This Latin term literally means "higher, above". Some experts indicate that this answer contained connotations of seeing oneself again in the cathedral of Santiago or, if that was not possible, finding oneself higher, in heaven. There are even hypotheses that say it was a pilgrim synonym for Hallelujah.

I have a tattoo on my left arm of a poppy and the word, ultreïa. This word was first seen in a 12th-century guide about how to walk the Camino, and it is believed to mean, “Go further!”

Translated loosely it means “forward and upward” and serves to encourage and motivate the pilgrim. It is believed that in ancient times when pilgrims passed each other on the Camino one pilgrim would call, “Ultreia” and the other would answer with “Suseia”. There is much speculation about the origins of these words.