6

I am designing some potential products for my organization, and I want to include a version that includes a tag line written in Latin of one of the our organizational values. The phrase I'm looking for a good translation for is:

Always Present, Never Seen

It's okay to rearrange the words in the phrase to identify the best translation and maintain the same meaning from the English version of the phrase. I've tried using Google Translate and several other translators with MANY various results. If possible I'd also like to keep the final phrase as short as possible, similar to how the phrase is now.

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer!

Improve this question
4
  • 2
    Good call on checking this place. Google translate does not translate well.
    – Nickimite
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 16:17
  • 1
    Does this refer to a person, people, a thing or more than one thing?
    – Expedito Bipes
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 16:40
  • It refers to an organization of people performing a service
    – Danny Morrison
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 17:14
  • Why would you want it in Latin? If you can’t translate it into Latin, I doubt many customers/members/whoever would be able to translate it from Latin—and if it’s incomprehensible, it kind of defeats the purpose, don’t you think?
    – gen-ℤ ready to perish
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 23:49

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
8

I would translate as follows. I put it in the plural form since it refers to an organization:

Praesentes semper, numquam conspecti

There are a lot of words that have to do with seeing, but I chose the word conspecti because the infinitive form has the meaning:

to attract attention, to be conspicuous, noticed, observed, distinguished, admired

Your team is always there to help, but without attracting attention.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    what about "numquam vidistis" or "non vidistis"? I'm looking for something to describe the people or the work as being not seen and in the background... there but no one knows its going on
    – Danny Morrison
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 17:53
  • @DannyMorrison. I updated my answer. The plural is in the participle as opposed to a verb form such as "vidistis", because "vidistis" refers to a the number of people seeing, and "conspecti" to the number of people seen.
    – Expedito Bipes
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 18:50
  • @DannyMorrison numquam vidistis means "y'all never saw", while non vidistis means "y'all did not see".
    – Figulus
    Commented Apr 25, 2020 at 22:25
  • 2
    I would use a chiasmus for a nice stylistic effect: Praesentes semper, numquam conspecti or the other way around.
    – Boiethios
    Commented Apr 28, 2020 at 7:18
3

There is already an excellent answer, but perhaps a different suggestion might still be welcome?

You could also phrase it as adsumus semper, numquam spectamur — we are always present, we are never observed.

adsum has the connotation of being helpful, which might be a nice touch.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.