S.P.Q.R.
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Latin
| Stands for | Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and People of Rome) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
S.P.Q.R. stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and People of Rome), a Latin abbreviation.
Served as the emblem of the ancient Roman state, inscribed on monuments, coins and military standards. It remains the motto of the modern city of Rome, stamped on manhole covers, fountains and municipal property.
Example: Tourists photograph the letters SPQR stamped on the iron manhole covers near the Pantheon.
Usage notes
The phrase presented sovereignty as resting jointly with the Senate and the citizen body; the suffix -que on Populus means "and." Mary Beard used the initials as the title of her 2015 history of ancient Rome. Italians joke that it means "Sono pazzi questi Romani" ("these Romans are crazy"), the Italian rendering of a catchphrase from the Asterix comics.
Related abbreviations
More Latin abbreviations
- q.v. – Quod vide (which see)
- QED – Quod erat demonstrandum (which was to be demonstrated)
- R.I.P. – Requiescat in pace (may he or she rest in peace)
- re – In re (in the matter of, regarding)
- s.l. – Sine loco (without place)
- s.n. – Sine nomine (without name)
- s.v. – Sub verbo (under the word)
- sc. – Scilicet (namely, that is to say)
- ult. – Ultimo mense (last month)
- v. – Versus
- viz. – Videlicet (namely)
- vs. – Versus (against)