LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

caryophyllus

caryophyllus (feminine caryophylla, neuter caryophyllum)
Classical[ka.ry.ɔˈpʰyl.lʊs]Ecclesiastical[ka.ri.oˈfil.lus]

Meaning

  1. New LatinadjectiveResembling or associated with clove.
  2. New LatinadjectiveResembling or associated with the clove pink.

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativecaryophylluscaryophyllacaryophyllum
genitivecaryophyllīcaryophyllaecaryophyllī
dativecaryophyllōcaryophyllaecaryophyllō
accusativecaryophyllumcaryophyllamcaryophyllum
ablativecaryophyllōcaryophyllācaryophyllō
vocativecaryophyllecaryophyllacaryophyllum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativecaryophyllīcaryophyllaecaryophylla
genitivecaryophyllōrumcaryophyllārumcaryophyllōrum
dativecaryophyllīscaryophyllīscaryophyllīs
accusativecaryophyllōscaryophyllāscaryophylla
ablativecaryophyllīscaryophyllīscaryophyllīs
vocativecaryophyllīcaryophyllaecaryophylla

Origins

From Ancient Greek καρυόφυλλον (karuóphullon) reinterpreted as caryon / κάρυον (káruon, “a nut”) + phyllus / φύλλον (phúllon, “a leaf”). Applied by early botanists to the clove (Syzygium aromaticum), formerly Caryophyllus aromatica, and, by similarity of smell, to the clove pink (Dianthus caryophyllus). See Arabic قَرَنْفُل (qaranful) for the actual oriental origin of the word.

Descendants
  • Catalangirofle
  • Frenchgirofle
  • Englishgillyflowerfrom French girofle
  • Portuguesegiroflefrom French girofle
  • Italiancariofillene
  • Italiancariofillaceo
  • Italiancariofillata
  • Italiangarofano
  • Emiliangaròfen

In English words that came into English from caryophyllus

  • gillyflowercaryophyllum

Quick answers

What does caryophyllus mean in Latin?
caryophyllus, a adjective, means “Resembling or associated with clove.; Resembling or associated with the clove pink.”.
How do you pronounce caryophyllus?
In classical Latin, [ka.ry.ɔˈpʰyl.lʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ka.ri.oˈfil.lus].