What is the Latin word for poetry?

The usual Latin words for “poetry” are poēticus, poēsis, poēma; also carmen. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“poetry” in Latin

poēticuspoetic poēsispoetry; a poem poēmapoem (literary piece written in verse); poetry carmensong, tune; a composition in verse, a poem; poetry, verse, song; poem, poetry (strictly any poem or poetry that can be s

The English word poetry itself goes back to Latin poēta, through poētria.

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

poetry

poetica or poetice (sc. ars); poesis. To attempt poetry, poeticen attingere: to have no taste for poetry, alienum esse a poetice: a piece of poetry, poema; carmen; cultivation of poetry, carminum studium.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for poetry?: The usual Latin words for “poetry” are poēticus, poēsis, poēma; also carmen. 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.