What is the Latin word for pains?

The usual Latin words for “pains” are opus, labor, contentiō; also industria, cōnor, studium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“pains” in Latin

opuswork, labor, accomplishment; workmanship, artwork, work (of art, literature, etc.); need, necessity laborwork; labor, toil, exertion; hardship, trouble, fatigue, suffering, drudgery, distress contentiōstretching, tension; competition, rivalry; struggle, effort industriaenergetic activity, industry, application, diligence; purposefulness, purpose cōnorto try, attempt studiumstudy; eagerness, zeal; desire, fancy nāvōto do or accomplish enthusiastically; to pursue a course of action with zeal nītorto bear or rest upon something, lean on; to be supported by; to rely on; to trust; to be based on; to press forward, adv ēnītorto bear, give birth; to strive, struggle; to climb, ascend

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

pains

opera; labor (labor): contentio (exertion): industria (unwearied exertion): conatus, -ūs (effort): studium (. zeal). (The words are found in this connection and order.) conatus studiumque; opera et studium. To take pains, operam dare or navare; niti, eniti (to strive, exert one’s self): laborare, elaborare (to labor upon anything). (The words are found in this connection and order.) eniti et efficere, eniti et contendere, contendere et laborare (all usually followed by ut); intendere (to attempt with exertion; followed by an infinitive): to take very great pains, omnibus viribus contendere; omnibus nervis conniti; omni ope atque opera eniti (all followed by ut, etc.): to take pains to no purpose, operam, operam et oleum, perdere; frustra niti: to take pains on anybody’s behalf, niti pro aliquo; alicui opeam praestare or dicare: to take pains about anything, anquirere aliquid (to look carefully for): sequi, persequi (to strive or endeavor after): studere, operam dare or navare alicui rei (to make an effort for the attainment of anything).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for pains?: The usual Latin words for “pains” are opus, labor, contentiō; also industria, cōnor, studium. 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.