English → Latin
“slave” in Latin
servusa slave; a serf; a servantvernaa homeborn slave (a slave born in his master's house); term of abusemancipiumThe formal taking possession of goods bought; purchase; property; slave (purchased)famulusa servant, slavepuera child; chit; a boy, lad (typically between ages 7-14 but could be younger) (older than an īnfāns but younger than an aministerattendant, servant, slave, waiter; agent, aide; accompliceservitiumslavery, servitude; slaves (collectively); service
The English word slave itself goes back to Latin Sclavus, through sclavus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
slave
servus: verna (born-slave): mancipium (slave by purchase, or prisoner taken in war): famulus (as attendant): puer (as waiting-boy): minister (as waiter). The slaves, servi; servitia; also, servitium; corpora servilia; mancipia: young slaves (i. e., recently bought), venales novitii: the slaves of a family, familia: to be a slave, servum esse; in servitute esse (servitutem servire rare and forced): to be anybody’s slave, servire alicui or apud aliquem: to make anybody one’s slave, aliquem in servitutem redigere; alicui servitutem injungere; aliquem servitute afficere: to sell anybody for a slave, aliquem sub corona vendere: to be sold for a slave, sub corona vendi: a runaway slave, fugitivus.
Figuratively, The slave of lust, servus libidinum: to be the slave of anybody or anything, servum esse alicujus or alicujus rei; servum esse potestatis alicujus; alicui rei obedire: to be the slave of sensual pleasures, voluptatum esse ministrum; corporis voluptatibus se dedisse; voluptatibus obedire (Cic.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for slave?
- The usual Latin words for “slave” are servus, verna, mancipium; also famulus, puer, minister. 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.