third
person plural form becomes "supersunt."

Here's an example of usage similar to the professor's...

"Only the holy books survive"
 "soli sacri libri supersunt "
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22only+the+holy+books%22++%22soli+sacri+libri+supersunt+%22&btnG=Search

Again, best of luck with the tattoo!
marcusaraleus-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars
Thank you for your reply. I got the tattoo yesterday and it looks awsome!!You ROCK!

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