memento mori: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, philosophical, academic, artistic
Quick answer
What does “memento mori” mean?
An object kept as a reminder of death.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An object kept as a reminder of death.
A reminder of human mortality and the transient nature of earthly life, often used in art, philosophy, or literature to encourage reflection on life's impermanence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in British academic discourse on art history and classical studies.
Connotations
Similar philosophical and artistic connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; appears primarily in educated/artistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “memento mori” in a Sentence
serve as + memento morifunction as + memento moribe + a memento mori + for someoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “memento mori” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The painting had a memento mori quality.
- His tone was memento mori in its solemnity.
American English
- The film had a memento mori theme.
- Her writing carries a memento mori sensibility.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically in leadership discussions about long-term thinking.
Academic
Common in art history, philosophy, literature, and classical studies.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly used by educated speakers in reflective contexts.
Technical
Specific term in art history for skulls/hourglasses in paintings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “memento mori”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “memento mori”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “memento mori”
- Spelling: 'momento mori' (incorrect, should be 'memento').
- Pronunciation: stressing the first syllable of 'mori' (should be MOr-i).
- Using as a verb: 'He memento moried me' (not a verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's primarily used in literary, artistic, philosophical, or academic contexts.
Yes, as 'memento moris' or more traditionally 'mementos mori', though it's often treated as uncountable.
A skull, hourglass, extinguished candle, or wilting flower.
'Memento mori' focuses on remembering death to live meaningfully, while 'carpe diem' emphasizes seizing the present day for enjoyment.
An object kept as a reminder of death.
Memento mori is usually literary, philosophical, academic, artistic in register.
Memento mori: in British English it is pronounced /məˌmentəʊ ˈmɔːraɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˌmentoʊ ˈmɔːraɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “memento mori moment”
- “memento mori art”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MEMENTO = remember, MORI = mortality. Think: 'Remember mortality'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEATH IS A TEACHER, LIFE IS A JOURNEY ENDING IN DEATH
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'memento mori' most appropriately used?