What is the Latin word for dance?

The usual Latin words for “dance” are saltō, moveō, tripudiō; also commodus, puer, īnfāns. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“dance” in Latin

saltōto dance, jump; to portray or represent in a dance, pantomime moveōto move, stir, set in motion; to disturb, shake, remove; to arouse, excite, promote, produce tripudiōto dance, caper etc.commoduscomfortable, commodious, suitable, useful, convenient, becoming; opportune, timely, tidy; pleasant, friendly puera child; chit; a boy, lad (typically between ages 7-14 but could be younger) (older than an īnfāns but younger than an a īnfānsspeechless, inarticulate; newborn; childish, foolish saltātiōThe act of dancing.; A dance, saltation.chorēaA dance in a ring, round dance.; A round dance of the circular motions of the stars.

The English word dance itself goes back to Latin dantiāre, through *dantiāre.

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

dance

saltare (general term): se movere or moveri: se ad numerum movere (to move the limbs in accordance with time, as in the stately minuet): tripudiare (of a religious dance; and figuratively for joy): to know how to dance, saltare scire: to learn to dance, or dancing, saltare discere: to be taught to dance by anybody, ab aliquo saltare doceri: to dance well, commode or eleganter saltare: to dance in a ring, orbem saltatorium versare: to dance to music, ad symphoniae cantum saltare; ad symphoniae cantum saltatione quadam moveri (but only of balanced motions like dancing; e.g., of dancers on horseback, Plin., 8, 42, 64). To dance on the tight rope, per funem extentum ire (Hor.) [Vid: ROPE.] To dance to anybody’s pipe, se totum ad alicujus nutum et voluntatem convertere (Cic.); totum se fingere et accommodare ad alicujus arbitrium et nutum (Cic.). To dance attendance [Vid: ATTENDANCE]. To dance for joy, exsultare ac tripudiare (Cic.); gaudio exsilire; gaudio or laetitia exsultare: a dancing-bear, *ursus, qui ad tibiarum cantum saltatione quadam moveri solet (Plin., 8, 42, 64).

dance

TR., To dance a child in one’s arms, *puerum, infantem, etc. in manus acceptum jactare: on one’s knees, *puerum genibus impositum jactare.

dance

saltatio; saltatus; saltandi ars: chorea (χορεία, a dance in a row with singing): orbis saltatorius (in a circle).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for dance?: The usual Latin words for “dance” are saltō, moveō, tripudiō; also commodus, puer, īnfāns. 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.