What is the Latin word for learning?

The usual Latin words for “learning” are doctrīna, ērudītiō, disciplīna; also littera, hūmānitās. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“learning” in Latin

doctrīnateaching, instruction; learning, erudition; doctrine, theory ērudītiōThat which removes one from ignorance whether instruction, education or erudition, learning, knowledge disciplīnateaching, instruction, education; training; learning, knowledge, discipline, science, study litteraletter (of the alphabet); handwriting; letter, epistle hūmānitāshumaneness, humane conduct, philanthropy, benevolence, kindliness; courtesy, politeness, good manners, social grace; ref

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

learning

doctrina (general term as the quality of persons; also that which persons know, the thing itself): eruditio (as the property of persons, with reference to general knowledge; whereas doctrina refers rather to accurate and scientific attainments): disciplinae (single branches of 1earning, the sciences): litterae (learning, so far as it is derived from written sources): scientia litterarum or honestarum artium (knowledqe of books or litterary documents, of the fine arts; only subjectively, of the knowledge which a person possesses: ☞ It would not be good Latin to use scientia without these genitives of the object, nor to use scientiae for disciplinae: scientia means “knowledge,” and hence can never be used without something to render it more definite. In like manner, litteratura is bad Latin; it was used by the ancients only for “a writing with letters;” the signification of learning was attached to it from a false reading in Cic., Phil., 2, 45, 116; Vid: Orelii, N. cr.): humanitas (liberal education, so far as it relates to litterature and the sciences). Studies which presuppose varied learning, studia quae in quādam varietate litterarum versantur. Without any learning, omnis omnino eruditionis expers et ignarus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for learning?: The usual Latin words for “learning” are doctrīna, ērudītiō, disciplīna; also littera, hūmānitās. 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.