What is the Latin word for dialogue?

The usual Latin words for “dialogue” are dialogus, sermō, dīverbium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“dialogue” in Latin

dialogusdiscussion, conversation, dialogue sermōa conversation, discussion; a rumor, diction, speech, talk, discourse; a language, manner of speaking dīverbiumdialogue, colloquy

The English word dialogue itself goes back to Latin dialogus.

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

dialogue

(α) (α) Philosophical, dialogus: sermo. To introduce anybody in a dialogue, aliquem in dialogum inducere (Cic.). To compose a dialogue, inducere sermonem hominum (after Cic., Att., 13, 19, 4). (β) In a play, sermones alterni (Hor.): diverbium (Liv. 7, 2): ☞ Never dialogus in this sense.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for dialogue?: The usual Latin words for “dialogue” are dialogus, sermō, dīverbium. 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.