What is the national motto of Canada?

The national motto of Canada is A Mari Usque Ad Mare, a Latin phrase meaning “from sea to sea.”

The motto appears on Canada’s coat of arms, which was formally approved in 1921 during the reign of King George V. Its wording reflects the country’s enormous east-to-west span and its Atlantic and Pacific coastlines; Canada also borders the Arctic Ocean.

The phrase comes from Psalm 72:8, traditionally translated in English as “He shall have dominion from sea to sea.” That biblical wording is also associated with the choice of “Dominion” as Canada’s original constitutional title. The motto is not the national anthem, “O Canada,” and it is not the motto of the Order of Canada, which is Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam, meaning “They desire a better country.”

A small Latin detail sometimes causes confusion: “mari” and “mare” have different endings because the words follow different grammatical constructions. Capitalization may vary, but the canonical wording remains A Mari Usque Ad Mare.