What is the Latin word for kindness?

The usual Latin words for “kindness” are benignitās, hūmānitās, cōmitās; also clēmentia, lēniō, indulgeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“kindness” in Latin

benignitāskindness, benevolence, friendliness, courtesy; liberality, bounty, favor; lenity, mercy hūmānitāshumaneness, humane conduct, philanthropy, benevolence, kindliness; courtesy, politeness, good manners, social grace; ref cōmitāspoliteness, courtesy; kindness, kindliness; friendliness, affability clēmentiamercy, clemency; gentleness, mildness; clemency, mildness (of climate or the weather)lēniōto soften, soothe; to mollify, assuage, appease, pacify indulgeōto be kind or courteous (to); to be inclined (to); give free rein (to); to give oneself up (to); to be addicted (to), in beneficentiabeneficence, kindness līberālitāsfrankness, affability; generosity, liberality

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

kindness

benignitas animi: benignitas (kind disposition, which also, manifests itself by actions): humanitas (philanthropic, well-wishing feeling, which shows itself in behavior toward others): comitas (complaisance, courteousness, friendliness): clementia: lenitas (gentle, merciful disposition; Vid: GRACE): indulgentia (sparing and indulgent behavior): beneficentia (goodness, beneficence, mildness): liberalitas (kindness shown in acts of liberality). To show a kindness to anybody, alicui benigne facere: to show much kindness to anybody, plurimum benignitatis in aliquem conferre: to have enjoyed much kindness from anybody, magna alicujus liberalitate usum esse: to treat anybody with kindness, benigne or comiter aliquem tractare; leni ingenio esse in aliquem: in kindness, bona cum gratia (as Ter., Phorm., 4, 3, 17); cum gratia (as Ter., Andr., 2, 5, 11); or per bonam gratiam (as Plaut., Mil., 4, 3, 33): to admonish anybody in kindness, amice admonere aliquem: to do a kindness to anybody, alicui benigne facere. Will you have the kindness? Vid: GOODNESS.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for kindness?: The usual Latin words for “kindness” are benignitās, hūmānitās, cōmitās; also clēmentia, lēniō, indulgeō. 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.