fortitudo

Fortitudo is a Latin noun meaning courage, bravery, or fortitude. It derives from fortis, meaning strong, and in English is usually rendered as “fortitude.” The term appears across Latin literature and later moral and theological writings to denote both physical bravery and moral resilience.

In classical and early Christian contexts, fortitudo is a central idea in virtue discourse. It is often treated as one of the four cardinal virtues, alongside prudentia (prudence), iustitia (justice), and temperantia (temperance). As a virtue, fortitudo covers steadfastness under danger, perseverance in hardship, and the capacity to act rightly despite fear, combining moral conviction with courage in action.

In modern usage, fortitudo is discussed in translations of virtue ethics and in theological treatises as the Latin counterpart to the English “fortitude.” The term also survives in contemporary culture as a proper name or motto for organizations and institutions. In Italy, several sports clubs and other entities adopt Fortitudo in their names to evoke courage and resilience, with Fortitudo Bologna being among the more recognizable examples.

Related terms include virtus, a broader Latin concept often translated as “virtue” or “manliness,” and the English word fortitude, which preserves the same core sense of resolute courage and endurance.