English → Latin
“song” in Latin
carmensong, tune; a composition in verse, a poem; poetry, verse, song; poem, poetry (strictly any poem or poetry that can be scanōto sing, recite, play; to sound, play, blow (a trumpet), especially a military call; to foretell, predict, prophesycanticumsong; passage in a comedy chanted or sung; sing-song voicecantilēnasong, melody; harmony; musiccantiōsong, singing, playing; incantation, spellineōto enter, go into; to begin; to have sexual intercourse
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
song
carmen (general term): cantus (act of singing or the thing sung, as an effect of talent or art): canticum (that which is or may be sung): cantilena (a song adapted to a well-known air: Döderlein remarks, that cantica and cantilenae are only songs adapted for singing, in which, as in popular ballads, the words and melodies are inseparable, and serve to excite mirth and pleasure, in opposition to speech and that which is spoken; indeed canticum means a favorite piece, still in vogue; cantilena, a piece which, being generally known, has lost the charm of novelty, and is classed with old songs): cantio (a song sung, especially as a form of enchantment). It is the old song, cantilenam eandem canis (you are always singing the same thing, Ter., Phorm., 3, 2, 10); nihil nisi idem quod saepe scribis (you are always writing the same); semper ista eademque audio (I am always hearing the same thing); uno opere eandem incudem die nocteque tundit (he is continually doing the same thing, Cic., De Or., 2, 39, init.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for song?
- The usual Latin words for “song” are carmen, canō, canticum; also cantilēna, cantiō, ineō. 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.