What is the Latin word for flesh?

The usual Latin words for “flesh” are cārus, vīscus, pulpa; also corpus, carō, canīnus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“flesh” in Latin

cārusdear, beloved; costly, expensive, valued vīscusorgan (any internal organ of the body); entrails, viscera, bowels, internal organs; the innermost part of something, as pulpathe soft part of an animal's body; flesh; the fleshy part, pulp of fruit; the pith of wood corpusbody, person (person when used to mean "human body", e.g., "on one's person"); substance, material (physical, perceptibl carōflesh, meat of an animal; pulp of a fruit; soft part of a precious stone canīnuscanine; of or pertaining to a dog.

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

flesh s.

caro (general term, as opposed to to fat, muscles, nerves; on the body, or dressed as food; then, also, of the soft part of fruit): viscera, um, plur., (general term for everything under the skin in animals, the flesh, bones, etc.; Vid: Cic., N.D., 2, 63, extr.; boum visceribus vesci scelus habebatur): pulpa (rare; Cat., Mart.; eatable and savory flesh; opposed to bones): corpus (fleshy corporeal substance, as opposed to bones; ossa corpore operienda sunt; ossa corpori subjecta; also as opposed to animus). Stewed, boiled, etc., flesh. [Vid: MEAT.] A small piece of flesh, caruncula. In mentioning the flesh of animals, the Latins frequently in connection, omit caro, and say simply vitulina (the flesh of calves, veal), canina (the flesh of dogs, etc.). To have more flesh than muscle (or strength), carnis plus habere quam lacertorum (also, figuratively, of a ivriter’s style). It is considered a sin to eat flesh on a fast-day, jejunio indicto carnibus vesci scelus habetur (Cic., N.D., 2, 63, 159). Proud flesh (in a wound), caro supercrescens: to flesh it away, carnem supercrescentem exedere. To gain flesh, corpus facere: to lose flesh, corpus amittere (Cic.); corpus alicujus abiit (†): to turn to flesh, in corpus ire or obire (of articles of food).

METON. (a) My flesh and blood (i. e., my children, relations), viscera mea, plur., (Vid: Weber ad Juv., 3, 72, p. 160).

(b) (b) Flesh (opposed to Spirit), in the sense of the Bible (i. e., sensual desires), cupiditates or libidines (e.g., to live to the flesh, libidini et cupiditati parere). To indulge the lusts of the flesh, libidinibus se dare, dedere; voluptatibus servire or se tradere; totum se libidinibus or corporis voluptatibus dedere: to subdue the lusts of the flesh, cupiditatibus imperare; cupiditates coercere; libidines domitas habere.

flesh v.

To flesh his maiden sword, *primum bello gladium destringere or hostem manu fundere († ☞ Verg., Aen., 9, 590. Tum primum celerem intendisse sagittam Dicitur, etc.; fortemque manu fudisse Numanum).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for flesh?: The usual Latin words for “flesh” are cārus, vīscus, pulpa; also corpus, carō, canīnus. 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.