What is the Latin word for tan?

The usual Latin words for “tan” are subigō, depsō, cōnficiō; also perficiō, colōrō, īnfuscō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“tan” in Latin

subigōto bring or get (under); to plough or cultivate; to sharpen or whet depsōto knead; to dress leather by rubbing and squeezing; to have improper sex (masturbate?)cōnficiōto prepare, accomplish, complete, execute; settle, close a bargain; traverse; to produce, cause, bring about, effect, se perficiōto finish, complete; to perfect; to carry out, execute, perform colōrōto color, tinge, imbue; to paint, dye īnfuscōto darken or obscure; to sully, stain or tarnish

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

tan

To prepare leather, subigere, depsere (to work thoroughly): conficere, perficere (to prepare). Fine tanned leather, aluta tenuiter confecta.

To make tawny, imbrown, colorare (of the sun; e.g. cum in sole ambulem, natura fit, ut colorer, Cic., De Or., 2, 14, 6; so Quint., 5, 10, 81): cutem adurere or infuscare (Plin.): sole colorare (Sen.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for tan?: The usual Latin words for “tan” are subigō, depsō, cōnficiō; also perficiō, colōrō, īnfuscō. 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.