What Is The English Translation Of The Latin - Dona Nobis Pacem?

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17 Answers

Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Dona means "to give (or donate)" like when you make a donation (Dona in Italian means gives).
Nobis means "to us"  (noi in Italian)
Pacem means "peace" (a form of pax - exactly the same in Italian)
"Give us peace"
Ellie Hoe Profile
Ellie Hoe answered
Dona Nobis Pacem is a Latin phrase and in English it means "Give Us Peace" or "offering us peace". There are many sites which are giving free translation services but mostly do word to word translation. On different translation sites you will find Dona Nobis Pacem translated as "Votive offering Us Pacem" in English.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
It's based on Psalm 113:9 in St. Jerome's Latin version of the Bible, the Vulgate:
'non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam'

The corresponding verse in the King James Version is Psalm 115:1
'Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.'

The film version is by Patrick Doyle who composed the music and rearranged the words slightly. I believe Patrick Doyle's voice is also on the soundtrack. Note that 'nomini' has been changed to 'nomine' but that doesn't affect the meaning. They are alternative versions of the dative case in the third declension.

The words in the film version are:
Non nobis Domine Domine
Non nobis Domine
Sed nomine sed nomine
Tuo da gloriam

I would translate that as:
Not to us, O Lord, O Lord,
Not to us, O Lord,
But to your name, but to your name
Give glory.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
It means grant us peace
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
Either or, From person to Person the wordage might change slightly but the over all meaning or understanding is "Give us Peace" "Grant us Peace"
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
This is a request of God (in the Catholic context), and it is properly translated "GRANT us peace."
Suhail Ajmal Profile
Suhail Ajmal answered
The translation of Dona Nobis Pacem in English is 'Votive offering Us Pacem' . 'Pacem' doesn't have any change in Latin and English.
thanked the writer.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
That's real helpful, Zuhail. NOT.

Wikipedia and my Catholic friend tell me it means literally "Give us Peace". My only question is I know Dona in Italiano and Don~a (pronounced Donya) in Espanol mean lady, the feminine of Don like Don Corleone. So I'm wondering if it's Give us Peace or literally "Lady, Give us Peace (presumably referring to Mary since it's Catholic).
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Dona is from do, dare (or something like that ha ha) - to give. Nobis literally means "to us" and Pacem is from pax, pacis - peace.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Give us peace is absolutely right.

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