What is the Latin word for mud?

The usual Latin words for “mud” are lutum, caenum, līmus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“mud” in Latin

lutumsoil, dirt, mire, mud; loam, clay caenumdirt, filth, mud, mire līmusmud, slime, muck; feces within the bowels; filth, pollution

The English word mud itself goes back to Latin modius.

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

mud

lutum (mud consisting of loosened earth and water): coenum (dirt, filth; with the idea of impurity and disagreeableness): limus (of a river, etc.): to roll in the mud, volvi in coeno: covered with mud, oblitus coeno.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for mud?: The usual Latin words for “mud” are lutum, caenum, līmus. 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.