What is the Latin word for foreigner?

The usual Latin words for “foreigner” are externus, aliēnigena, peregrīnus; also hospes, barbarus, advena. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“foreigner” in Latin

externusoutward, external; foreign, alien, exotic, strange aliēnigenaforeign, alien peregrīnusforeign, alien; exotic hospeshost; guest, visitor; stranger, foreigner barbarusforeign, strange; savage, hostile; barbaric, barbarous, uncivilized advenaoutsider, foreigner, stranger, alien populārispopular (by, of or for the people); of the same people or country; native, indigenous

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

foreigner

externus (as belonging to or born in a foreign country; opposed to civis, popularis): alienigena: homo longinquus et alienigena (one born in a foreign country; opposed to indigena): peregrinus (PROP., any foreigner who, in travelling, stays with us a longer or shorter time, and has not the right of a citizen or inhabitant; then, one who dwells in the Roman territory without possessing the rights of Roman citizenship; and thus the political name for foreigner; opposed to civis): hospes (a foreigner as having a claim on the hospitality of the state or of some individual): barbarus (one that is not a Roman, who has not the Roman manners, customs, language, etc.; Vid: Daehne, Nep., Milt., 7, 1): advena (an emigrant from another country; opposed to indigena; but more directly to the aborigines, αὐτόχθονες). (The words are found in this connection and order.) externus et advena (e.g., rex): alienigena et externus; peregrinus et externus; peregrinus atque advena; peregrinus atque hospes. The dialect, pronunciation of foreigners (i. e., their way of speaking the Roman language), peregrinitas (Quint., 11, 3, 30).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for foreigner?: The usual Latin words for “foreigner” are externus, aliēnigena, peregrīnus; also hospes, barbarus, advena. 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.