What is the Latin word for ghost?

The usual Latin words for “ghost” are spectrum, mānus, lemurēs; also edō, efflō, ēmittō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“ghost” in Latin

spectrumappearance, image; apparition, specter, phantom; spectrum (band of light arranged in order by wavelength)mānusgood lemurēsshades, ghosts of the departed; ghosts, spectres edōto eat efflōto breathe out, exhale ēmittōto send forth, emit, discharge; to hurl, cast; to let forth, let go, send out dēpōnōto lay, set, put or place aside or away; deposit; to resign, get rid of, give up; to wager, stake, bet

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

ghost

spectrum (denotes the apparition of a departed spirit, as a supernatural appearance): mostellum (diminutive from monstrum, as a horrible apparition): manes (as the apparition of a good spirit): lemures (as that of a hobgoblin). Anybody’s ghost walks, non manes ejus conquiescunt viri (Liv., 21, 10; ☞ Liv., 3, 58, extr.). To believe in ghosts [Vid: to BELIEVE in].

To give up the ghost, animam agere, edere, efflare (Cic.), emittere, deponere (Nep.); extremum vitae spiritum edere (Cic.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for ghost?: The usual Latin words for “ghost” are spectrum, mānus, lemurēs; also edō, efflō, ēmittō. 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.