What is the Latin word for seldom?

The usual Latin words for “seldom” are rārus, saepe, frequēns; also interdum. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“seldom” in Latin

rārusscattered; far apart; seldom; few; rare; uncommon saepeoften, frequently; again frequēnscrowded, crammed, packed; filled with a multitude, filled, full, crowded, populous; frequent, repeated interdumsometimes; occasionally

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

seldom

raro (opposed to vulgo, saepe, etc., and distinguished from interdum). Very seldom, admodum raro (Cic.); raro admodum (Quint.); perquam raro (Plin.); rarissime (Suet.): frequently... now and then... but seldom, frequenter... interdum... raro autem: so seldom, ita raro (Cic.); sic raro (Hor.). (The words are found in this connection and order.) insolenter et raro (opposed to vulgo; Cic.): not seldom, non raro (Quint., 9, 4, 74): this is seldom found, hoc rarum est inventu: it seldom happens, raro fit (ut, etc.). ☞ Rare (Plaut.), rarenter (Cato) are ante-classical

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for seldom?: The usual Latin words for “seldom” are rārus, saepe, frequēns; also interdum. 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.