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Who said tattoos can only be in the form of drawings or symbols? A lot of tattoo designs consist of words and phrases that are as beautiful to the eye as the most intricate ink painting. Word tattoos are as powerful as any other image you might want to put on your skin. And come to think of it, letters are also symbols, so if you are thinking of getting a word or a phrase tattoo, go for it!
Meaningful word tattoos can convey a lot of things: a name, a place, or a saying that turned your life around. When looking for ideas for word tattoos, make sure it is about you and not some random word or expression. Even if it sounds very wise, if it has no connection to your life, its uniqueness will be wasted.
One big pitfall when getting word tattoos is opting for a foreign language you don’t read or understand. The script tattoo may look aesthetically pleasing, but the meaning could be pure gibberish or even something rude or problematic. That’s why, try to stick to the language you actually understand and can verify.
Are you considering getting a word tattoo but can’t decide what to ink in? We’re glad you asked! Scroll down to find some amazing word tattoo ideas that might inspire you or help you make a choice for your own ink art. Do you have word tattoos of your own? Show us what they say in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
The Passport Stamp From The Day My Mom Adopted Me From China. Done By Jeremiah Klein Of Iron Lotus Tattoo In Iowa
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#2
My First Tattoo Done By Chloe White At City Roots Tattoos In Michigan
#3
My First Tolkien Tattoo
#4
Birds
C. Morales 2 years ago
Is this from a book or other work? ( I don't recognize the quote and curious about it's origin)
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#5
My Dad Passed Last Month. I Got His Handwriting From The Last Birthday Card He Gave Me
Michelle McCarson 2 years ago
So sorry for your loss. LOVE this tattoo idea...gives me an idea, so thank you for that
#6
Surviving Is The New Art Form
#7
Electricity Kills, Done By Nick Dancy At Dancy And Daughters In Aarhus, Denmark
Lori Rommel 2 years ago
And they even make electric knives! Doubly deadly!
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No Ragrets Hobbitses, By Heather Hay, Utopia Body Arts, Aberdeen, Scotland
#9
Its My Birthday In Book Terms And I Had So Much Fun Working With Gina From Twisted Tattoos In Milwaukee, WI
#10
Lazy Jane By Shel Silverstein! Done By Rodney Taylor At Golden Spiral Tattoo In Greensboro, Nc
CheshirePhrogg 2 years ago
This has made me smile so hard. Such fond memories of that book as a kid and seeing the way the words were made to be art as much as the illustrations
A Wild Bean 2 years ago
Same here, my favorite poem from that book was Magic :)
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#11
Slaughterhouse-Five Quote (Original Artwork By Nemanja Bogdanov) By Adrienne Alexander At Crimson Empire Tattoos
#12
Fully Healed Quote From Grendel By John Gardner
#13
This Quote Hit Close To Home, So I Got It Tattooed
Yi-Seul Shin 2 years ago
Oh, one of the best phrases said in all of the "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power". It was the phrase Mara(the previous She-Ra) said to Adora(the current She-Ra) in the last episode of the last season if I'm not mistaken. Adora was such a self-sacrificing character, thought that all everyone wanted out of her was She-Ra and not Adora herself, and that she only had value when she did things for others. Never having value just for being herself. This is self-love at it's best.
#14
Take Her
#15
Eat Cheese And Sin, By Reuben Garcia At Zodiac Lines In Grand Rapids, Michigan
#16
The Solution
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
I wonder if anyone has ever got one that said “Constant Constipation” but some of the letters drop out and the new message is “I Love You”?
#17
Latest Addition To The Pun Leg
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
LOVE! Its like Zara the Squid's baby cousin if her cousin was an octopus. Also I love the suitcase, too❤️
#18
I Love Ridiculous Things By Sarah Main Street Tattoo Greenville, SC
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
If you die from being electrified by a toaster in the bathtub, would you be burned or what? What happens?
#19
Chaos, Order
Sunny Day 2 years ago
Chaos? It's my nephews middle name. (Literally. Poor kid.)
