What is the Latin word for town?

The usual Latin words for “town” are urbs, oppidum, cīvitās; also mūnicipium, colōnia, praeficiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“town” in Latin

urbsa city, walled town; the City, Rome oppidumtown (esp. of towns other than Rome, which was generally called Urbs)cīvitāscitizenship and its rights; often referring to Roman citizenship.; the state, body politic, citizens of a territory (col mūnicipiumtownship; municipality, town colōniaA colony, settlement; A possession in land, land attached to a farm, estate; The people composing a colony, colonists praeficiōto place in command, put in charge

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

town

urbs (opposed to rus): oppidum: civitas: municipium: colonia: praefectura [SYN. in CITY]. A maritime town, urbs maritima; oppidum maritimum; civitas maritima: the talk of the town, res nova per urbem divulgata; fabula urbis: what is the news of the town? quid novi in urbe accidit?a town council, senatus, -ūs (in large towns): decuriones, plur. (in small towns): a town-councillor, senator, decurio.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for town?: The usual Latin words for “town” are urbs, oppidum, cīvitās; also mūnicipium, colōnia, praeficiō. 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.