What is the Latin word for kernel?

The usual Latin words for “kernel” are nucleus, ōs, lignum; also grānum, medulla, sēmen. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“kernel” in Latin

nucleus(small) nut; kernel; core ōsmouth; (in general) head or face; (in general) facial features, countenance, appearance lignumfirewood; wood tissue; tree grānumgrain, seed, small kernel medullabone marrow; as the subjective location of the intense inner physical sensation of a heightened emotion, such as erotic sēmenseed (of plants); semen; graft

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

kernel

nucleus (of fruits, whether large or small, eatable or not): os: lignum (the hard part of a fruit, as distinguished from the flesh or soft part): granum (little hard kernel of corn, small grapes, etc.): medulla (eatable part of the kernel, whether of fruits or corn): semen (kernel as seed).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for kernel?: The usual Latin words for “kernel” are nucleus, ōs, lignum; also grānum, medulla, sēmen. 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.