What is the Latin word for equal?

The usual Latin words for “equal” are pār, aequus, aequālis; also parilis, compār, similis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“equal” in Latin

pāreven (of a number); equal; like aequusequal; level, even, flat, horizontal; calm aequālisequal, like; comparable, contemporary; coeval, coexistent parilisequal, like compārequal; similar, comparable similissimilar to, like, resembling, of the same kind, the same as īdemthe same geminustwinborn, twin; double, paired, two, twofold, both, half-and-half; resembling, similar, like

The English word equal itself goes back to Latin aequus, through aequālis.

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

equal s.

An equal, par (opposed to superior or inferior).

equal

aequus (of persons and things that are equally balanced; also having the component parts alike; opposed to varius, Cic., Verr., 5, 49): par (like some other thing, and composed of the same material with it; opposed to superior and inferior. In aequo marte is where the battle between two parties is considered as a whole; in pari marte is where the fortune of one party is set against that of the other. It denotes similarity with respect to magnitude, power, and value; or equality and proportion with regard to number, like ἴσος) :aequalis (equal in interior qualities, age, rank, worth, like ὄμοιος): parilis (nearly like, as a middle step between par and similis): compar (mutually equal). Sometimes similis, idem, geminus, as in par est avaritia, similis improbitas, eadem impudentia, gemina audacia. (The words are found in this connection and order.) aequus et par; aequalis et par; par et aequalis; par et similis; par atque idem; par atque unus. Equal intervals, intervalla aequalia (absolutely equal), intervalla paria (proportionately equal; standing in the same proportion to each other; Hirt., B. Afr., 59; Caes., B.G., 1, 51; 7, 23). Equal to one another, inter se aequales. Not equal, dispar: impar [SYN. in UNEQUAL]. Equal rights, jura paria; jus aequum et par (jus aequabile relates to the equal administration of the law). To possess equal rights with the citizens, aequo et pari jure cum civibus vivere. To divide into twelve equal parts, in duodecim partes aequaliter dividere: of equal strength with anybody, par alicui; non inferior aliquo. My equals, aequi et pares (in rank, power, etc.); homines mei similes, or homines nostrae farinae (the latter in Persius; such men as I am); homines mei ordinis (of my station). To have no equal in anything, aliqua re parem habere neminem: omnibus antecellere aliqua re: omnes antecedere (praecedere, etc.) aliqua re. Not to endure an equal, neminem secum dignitate exaequari velle. Equal proportions of (in prescriptions), par modus (e.g., ejus emplastri et mellis, Cels.). A and B must be mixed in equal proportions, par modus τοῦ A et B miscendus est (Cels.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for equal?: The usual Latin words for “equal” are pār, aequus, aequālis; also parilis, compār, similis. 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.