English → Latin
“poem” in Latin
vertōto turn, turn oneself, direct one's way, to turn about, turn around, revolve; to turn upside down, overturn, overthrow, carmensong, tune; a composition in verse, a poem; poetry, verse, song; poem, poetry (strictly any poem or poetry that can be spoēmapoem (literary piece written in verse); poetrypangōto fasten, fix, set, especially drive, sink, force in; to set, plant; to celebrate, tell of, record, compose accounts ofpingōto decorate, adorn, embellish; to paint, tint or colour; to portrayscrībōto writecondōto put together; to build, establish; form, fashion; make, construct; to put away, store or treasure up; preserve; inter
The English word poem itself goes back to Latin poēma.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
poem
versus (general term, verses): carmen (a short poem, especially lyric: Ch., oda is not classical): poema, -atis, neuter (a longer poem). To write or compose a poem, carmen (poema) facere, pangere, pingere, scribere (general term); carmen (poema) condere (to lay the plan of a poem): carmen (poema) componere (to compose with art and care): carmen fundere (to pour forth with ease and ability): I can write poems, possum versus facere: a short or little poem, poematium (ποιημάτιον), or, in pure Latin, versiculi (Vid: Plin., Ep., 4, 14, where he modestly calls his own poems, also, ineptiae, nugae). ☞ Odarium is not classical.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for poem?
- The usual Latin words for “poem” are vertō, carmen, poēma; also pangō, pingō, scrībō. 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.