LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“national” in Latin

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

national
gentis proprius (peculiar to a nation, Tac., Germ., 10, 3): domesticus (opposed to externus, adventicius; e.g., mos): ☞ popularis (of the mass; e.g., Cic., De Orat., 1, 23, 108: sensus popularis, of the great mass; not = national talent: carmen populare, common among the people). It is national, est gentis proprium (peculiar to this people): gentis est insigne (a characteristic of this people; Tac., Germ., 38, 2: both with an infinitive): national character, *ingenium alicujus nationis proprium; civitatis, populi alicujus, mores: national guard, cives evocati, qui excubias in urbe militum vice agunt (after Suet., Galb., 10): national hatred, odium gentile: national debt, *aes alienum publice apud cives contractum: national talent, *ingenium alicujus gentis or alicujus populi proprium (☞ not sensus popularis; Vid: above): national custom, mos alicujus gentis proprius (peculiar to a nation; after Tac., Germ., 10, 3); mos domesticus (a native, domestic custom): it is a national custom, est gentis proprium (with an infinitive): national pride, *nimia domesticorum, admiratio: to possess national pride, *prae sua gente alias contemnere: a national temple, templum, quo omnes alicujus gentes nationes conveniunt: national dress, mos vestis proprius gentis (mos vestis, Justinus, 1, 2, 3): national assembly, *conventus, quo omnes civitates legatos mittunt (☞ comitia = an assembly for an election): it is a national trait to, etc., est gentis proprium (with an infinitive; Tac., Germ., 10, 3).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for national?
The usual Latin words for “national” are domesticus, adventīcius, mōs; also cīvitās. 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.