What is the motto of Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books?

The motto of Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books is “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus.”

The Latin phrase translates as “Never tickle a sleeping dragon.” It appears on the Hogwarts coat of arms and expresses the school’s playful but cautionary attitude toward magic. The motto is especially memorable because it is more humorous than the solemn mottos often associated with real schools.

Hogwarts is the fictional Scottish boarding school where Harry Potter and many other young witches and wizards receive magical education. Its four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, each with its own colors, emblem, and associations.

The phrase is sometimes shortened incorrectly or rendered with different Latin spelling. The canonical wording uses “Draco,” “dormiens,” “nunquam,” and “titillandus.” Because the motto is a phrase rather than a character or title, preserving the complete wording gives the most precise answer.