LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

phallus

phallus m (genitive phallī)
Classical[ˈpʰal.lʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈfal.lus]

Meaning

  1. masculinean iconic phallic figure of the male member borne in cult processions at a Dionysian orgy or festival of Bacchus as a symbol of the generative power of nature
  2. masculinephallus, membrum virile, penis
  3. figurativelymasculinephallus; an artistic image of the membrum virile or other figurative representation of the erect penis as an icon representing male sexuality, potency, fertility

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativephallusphallī
genitivephallīphallōrum
dativephallōphallīs
accusativephallumphallōs
ablativephallōphallīs
vocativephallephallī

phallus, i, m., = φαλλός,
I. a figure of an obscene shape, carried about at the festival of Bacchus, originally a symbol of the generative power of nature; a phallus, Arn. 5, 176; cf. Aug. Civ. Dei, 7, 21.

Origins

From Ancient Greek φαλλός (phallós, “membrum virile, phallus, or a figure thereof”), likely ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, swell up”); compare follis (“sack”).

Descendants
  • Catalanfal·lus
  • Englishphallus
  • Frenchphallus
  • GermanPhallus
  • Italianfallo
  • Frenchphallefrom Middle French phalle
  • Occitanfallus
  • Portuguesefalo
  • Romanianfalus
  • Spanishfalo

Quick answers

What does phallus mean in Latin?
phallus, a noun, means “an iconic phallic figure of the male member borne in cult processions at a Dionysian orgy or festival of Bacchus as a symbol of the generative power of nature; phallus, membrum virile, penis; phallus”.
What is the genitive of phallus?
The genitive singular is phallī. phallus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce phallus?
In classical Latin, [ˈpʰal.lʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈfal.lus].