What is the Latin word for love?

The usual Latin words for “love” are amō, dīligō, soleō; also amor, libīdō, careō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“love” in Latin

amōto love; to be fond of, like, admire; to be pleased by or with (someone or something) for (a particular reason); to deri dīligōto esteem, prize, love, have regard, to delight in (something); to set apart by choosing, to single (something) out, to soleōto be accustomed, used to, in the habit of amorlove, affection, devotion (for a person, one's family, one's country); strong and passionate longing for something, desi libīdōdesire, fancy, inclination, longing, pleasure, caprice, passion, wantonness; lust, sensuality careōto lack, be without. (usually with ablative), to be deprived of; to be separated from pietāsdutiful conduct, sense of duty and responsibility; piety, conscientiousness, scrupulousness; duty, dutifulness, affectio benevolentiakindness studiumstudy; eagerness, zeal; desire, fancy voluntāswill, free will, choice; desire, inclination; disposition towards (something or someone)

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

love v.

amare (general term, out of mere impulse or passion, of persons or things; also absolutely): diligere (with esteem, as the result of reflection or moral approbation; to value or prize highly; of persons or things). (The words are found in this connection and order.) amare et diligere; diligere et amare; carum habere, caritate complecti (almost = diligere). (The words are found in this connection and order.) amare (or diligere) carumque habere; alicui studere, alicujus esse studiosum, aliquem benevolentia complecti (to feel an interest in anyone, to show favor or good-will): For amare the Latins use also the following circumlocutions: amorem erga qui habere, aliquem amore amplecti: prosequi (rather of tender affection); aliquem in amore habere, alicujus amore teneri, captum esse (rather of sexual love). To love anyone very much, aliquem singulari amore habere; aliquem mirifice diligere carurnque habere; aliquem eximia caritate diligere; aliquem in deliciis habere; aliquis mihi percarus est; aliquem in oculis gerere, gestare; aliquem in sinu geslare; summum me tenet alicujus studium: to love anyone above all others, aliquem unice diligere: to love passionately, alicujus amore ardere, flagrare, insanire (in erotic poetry, also, perire aliqua, mori alicujus amore; Vid: Lachmann, Propert., 2, 4, 2): to love heartily, ex animo amare: to love anyone as one’s own brother, aliquem amare ut alterum fratrem; aliquem in germani fratris loco diligere; ne frater quidem mihi carior est: as one’s own son, aliquem haud secus amare ac filium; aliquem patria caritate diligere: to love one another, amare inter se, diligere inter se (☞ “Nos [accusative] inter nos amamus is incorrect for inter nos amamus,” Krebs, Vid :, also, Hand, iii, p. 397: invicem or mutuo diligere is rare, and not Ciceronian; vicissim diligere has been formed by moderns from a passage misunderstood, Cic., Lael., 9, 30): to love learning, litterarum studiosum esse: to love the arts, artes amare: to love one’s country, patriam amare; patriae amore duci: to love liberty, libertatis amantem or studiosum esse: to love money, divitias amare; avarum or habendi cupidum esse (to be covetous).

Followed by an infinitive = to be accustomed, solere (with an infinitive; only in Graecizing poets and prose writers amare; or, in narrative, by the imperfect; e.g., after luncheon he loved to take a nap, post cibum meridianum paullum conquiescere solebat, or simply paullum conquiescebat).

love s.

Fond attachment, favor, amor (general term, and especially passionate attachment to persons or things, as distinguished from caritas): amor venereus, libido, amor libidinosus (unchaste love): caritas (love to a person who appears estimable or deserving of regard [of things, it is only applied to one’s country, home, etc., patriae, reipublicae (Cic.); sedium suarum, ipsius soli (Liv.)] the love of esteem; then, generally, any tender regard, not passionate; not like amor): pietas (dutiful affection, or religious feeling): benevolentia (kind feeling): studium, voluntas (interest felt for one, inclination in his favor). Love to anyone, amor in, erga or adversus aliquem; (where the context allows, also) amor alicujus; pietas, benevolentia, voluntas in or erga aliquem; studium in aliquem; studium alicujus: to declare one’s love (to a female), alicui narrare amorem suum: to be inflamed with love, alicujus amore incensum esse, ardere, flagrare: to gain the love of all, ab omnibus (or omnium) amorem sibi conciliare: to return love, alicui in amore respondere (☞ not redamare aliquem, an expression formed by Cic. and used only once, Lael., 14, 49, with ut ita dicam): amori, amore respondere: to have or possess the love of anyone, ab aliquo amari, diligi: out of, from, pure love, prae amore, ex amore; propter amorem or benevolentiam; amore impulsus, incitatus; amans (e.g., Plaut., Capt., 5, 4, 35): out of pure love to anything, ipsa aliqua re captus (Vid: Cic., Ecl., p. 125): to do anything out of love to a person, alicujus amori aliquid tribuere, dare, largiri: my love! mea lux! mea vita! meum mel!

Inclination, desire, amor, studium alicujus rei; e.g., virtutis: to have a love for anything, alicujus rei esse amantem, studiosum; alicujus rei studio teneri: to produce a love of anything, alicujus rei amorem excitare.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for love?: The usual Latin words for “love” are amō, dīligō, soleō; also amor, libīdō, careō. 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.