Parabellum

Parabellum is derived from the Latin phrase para bellum, part of the motto Si vis pacem, parabellum, meaning "If you want peace, prepare for war." The single word Parabellum is commonly used as a name or descriptor in military, firearms, and cultural contexts, signaling deterrence and readiness for conflict.

In firearms and ammunition, Parabellum is best known as the designation of the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. Designed by Georg Luger in the early 20th century and adopted by the German Army in 1908 alongside the Pistole Parabellum, the 9mm Parabellum has become one of the most widely used pistol cartridges worldwide. The cartridge name is frequently shortened to Parabellum in catalogs and discussions of pistols and submachine guns chambered for it.

In popular culture, Parabellum appears in the title of the 2019 action film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, reinforcing associations with combat and readiness. The term also figures in various other media and commercial branding, typically invoking a martial or tactical tone.

See also Si vis pacem, para bellum, the fuller Latin maxim from which Parabellum is derived.