What is the Latin word for cell?

The usual Latin words for “cell” are cella, cubiculum, cavus; also loculus, lŏcŭlāmentum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“cell” in Latin

cellaa small room, a hut, storeroom; a barn, granary; the part of a temple where the image of a god stood; altar, sanctuary, cubiculumsmall bedroom; bedchamber cavushollow, hollowed out, cavernous, concave; excavated, channeled; vain, empty loculusA small place; coffin; manger, stall lŏcŭlāmentuma case, box, receptacle

The English word cell itself goes back to Latin cella.

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

cell

cella (small chamber; especially for servants and slaves; also of bees): cubiculum (sleeping-chamber): cavum (hole): loculus: loculamentum (pigeon-hole, or other division of a bureau, etc.; e.g.; loculata arcula, a chest fitted up with pigeon-holes, etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for cell?: The usual Latin words for “cell” are cella, cubiculum, cavus; also loculus, lŏcŭlāmentum. 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.