What is the Latin word for effort?

The usual Latin words for “effort” are contentiō, intentiō, labor; also cōnor, nītor, ēnītor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“effort” in Latin

contentiōstretching, tension; competition, rivalry; struggle, effort intentiōstrain, tension; increase, augmentation; exertion, effort laborwork; labor, toil, exertion; hardship, trouble, fatigue, suffering, drudgery, distress cōnorto try, attempt nītorto bear or rest upon something, lean on; to be supported by; to rely on; to trust; to be based on; to press forward, adv ēnītorto bear, give birth; to strive, struggle; to climb, ascend impetusan attack, an assault, a charge; a rapid motion; impulse, vehemence, ardor, passion vīsstrength; might; vigor; capability (physical)

The English word effort itself goes back to Latin ex, through *exfortiō.

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

effort

contentio: intentio (as action): labor: conatus: (The words are found in this connection and order.) conatus studiumque. To make efforts, niti: conniti: eniti; vain efforts, inanes contentiones or impetus: superfluous or immoderate efforts, effusa contentio: to make great efforts, vires or nervos intendere, or contendere; a very great effort, omni ope atque opera eniti; in anything, acerrime agere aliquid; obnixe facere aliquid: to make immense efforts, contendere et laborare; omni ope atque opera eniti (ut, etc.): to require great efforts, positum esse in labore: to direct all one’s thoughts and efforts to anything, omnem cogitationem ac mentem figere in aliqua re; totum animum atque curam ponere in aliqua re; ad rem omni ferri cogitatione; totum et mente et animo in rem insistere: to make efforts useless, conatum infringere: to make efforts above one’s strength, se supra vires extendere: to make vain efforts, inanes impetus facere; in any matter, frustra conari aliquid: to make efforts above one’s years, praeter aetatem facere: with effort, contente: with great effort, enixe: obnixe: with the greatest efforts, manibus pedibusque: not without the greatest efforts, non sine summa industria.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for effort?: The usual Latin words for “effort” are contentiō, intentiō, labor; also cōnor, nītor, ēnītor. 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.