What is the Latin word for awful?

The usual Latin words for “awful” are quīnque, pavidus, paveō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“awful” in Latin

quīnquefive; 5 pavidustrembling, quaking, fearful, terrified, alarmed; timid, timorous, shy paveōto be struck with fear, to be afraid or terrified; tremble or quake with fear; to fear, dread or be terrified by

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

awful

by circumlocution with verbs under AWE, v.

Feeling awe; the nearest are venerabundus (of persons): pavidus, pavens (trembling: of persons or things). ☞ Sometimes other adjectives may be substituted; as, “an awful catastrophe,” funestus or luctuosus rerum exitus, etc.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for awful?: The usual Latin words for “awful” are quīnque, pavidus, paveō. 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.