Illegitimi Non Carborundum - Variants

Variants

There are many variants of the phrase, such as

• Nil illegitimi carborundum
• Non illegitimis carborundum
• Illegitimi nil carborundum
• Nil bastardo carborundum
• Nolite te bastardes carborundorum
• Nil carborundum ab illegitimati
• Illegitimis non carborundum
• Nil illegitimo in desperandum carborundum
• Nil carborundum illegitamae
• Nolite Illegitimos Conterere Vos
• Non carborundum bastardum

None of these variants is 'legitimate' Latin anymore than the original. Carborundum is a noun and not a gerundive of any verb (although it does look like a gerundive). Also the bastard in Latin is spurius (another Latin word for bastard is nothus, but it is very uncommon. The two most common variations translate as follows: illegitimi non carborundum = the unlawful are not carbon silicate, illegitimis non carborundum = the unlawful don't have carbon silicate.

"Bastards" is often used in English as a generic derogatory term, not necessarily relating to the marital status of one's parents.