What does motto mean?
Word: Motto
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Motto means a short sentence or phrase that sums up the aims or beliefs of a person, school or group.
How do you spell motto?
Syllables: mot - to
Tricky part: The middle needs a double t; moto with one t is the usual mistake.
Watch out for: moto, mottoe
Memory tip: Picture two tall t's standing side by side like the two posts that hold up a school's motto banner.
Motto in a sentence
Example 1: Our cricket club's motto is 'Play hard, play fair'.
Example 2: Grandma's motto is simple: never waste food.
Example 3: Each house at our school has its own colour and motto.
Fun Fact
Motto was borrowed from Italian, where it meant a word or a witty saying, and it has been used in English since the 1500s.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. motto 2. anthum 3. embleme 4. mascott
a) a design or symbol that represents a group
b) a song sung to honour a country or group
c) a few words that a team or school tries to live by
d) an animal or figure chosen to stand for a team
Show answer
c) a few words that a team or school tries to live by. Mascot has one t and emblem ends in m, so the double t here belongs only to motto, the correctly spelt word.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
m_tt_
a) o, a
b) a, o
c) u, o
d) o, o
Show answer
d) o, o. The same vowel sits on both sides of the double t: o.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word motto as used in the sentence:
The school motto, 'Aim high', is painted in gold above the main gate.
a) signature
b) watchword
c) headline
d) uniform
Show answer
b) watchword. A watchword is a phrase that sums up what a group believes, which is exactly what a motto does.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
Our house team chose 'Never give up' as its otmot for sports day.
a) motto
b) motor
c) ditto
d) photo
Show answer
a) motto. The jumble has two t's, two o's and an m, with no r, p, h, d or i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is most likely to be a school's motto?
a) Gates close at 8 a.m.
b) Bus 12 leaves at 3 p.m.
c) Learn, serve, shine
d) Uniform shop open on Mondays
Show answer
c) Learn, serve, shine
2. The Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius, means ____.
a) Unity in diversity
b) Faster, higher, stronger
c) Knowledge is power
d) Service before self
Show answer
b) Faster, higher, stronger
