Praeferre Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet.

English translation: It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

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Latin term or phrase:	Praeferre Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet.
English translation:	It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.
Entered by:	SeiTT

14:40 Sep 4, 2012

Latin to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - History / Historical Mottoes

Latin term or phrase: Praeferre Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet.

Hi

I believe the above is Melilla's motto.

Please could you give a literal translation too so I can see how the Latin works?

Best

Si

SeiTT KudoZ activity Questions: 3738 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United Kingdom
Local time: 03:54

It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

Explanation:
This is the literal translation, but it can be rendered less literally: a parent should/ought to place his fatherland above his children/family, for example.

Decet=It is right, proper; it behooves + accusative (parentem -father/parent)

Then, with praeferre, accusative (thing preferred) over another (in the dative case).
Liberis is dative plural of liber (child)

The phrase does not express the idea of "funeral rites" or "tomb" at all.

Selected response from:

Ladda McLaren
Local time: 21:54

Grading comment

Many thanks, perfect!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +6

It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

Ladda McLaren

3 -1

It is right to prefer a free country[fatherland] to preforming rites at a family tomb

Rebecca Garber

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

It is right to prefer a free country[fatherland] to preforming rites at a family tomb

Explanation:
Literally: to give preference to .. a country .. free .. before performing rites at [family] tombs .. it is fitting/seemly/proper

So colloquially, death of family members is an acceptable cost to maintaining a free country.

There are also a number of somewhat literal, rather awkward translations available on the web.

Rebecca Garber
Local time: 22:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

4 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

Ladda McLaren
Local time: 21:54
Native speaker of:

Croatian,

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Many thanks, perfect!

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Praeferre Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet.

English translation: It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

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Praeferre Patriam Liberis Parentem Decet.

English translation: It is right for/it behooves a parent to place his fatherland above his children.

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