- For the Wikipedia mottos' elections see Wikipedia:Mottos' Committee.
A motto is a phrase or a short list of words meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. Many countries, cities, universities, and other institutions have mottos, as do families with coats of arms.
Mottos are traditionally written in Latin or Romance languages, as well as in English or German. There are many exceptions: Fraternities and sororities typically have their (ususally secret) mottos in the Greek language; in modern heraldry, for example, the mottos of the State of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii are in Hawaiian, and the motto of Nunavut is in Inuktitut, while in England the motto of the County of Somerset is written in Anglo-Saxon.
A canting motto is one that contains wordplay. For example, the motto of the Earl of Onslow is Festina lente, punningly interpreting on-slow (literally "hurry slowly").
In heraldry, a motto is often depicted in an achievement of arms, typically on a scroll below the shield, or else above the crest as in Scots heraldry.
In musical usage, a motto is a melodic section larger than a motif and may appear at the beginning and often just before the end of a musical composition.
Motto may also refer to a short quotation, joke, or an anecdotal message printed on a piece of paper inside a Christmas cracker.
Ships and submarines in the Royal Navy each have a crest and motto, as do units of the Royal Air Force.
Lists of mottos
See also
