What is the Latin word for moment?

The usual Latin words for “moment” are mōmentum, hōra, tempus; also pungō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“moment” in Latin

mōmentummovement, motion, impulse; course; change, revolution, movement, disturbance; particle, part, point hōrahour; time; o'clock tempusa time (a portion or period of time); time; the kairos, right time, due season, due time, proper time, appointed time, o pungōto prick; to puncture; to sting

The English word moment itself goes back to Latin mōmentum.

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

moment

PROP., Weight, influence, turn, momentum:

Figuratively, Weight, importance, momentum: it is a thing of moment, res habet momentum (Cic.): to consider of little moment, levi momenta aestimare.

The most minute space of time, punctum temporis; momentum temporis or horae (= in Cic., the decisive or important minute, ῥοπή; but also = moment, Livy, is tumultus momenta temporis sedatur, Liv., 21, 33, etc. Pliny makes momentum = minute, longer than punctum temporis): tempus (general term, a point of time): in a moment, puncto or momento temporis; in vestigio temporis: for a moment, paullisper (e.g., mane paullisper): it is over in a moment, fit ad punctum temporis: often in a single moment the circumstances of the times are greatly changed, minimis momentis maximae inclinationes temporum fiunt: not even a moment, ne minimam partem temporis: every moment, in omni puncto temporis; nullo temporis puncto intermisso; omnibus minimis temporum punctis: at the moment of departure, sub ipsa profectione (Vid: Herzog, Hir., B.G., 8, 49): there is not a moment to lose. res non habet moram: to the moment, ad tempus (venire, adesse): for the present moment, in praesens (tempus): in praesentia (opposed to in posterum): a favorable moment, tempus opportunum; temporis opportunitas or occasio: to seize the favorable moment, tempori or temporis occasioni non deesse: in the last moments (of life), extremo spiritu; in ipsa morte: timid in the moment of danger, in re praesenti pavidus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for moment?: The usual Latin words for “moment” are mōmentum, hōra, tempus; also pungō. 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.