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Hope
#21
Very Serious Tattoo By Bryan At Solid Gold Tattoo In Elmont, NY
#22
New Toy Story Tattoo Done By Torri Lauterbach At Heart Of Gold Tattoo In Old Colorado City, Colorado
#23
My First Tattoo, Quote From Famous Last Words By MCR, Done By Gavin Mckee At Clear Vision Tattoos In Moorpark, California
#24
Charming, If A Little Gauche. Done By Krista Jones At Red Raven In Utica, NY
#25
My Favorite Quote From Chernobyl. Done By Max Meano, Max Meano Tattoo Allentown, PA
#26
If Not Now Then When
#27
Remember
#28
Arrested Development Quote Tattoo By Jenn Small Of 510 Expert Tattoo, Charlotte, NC
A Wild Bean 2 years ago
"I never met someone who thinks so much like me- jinx- jinx again!" (Dammit now it's stuck in my head lol)
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Elizabeth Levin (ElizaMaow) 2 years ago
🎶Hey! That's what I was gonna say! Our mental synchronization, can have but one explanation, you and I were just meant to beeee!🎶
#29
Two-Headed Calf Tattoo Based On A Poem That I Love! Done By Greg Anderson At Exposed Temptations Tattoo In Manassas, Virginia
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
I remember someone on BP saying cows are the cutest animals by far(truth) and now we have DOUBLE the cuteness!!!!!😍
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Like sheep, cows are incredibly cute when young. And at the point where they stop being cute they start being delicious.
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#30
Just Got My First Tattoo
#31
A Map And Quote Done By Boston Rogoz, Living Canvas Tattoo, Tempe, AZ
Hope Cows&Chickens 2 years ago
And Japan. And Taiwan. And apparently Borneo and Philippines are one in the same. Still looks pretty cool to me.
#32
Dune Quote. Thanks To Zachary Ripley At Mr Tattoo In Milwaukie, OR
#33
Part Of The Quote Done By 'Q' At Southtown Tattoo In Fort Smith, Ar
#34
One More Night
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
One more drink...one more post... one more video... one more page... one more cat... one more cookie... etc.
#35
Cannot Be Taken
CheshirePhrogg 2 years ago
But it can be given. I hope you have some one or several to give love and joy to
#36
Adventure
#37
I Got My First Tattoo And It Made Me Cry. Done By Adam At Paparazzi Tattoo In Niles Michigan
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
Weird question, but when babies exit the birthing thing, is it wet, watery, or both? And how do they get the ambilical cord(did I spell that right?) out of you, is it cut out or something? Asking for a friend
Jen Hart 2 years ago
The uterus continues to contract after the baby is out. Those contractions will detatch the placenta with its umbilical cord, then the placenta exits the body. I only had one child, but the placenta plopped out whole with one push. Having worked with medical charts for 20+ years though, I've read that sometimes the doc or midwife has to reach in and retrieve pieces if the placenta isn't whole, or that they have to gently pull the cord to try and detatch the placenta if it's not coming out after a certain amount of time.
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#38
Combining My Passion For Computers With A Great Quote
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Did someone pee in your orange juice today? I hope it's just a bad day, because your comments are a little bit mean.
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Imperfect
#41
My Hitchhiker's Guide Tattoo
Pride Bean️ 2 years ago
That's so disrespectful to joke about a serial killer that killed and sexually assaulted many people and has terrorised their families.
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Thigh Patch Done By Nigel Ingersoll At Sindicate Tattoo In Gaylord, Mi (Fresh)
Raymond Pobiak 2 years ago (edited)
Well said. Plus, a tattoo never looked so hurtful as where those stitches appear to enter the skin.
Robyn 2 years ago
It’s “you buy a man a fish, he eats for a day. You teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.”
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Love, Hate
#44
Poem Sleeves
Raymond Pobiak 2 years ago
Perhaps he should have just written that on a piece of paper and kept it in his wallet.
#45
First Ink,The Dark Tower Quote. Done By Vinnie Peachy At Marc's Tattooing In Wilkes-Barre, PA
Deborah Beck 2 years ago
The Dark Tower series leaves a literal and literary impression on those who read it
#46
Roman Gladius Sword And Cheryl Strayed Quote By Fran Hartnett, Skin City Tattoo, Dublin, Ireland
#47
Quote Done By Mary From Pure Thirteen In Memphis, TN
#49
Bright And Pretty
#54
Sunrise
Magpie 2 years ago
Rye is really nice in the summer. The sun will love it!
Load More Replies... Raymond Pobiak 2 years ago
And while a person spends a long time staring at this and trying to figure it out her accomplice is stealing their wallet.
