What is the Latin word for attention?

The usual Latin words for “attention” are intentiō, audiō, dīligō; also studium, officium, animadversiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“attention” in Latin

intentiōstrain, tension; increase, augmentation; exertion, effort audiōto hear, listen to; to attend, pay attention to; to accept, agree with, obey dīligōto esteem, prize, love, have regard, to delight in (something); to set apart by choosing, to single (something) out, to studiumstudy; eagerness, zeal; desire, fancy officiumduty, service, office; obligation, an obligatory service, visit, or gesture; kindness, favor, courtesy animadversiōobservation, notice, perception; investigation, inquiry; criticism, reproach

The English word attention itself goes back to Latin tendō, through attentio.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

attention

attentio animi (Cic., De Or., 2, 35, 150): more commonly intentio (both, the steady direction of the thoughts toward an object): audientia (attention to a speaker; for which also intentio is used): diligentia (careful attention to a task, etc.: opposed to indiligentia): studium: officium: officium et cultus (obliging attention to a person). Attention to any thing, observatio alicujus rei (act of observing it): to one’s self, animadversio (Cic, De Off, 1, 29, 103). To procure attention to one’s self (of a speaker), sibi or orationi suae audientiam facere: the attention of an audience, auditores sibi facere attentos: to keep or rivet any body’s attention, aures alicujus tenere. To direct one’s attention to anything; to pay attention to anything, animum attendere, advertere ad aliciuid; animum intendere, animum defigere et intendere in (seldom ad) aliquid; tenere animum attentum, referre animum ad aliquid; cognitationem intendere ad rem; operam dare alicui rei (e.g., to a play, fabulae). To be paying great attention, to anything, acriter animum intendere ad aliquid. To call anybody’s attention to somethinsr (that he might otherwise forget or omit), monure aliquem with ut. To call or draw any body’s attention to one’s self, convertere aliquem or alicujus animum in or ad se: to attract attention, conspici (absolute): conspicuum esse: by anything, aliqua re (of things and persons that strike one by their unusual appearance). To draw people’s attention to anybody, aliquem conspicuum facere. Anything occupies the attention of men, aliquid occupat cogitationes hominum. To pay attention to a person, observare aliquem: colere et observare aliquem (Cic.): officium et cultum alicui tribuere: adesse animo: erigere mentem auresque (to prick up one’s ears and attend to a speaker): marked attention, aliquem praeter ceteros or perofficiose observare: diligenter observare et colere aliquem: signiticare studium erga aliquem non mediocre: marked and affectionate attention, perofficiose et peramanter observare aliquem (Cic.).

“With attention.” Vid: ATTENTIVELY.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for attention?: The usual Latin words for “attention” are intentiō, audiō, dīligō; also studium, officium, animadversiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.