What is the Latin word for change?

The usual Latin words for “change” are mūtō, commūtō, immūtō; also novō, variō, invertō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“change” in Latin

mūtōto move, remove; to alter, change, modify, transform; to vary, diversify commūtōto change or alter entirely; modify, correct, reform, transform; to decay, spoil, rot; to exchange something with anothe immūtōto change, alter, transform novōto make new, renew, refresh; to alter, change variōto diversify, variegate, change, transform, make different or various, alter, vary, interchange; to be diversified or va invertōto turn upside-down, over or around, invert, upset; to change, pervert, turn into the opposite; to exchange, alter, tran permūtōto change or alter throughout or completely, transform; to interchange or exchange something for another, swap; exchange vicischange; alternation; interchange; time; instance; season vicissitūdōchange, interchange, alternation, vicissitude varietāsdifference, diversity, variety

The English word change itself goes back to Latin cambium, through cambiāre.

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

change

TR., mutare: commutare: immutare: novare: variare: invertere [SYN. in ALTER]: permutare (exchange; e.g., names with each other, nomina inter se): one’s clothes, vestes mutare (vestem mutare = to put on mourning). To change money, pecuniam permutare: a denarius for 16 asses, denarium sedecim assibus permutare: horses, mutare jumenta (in travelling): one’s horse, in recentem equum ex fesso transsultare (in riding, Liv.): what is once done can’t be changed, factum infectum fieri non potest: an opinion, judicium animi mutare (Sall.): one’s mode of life, flectere vitam (Cic.); vitam moresque mutare: one’s plan or purpose, institutorum mutadonem facere; consilium mutare: one’s residence, commutare domicilium; in aliam migrare domum. Vid: More under ALTER. INTR., mutari: commutari: immutari: variare: inverti [SYN. in ALTER.] To change and change about, alternare (cum aliquo): the weather changes, tempestas variat Vid: More under ALTER.

change s.

vicis: vices: vicissitudo: vicissitudines: varietas: commutatio. [SYN. in ALTERATION.] Change of the times, vicissitudo or varietas temporum: of day and night, vicissitudines dierum noctiumque, vicissitudines diurnae nocturnaeque: of the seasons, ricissitudines anniversariae; commutationes temporum quadripartitae (the four seasons). Every hing is subject to change, omnium rerum est vicissitudo (Ter.). Changes of fortune, fortunae vicissitudo: in all the changes of my fortune, in omni rerum mearum varietate: to experience a change of fortune, alteram fortunam esperiri. To give anybody change for money, pecuniam permutare (cum aliquo): a small or trifling change, minuta, imbecille Cic..) immutatio: inversio: a great one, magna: frequent changes, mutationes crebrae: a change of plan, mutatio consilii: of character, pursuits. etc., commutatio morum, studiorum: change of the weather, permutatio tempestatis: varietas caeli (variableness or variation of the weather). change of times or circumstances, conversio rerum: inclinatio, conversio temporum; permutatio temporum. To desire political changes, novis rebus studere: res novas quaerere: desirous of political changes, rerum novarum cupidus: rerum mutationis avidus (Cic.): we shall make this change the more easily if we are favored by circumstances, eam mutationem, si tempera adjuvabunt, facilius commodiusque faciemus: to plan or meditate a change, moliri mutationem: to suffer change, mutationem habere: to effect or cause a change in anything, mutationem afferre alicui rei: a change is taking place in anything, fit alicujus rei mutatio, commutatio; mutatur, immutatur aliquid: just as if no change of affairs were possible, proinde ac si nulla commutatio rerum accidere posset (Caes.): to make a gradual change in anything, sensim pedetentimque facere mutationem alicujus rei (“pedententimque”; paulatim mutare aliquid): to make a slight change in anything, leviter mutare aliquid: a wonderful change has taken place, in men’s opinions, mirum in modum conversae sunt omnium mentes (Caes.). Every thing is subject to change, omnium rerum vicissitudo est.

Change (place where merchants meet), basilica.

Changes, small coins, numuli.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for change?: The usual Latin words for “change” are mūtō, commūtō, immūtō; also novō, variō, invertō. 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.