Luna
If a picture of a fleeting moment is worth a thousand words, a well-worded (and permanent!) tattoo design speaks at the highest volume. Illustrations aren’t everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to body art. Some are more inclined towards elegant wording and meaningful phrases as tattoos. Plus, simple letter tattoos can be placed in visible areas for daily reminders of sentiment, inspiration, and strength. While there are no rules to body inscriptions—or any body art, for that matter—there are some tips to ensure that you’re inking a statement worthy of repeating, over and over again.
“Do your research on other word/phrase tattoos online to see how these look on other people,” says tattoo artist, Dillon Forte. “The color of the ink, the length of the word(s), the style of design, and the lettering all determine how it will ultimately look. You may have a phrase you are totally psyched on, but sketched out as a tattoo [it] may be underwhelming.”
Keep scrolling for more advice on getting inked with words, plus 60 tattoo ideas.
Clever Case
Clever placement can create a fun interplay between words, as with influencer and Byrdie contributor Alyssa Coscarelli’s “try/not try” ink on opposite forearms. Because the body shifts and changes shape over time, you may want to place your word or phrase tattoo somewhere that’s less likely to experience variations due to weight fluctuations or aging.
Side of the Neck Script
Tiny, fine line tattoos on the side of the neck are hotter than ever thanks to major inspo from Hailey Bieber. We love this dainty, red ink rendition.
Storybook Prose
Incorporating words into a design can totally change or amplify the meaning. Here, a dessert illustration by Mira Mariah gets a winking nod to Alice in Wonderland with the addition of “eat me.”
Bold Type
The inner wrist and forearm can be a great place for a word or phrase tattoo that you want to serve as a reminder to yourself, rather than a message to others, like this Post Malone lyric inked by the artist Ghinko.
Hidden Ink
Word tattoos can also go between the fingers for a truly subtle placement. Due to all the bones in your hands, this can be a more painful place to get inked, so keep that in mind.
Behind the Ear Script
Tuck a word or phrase behind the ear, like with this elegant script by artist Joanna M. Roman. “I think the number one rule [of word tattoos] is to think of something that’s meaningful to you and will survive time (i.e. I strongly discourage your partner’s name),” says Jeremie Lahmi, the founder of tattoo care brand People of Substance.
Single Letter Glory
You can always go super minimalist with a single meaningful letter, like Selena Gomez has done with the lower-case cursive “g” behind her left ear.
Floral Cursive
Tattoo artist, Ghinko, turns the word here (the client’s mother’s name) into an elegant stem for a gorgeous flower illustration, giving us another great example of how to weave the words into the design.
Worded Cuff
If the phrase is long enough, you can mimic this unique garter-esque placement that travels around the upper thigh. “If you aren’t sure where to put the tattoo or what the font or style should be, go hang out on some tattoo websites or Instagram for a bit to get inspired,” Forte suggests.
One-Word Gothic
While the edgy scalp placement might not be for everyone, a single word in Gothic font like makeup artist, Mei Pang’s, “heartthrob” is high-impact.
Collarbone Crest
Have a favorite phrase or nickname you’d like to selectively show off? Get it inked along the curve of the collarbone for a sweet spotlight.
Poetry Snippet
Poetry can be a great source of inspiration for timeless word tattoos. This upper thigh ink by Mira Mariah is from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot.
Upper Hip Motto
Keep your tattoo fairly private with a clever upper hip placement. Lettering tattoos are very different from portrait and picture design pieces, so take your time to find an artist that really specializes in the form of art.
Vertical Placement
A non-intuitive placement can add interest to a relatively simple tattoo, like this vertical phrase rendered in loose script font. Forte recommends asking your artist for suggestions if you’re unsure where to put your tattoo or how to orient it. “Just like with clothing, it comes down to your taste and style,” he says.
Handwritten Memento
Add a layer of meaning to a word or phrase tattoo by asking your tattoo artist to mimic the handwriting of a loved one.
Shoulder Blade Stanza
The shoulder blades are prime real estate for a longer quote or a poetry stanza. If you need to go larger in scale, be prepared to either shorten your phrase or change the placement. Nothing is worse than a tattoo that can’t be understood, so make sure your words fit and are large enough.
Music and Lyrics
A unique way to display song lyrics is to get the sheet music for the appropriate bars tattooed onto your body along with the words as the pair did here with, “All You Need is Love.”
Split Syllables
You can split a single word or phrase between body parts, which works especially well here, as the word “pray” is completed when the hands are pressed together in a prayer position.
Save the Date
A year or date can be shorthand for a whole host of memories. Tattoos this small can go just about anywhere on the body.
Inner Ear Ink
The inner ear sure is a unique place for a tattoo (and a pretty painful one, too). Like Miley Cyrus demonstrates with “Love” inked along her cartilage ridge, this location works best for a single word or initials.
Triple Threat
Sometimes the best way to bring the message home is to repeat it three times, like on this empowering tattoo.
