What is the Latin word for physical?

The usual Latin words for “physical” are nātūra, corpus, physicus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“physical” in Latin

nātūrathe nature, quality, substance or essence of a thing; character, temperament, inclination, disposition; nature, the natu corpusbody, person (person when used to mean "human body", e.g., "on one's person"); substance, material (physical, perceptibl physicusOf or pertaining to natural philosophy or physics; physical, natural.

The English word physical itself goes back to Latin physica, through physicālis.

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

physical

must be expressed by the genitive, naturae (relating to nature), or corporis (relating to the body): ☞ physicus (adverb, physice) means “relating to natural philosophy”: physical evil, mala naturae; mala quae natura habet (in general): vitia corporis (of the body): physical strength, vires corporis.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for physical?: The usual Latin words for “physical” are nātūra, corpus, physicus. 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.