What is the Latin word for whore?

The usual Latin words for “whore” are meretrīx, meretrīcula, scortum; also prōstibulum, lupus, quadrantārius. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“whore” in Latin

meretrīxa female prostitute or courtesan meretrīculadiminutive of meretrīx (“a female prostitute or courtesan”); cute little wench scortumharlot, prostitute (of either sex); animal skin stripped off, hide, fell, pelt prōstibulumprostitute, whore; brothel lupuswolf (Canis lupus); hops (Humulus lupulus)quadrantāriusquarter

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

whore

meretrix: meretricula: scortum: mulier omnibus proposita (Cic.): mulier quae domum suam omnium cupiditati patefecit (Cic., Coel., 20, 40). A common whore, prostibulum (Terentianus); prostibulum populi (Plaut.); lupa; quadrantaria; scortum vulgare (Cic.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for whore?: The usual Latin words for “whore” are meretrīx, meretrīcula, scortum; also prōstibulum, lupus, quadrantārius. 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.