What is the Latin word for will?

The usual Latin words for “will” are voluntās, prōpōnō, sententia; also cōnsilium, animus, optō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“will” in Latin

voluntāswill, free will, choice; desire, inclination; disposition towards (something or someone)prōpōnōto set forth, to put forth, to lay out; to expose to view, display; to make known sententiaa way of thinking, view, opinion, judgement or sentence; a purpose, intention, will (one's thinking in respect to the fu cōnsiliumplan, intention, design, purpose; counsel, advice; determination, resolve, resolution animuslife, life force, soul, vitality (that life-giving aspect which animates a thing); conscience, intellect, mind, reason, optōto choose, select, prefer, opt; to wish for, hope for, long for, desire vōtumpromise, dedication, vow, solemn pledge; determination, will, desire; prayer, devotion studiumstudy; eagerness, zeal; desire, fancy assentiorto agree with; assent to, approve, give assent or approval cōnsentiōto agree, accord, harmonize; to unite upon; to plot or conspire

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

will s.

Faculty of volition, voluntas: divine will, numen: free will, libera voluntas (Cic., Fat., 10, 20); liberum arbitrium (Liv., 4, 43; 32, 37; 37, 1); or simply arbitrium (Cic.); optio (option, choice).

Exercise and manifestation of this faculty in any particular case, voluntas: the will (of the Senate or of an influential individual), auctoritas: will (of the people), jussus: will and pleasure, arbitrium; libido: that is my will and pleasure, haec est voluntas mea; ita, hoc volo; ita fert animus; sic stat sententia: according to one’s own will, sua voluntate (Caes.); ad suum arbitrium; ad suam libidinem: to depend upon another’s will, alieni esse arbitrii (Liv.); non sui esse arbitrii (Suet.); non esse sui juris; non esse in sua potestate; aliunde pendere: I have nothing but my good will, mini nihil suppetit praeter voluntatem (Cic., Fam., 15, 13, 2).

Purpose, design, voluntas: propositum: sententia: consilium: animus.

Inclination, wish, voluntas: optatum: votum: studium: to do anything against one’s will, aliquo nolente, invito, contra voluntatem alicujus aliquid facere: to do anything according to one’s will, facere aliquid ex alicujus voluntate (Cic.); ad nutum et voluntatem alicujus facere aliquid: to yield to anybody’s will, voluntati alicujus parere, obsecundare, morem gerere (Cic.); morigerari alicui; animum alicui explere; obtemperari alicujus voluntati.

Approbation, assent, assensus: consensus: comprobatio.

A testament, testamentum; sometimes tabulae (when the context fixes the sense); suprema voluntas (Ulp.): to make a will, testamentum facere (general term), componere, scribere; testamentum nuncupare (the contents of the will being read in the presence of witnesses): to be entitled to make a will, factionem testamenti habere: to die after having made a will, testato decedere: to die without having made a will, intestatum, or intestato, decedere: to draw up a will, testamentum conscribere: to seal a will, testamentum obsignare: to open a will, testamentum resignare or aperire: to set aside a will, testamentum mutare, rumpere, irritum facere: to forge a will, testamentum subjicere, supponere: a will-forger, testamentorum subjector, testamentarius: to appoint or provide by will, testamento cavere. Not to notice anybody in one’s will, alicui nihil legare; in testamento immemorem esse alicujus.

will v.

To be determined, to have formed a resolution, velle; constituisse aliquid; est mihi aliquid in animo; habere aliquid in animo.

To wish, desire, velle, cupere; (in a high degree), avere, gestire, petere, expetere, appetere aliquid. As you will, ut libet: would that! velim (expressing a direct wish for something possible): vellem (a conditional wish for that which perhaps may not be possible): to will rather, malle.

To require, demand, postulare, requirere aliquid.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for will?: The usual Latin words for “will” are voluntās, prōpōnō, sententia; also cōnsilium, animus, optō. 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.