Sumus Victores ("We Are the Champions" in Latin)
Paideia Institute·February 1, 2018
[Editor’s note: This version, one of the best translations by the redoubtable Luke Henderson, Latin teacher at Santa Monica High School, has become a standard at Living Latin events. Once learned it is just as easy and rewarding to sing as the English version.]
SUMUS VICTORES (“WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS”) [1977 Freddie Mercury; trans. Lucas Henderson]
Mea in me recepta sunt;
pœnæ meæ datæ sunt.
at innocens sic passus sum
quosdam errores laboresque nec nondum
[chorus]
sumus victores, amici,
pugnabimus usque ad finem.
sumus victores, sumus victores.
væ victis ipsis,
victores nos sumus — hodie.
fábula hæc acta hic est.
fortúna mihi quam máxime favet, et finis sic est.
victóriam non sine magno
atque ópere atque labóre adéptus ego.
[chorus]
sumus victores, amici,
pugnabimus usque ad finem.
sumus victores, sumus victores.
væ victis ipsis,
victores nos sumus — hodie.