English → Latin
“problem” in Latin
quaestiōproblem; seeking, search; inquiry, investigation, questioning, questionexpediōto free feet from snares; unfasten fetters; lose the shackles; to loosen restraints, unchain, set free, liberate, releasproblēmaproblem, puzzle, enigma, question proposed for solution.aenigmaa riddle, enigma; an allegory; a mysteryquaerōto seek, look for; to ask, question, seek or search for a thing, inquire, query, interrogate; to strive for; endeavor; segō̆I; first person singular personal pronoun, nominative casedīluōto wash away; to drench or moisten; to purge, clear or empty (the bowels)
The English word problem itself goes back to Latin problēma.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
problem
quaestio (a question proposed, which is to be answered): quaestio difficilior, non facilis ad explicandum or expediendum: problema, -atis, neuter (especially a mathematical problem; ☞ of the Silver Age): aenigma, -atis, neuter (a riddle; ☞ of later authority). To propose a problem, quaerendum, expediendum alicui aliquid proponere: solve that problem for me, mihi, quod rogavi, dilue (Plaut.): it is a problem, quaestio est; magna est quaestio. Anything is a difficult problem, res magna est: to solve a difficult problem, id quod est difficillimum efficere (i. e., practically).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for problem?
- The usual Latin words for “problem” are quaestiō, expediō, problēma; also aenigma, quaerō, egō̆. 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.