What is the Latin word for merry?

The usual Latin words for “merry” are hilaris, laetus, gaudium; also hilarō, exhilarō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“merry” in Latin

hilarischeerful, lively, light-hearted, merry, jovial laetushappy, cheerful, glad; fertile, luxuriant, lush, rich gaudiumjoy, delight hilarōto gladden, cheer, make cheerful exhilarōto gladden, cheer; to rejoice, delight, exhilarate; to revive, rekindle

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

merry

hilaris; hilarus; laetus; gaudio or laetitia affectus; laetitia plenus; gaudio perfusus; laetitia gestiens: to be merry, hilarari, laetitia affici (Cic.); exhilarari (Col.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for merry?: The usual Latin words for “merry” are hilaris, laetus, gaudium; also hilarō, exhilarō. 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.