English → Latin
“citizen” in Latin
cīviscitizen; a subject (i.e., a person subject to a ruler)oppidānustown; provincialtogātuswearing a togaplēbēiusplebeian, of or from the plebs; of the common people or populace, vulgar; mean, lowpāgānusof or pertaining to the countryside, rural, rustic; rustic, unlearned; pagan, heathencīvitāscitizenship and its rights; often referring to Roman citizenship.; the state, body politic, citizens of a territory (colplēbsplebeians, plebs, common people; populace, population, stock; laity, congregation, parishcīvīliscivic, civil (of or pertaining to citizens); public, political (of or pertaining to public or political life); courteouscommūniscommon, commonplace, ordinary, general, universal, shared, shared alike, of both sides, belonging to two or more togethe
The English word citizen itself goes back to Latin cīvis, through civitas.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
citizen
civis (who has the rights of citizenship; opposed to peregrinus): oppidanus, incola urbis (the inhabitant of a city, townsman; opposed to vicanus, a villager): togatus (the citizen in his robe of peace; opposed to paludatus or miles, the warrior): plebeius, homo ignobilis (one of the commonalty; opposed to patricius or vir nobilis): paganus (a common citizen; often opposed to soldiers, Plin., etc) The citizens, civitas, cives; plebs, plebeii (opposed to the nobles): oppidani: incolae urbis; pagani. CITIZEN LIKE, civilis (becoming a citizen, affable, etc): civilis, communis, popularis (usual in common life): plebeius.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for citizen?
- The usual Latin words for “citizen” are cīvis, oppidānus, togātus; also plēbēius, pāgānus, cīvitās. 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.