#55
Bowles Quote A Long-Time Design Idea. My Very First Tattoo, By Eddie Molina At Rebel Muse In Lewisville, TX
#56
Tulip With Dutch Word For Love Done By Kelly From Grindhouse Tattoo In York, PA
#57
Love Me More
#58
Coralline Quote Tattoo On The Lower Thigh
Rwby Couch 2 years ago (edited)
Woah is your leg okay? Did you hurt it?(I Like the tat, I was just wondering)
River Daski 2 years ago
looks like it's just the excess ink that hasnt been washed off the surface of the skin yet, it's that fresh of a tattoo
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#60
Handpoked Handwritten Script By Me From Bruised Pickle Dystopia, Singapore
#61
Strong
Rwby Couch 2 years ago
I've got a muffin tummy, but I can still consider myself as strong right?
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
Absolutely. Emotional strength is a thing.
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#62
These Words By Ogwone At Ag Studio In Izmir, Turkey
#63
Love
TK 421 2 years ago
Forgive my ignorance on the subject. I have to ask. Why do people get a tattoo that is presumably very personal and meaningful to them in a place that they are likely to never see without considerable effort?
Newo Ikkin 2 years ago
Honestly you forget you have tattoos. They become such a part of you that it stops being a thing you are actively aware of. To me, it's more about getting them than having them - the act itself is dedication to the message.
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#64
Flower And Quote By Keely Thurman At SLC Ink In UT. I Absolutely Love It !
#66
Made Of Chrome
#67
Quiet
#68
Avril Lavigne Tattoos Done Today By Klee At Nala Tattoo In Tamworth, UK
#69
Uncharted Quote And Dagger By Harryl At Skull And Lotus Tattoo In Calgary, Canada
#70
Sisterhood
River Daski 2 years ago (edited)
that script is beautiful and the art is amazingly well done, but ..it definitely doesnt look like it says "sisterhood". if that's what it's supposed to say, based on the title. 😅
#74
Soar
#75
Rise Again
#76
“Death’s Door” Credit To Reuben Garcia At Zodiac Lines In Grand Rapids, Mi
#77
My 4th And Latest Tattoo By Harish At Skindeep Tattoo Studio, Bangalore. Polish Word Spokój - Means Serenity, Calm
#78
Moving In Circles Spiral Tat By Xanthian At Occulo Visitanr Gallery In Oneonta, NY
#81
Mob Psycho Tattoo By Jack Cordwell At Black Kraken Tattoo In Manchester, UK
Laura E Shook 2 years ago
This is what I found on it. I’m still confused. 🤔 The Psycho Helmet Cult is a fanatical group that was seeking out Mob under the assumption that he is a god. https://mob-psycho-100.fandom.com/wiki/Psycho_Helmet_Cult
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#83
Done By Devin At Master Lines Tattoo Studio In Slippery Rock, PA
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Well, do with either hand, just don't get the hands mixed up when you're holding the gun.
Amanda Turner 2 years ago
That’s why u don’t drink with the shootin hand: when u reach for ur gun, ur shootin hand is already free!
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New York
#85
No Big Deal
#89
Super Fresh Kurt Cobain Doodle Done At Tried And True Tattoo, In Cape Girardeau, MO
#90
Gilda Radner Quote: “Delicious Ambiguity” Stone The Crow In Rockville, MD
#93
Colorful Lettering
Erica Klohr 2 years ago
I can't quite make it out. Not wearing my glasses. Does it say "antithesis?" "Albatross?" Am I anywhere close?
#98
Fine Line
kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago
“que seja cifnito tengo aquito que my faz bem” Rough translation from Spanish would be “that something something I have what something something.”
Mr_E1 & Co. 2 years ago
It says "que seja infinito tudo aquilo que nos faz bem". It's Portuguese and it roughly translates to "let it be infinite everything that do us good" (English is not my native language so sorry for any mistake).
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#100
Life Is Nangman
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What do you think ?
Jamie Mcdonald 2 years ago
I met a kid once with a Tat that said "Angels" on his forearm, but when he flipped his arm so it was upside down the tattoo said "demons" it was pretty sick.
Diana Novoa 2 years ago
Half of these beautiful tattoos will fade in less than 5 years... So sad.
Jamie Mcdonald 2 years ago
I met a kid once with a Tat that said "Angels" on his forearm, but when he flipped his arm so it was upside down the tattoo said "demons" it was pretty sick.
Diana Novoa 2 years ago
Half of these beautiful tattoos will fade in less than 5 years... So sad.
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