Behind the Neck Text
The back of the neck is another interesting place for a word tattoo, and if you have long hair, you can pick and choose when to show it off. The downside is that it’s tough to see your own ink.
Pet Portrait
Honor a beloved pet with a detailed portrait accompanied by their name. For an accurate likeness, be sure to bring a photo of the subject to your tattoo appointment.
Crossword Lettering
For an alliterative phrase, try a crossword-style placement that encourages different interpretations. We love the red and black color scheme.
Upper Back Musings
Evan Rachel Wood’s curved tattoo is an Edgar Allen Poe quote. “Not every tattoo needs a story, but I’m a strong believer that if there is a particular meaning behind it, it will age better,” Lahmi says.
Overlapping Designs
If you’re the type to want lots of different tattoos, don’t be afraid to experiment with placement that intersects, like this floral design that overlaps the classic faded text.
Rainbow Lettering
Gradient rainbow lettering is a great example of how you can use color to make a simple script tattoo more playful. Aftercare is essential for keeping ink vivid. “Every artist has their own sets of recommendations, but they all agree that the first few days after getting your tattoo are critical. You should only apply a little ointment for your skin to breathe for the first five to 10 days, and you must avoid the sun for a few weeks,” Lahmi advises.
Above the Elbow
A brief, all-caps phrase like Zara Larsson’s “lush life” works well above the elbow. The lettering is large enough that you don’t need to be up close to read it.
Say It With Love
A simple cursive message encapsulated by a heart creates a cute play on words with this simple tattoo. Speaking of self-love, “the key to a good looking tattoo throughout time is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! It’s simple but often forgotten.”
Down the Hand
This is a really unique way to style a hand tattoo, with the letters traveling from the middle of the hand down one finger in a vertical orientation.
Distinctive Cursive
Sometimes you may prioritize an artist’s distinctive style over anything else. Mira Mariah of Girl Knew York has an instantly recognizable vibe whether she’s inking a brief phrase or a complex line drawing.
Wraparound Wording
The longer the phrase, the more space you will likely need. Shannica Ewart’s ink flows elegantly from her chest onto her upper arm and looks beautiful over a strapless neckline.
Matching Text
Matching tattoos with a partner or friend can be risky, but one way to do it well is to choose a phrase or design meaningful (or funny) to you both, rather than getting each other’s names. Put it somewhere subtle, like the underside of a finger.
Mixed Media
Different styles of lettering are blended into this geometric sleeve design. “If you have a tattoo artist in mind, plan ahead and get a few words or phrases together and work on it together before making a final decision,” Forte says.
Never-Ending Circle
Encourage repetition with a circular stick-and-poke that uses a basic text font to create a powerful message.
Crossed Out
Clever cross-outs create the opportunity to read this ink several ways. Word or phrase tattoos can be extremely playful and left up to interpretation by the reader when choosing fun design elements.
Continued Cursive
For more matching ink inspiration, consider splitting a phrase or quote, like the lyrics to “You Are My Sunshine” seen here, between yourself and your tattoo partner. “Of course never settle and make sure the word or phrase is something of deep meaning and not something you could regret 10 years down the road,” Forte notes.
Bracelet Ink
Influencer, Chiara Ferragni’s ink (courtesy of tattoo artist, Dr. Woo), reads “Kiss Kill Kiss,” which is thought to be a reference to what a rollercoaster it is to be in love. Beyond the message, we can’t get enough of her bracelet-like placement, which fits in perfectly with the rest of her arm candy.
Ribcage Reads
The ribs leave plenty of room if you’ve got a phrase several lines long or it’s an equally divine location for phrasing that’s short and sweet. Keep in mind that this can be an especially painful location, depending on your body and your pain tolerance. Anywhere with bones closer to the surface of your skin will likely hurt more during the tattoo process.
Upside-Down
While all tattoos are personal, upside-down ink really sends the message that these words are primarily a reminder to the wearer.
Divided Definitions
One word—in this case, “fearless”—is divided up by the figure of a woman diving in this beautiful piece by the artist Mani. It’s such a clever take on the word tattoo trend, blending illustration and lettering.
Brush Strokes
Paint-like brush strokes, perfected here, are a unique take on font and lettering, especially with the words overlaid atop one another.
Note to Self
While some choose to argue that tattoos are a message to the world, others have a much more intimate relationship with their ink. We love the sentiment of scattering tiny, personal messages or just one much-needed expression on your skin—to you, from you.
Talk to the Hand
Short and sweet, back of the hand designs communicate a quiet conviction. With a placement this powerful, few words are needed.
Sentimental Signature
Memorial tattoos traditionally take the form of portraits, but if font is more your style a replica of a loved one’s signature makes for a stunning option.
Lettered Numbers
We can’t get enough of this creative design that merges letters and numbers into one. If you have trouble deciding between highlighting a significant number or expressing a meaningful message, this tattoo idea has you covered on all bases.
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