What is the Latin word for exotic?

The usual Latin words for “exotic” are externus, peregrīnus, ineō; also arbor, exōticus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“exotic” in Latin

externusoutward, external; foreign, alien, exotic, strange peregrīnusforeign, alien; exotic ineōto enter, go into; to begin; to have sexual intercourse arbora tree; something made from a tree, of wood; the polypus (imagined to have arms like the branches of a tree)exōticusforeign, exotic

The English word exotic itself goes back to Latin exōticus.

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

exotic

externus (e.g., externae arbores, Plin., 14, init.): peregrinus (e.g., arbores, Plin., 15, 13, 12): ☞ exoticus only Plaut.; e.g., exoticum, an outlandish dress; Epid., 2, 2, 48.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for exotic?: The usual Latin words for “exotic” are externus, peregrīnus, ineō; also arbor, exōticus. 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.