What is the Latin word for pigeon?

The usual Latin words for “pigeon” are columba, cŏlumbŭlus, palumbēs. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“pigeon” in Latin

columbadove, pigeon; a term of endearment cŏlumbŭlusa little dove palumbēsturtle dove, ring dove

The English word pigeon itself goes back to Latin pīpiō.

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

pigeon s.

columba, columbus; diminutive, columbula, columbulus (the smaller tame house-pigeon): palumbes, palumba, palumbus (the larger wood-pigeon): a young pigeon, pullus columbinus: to keep pigeons, columbas alere: pigeon’s nest, nidus columbarum (☞ not nidus columbaris; there is no such adjective).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for pigeon?: The usual Latin words for “pigeon” are columba, cŏlumbŭlus, palumbēs. 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.