Expert: Maria - 2/26/2010

Question
Hi Maria, I was just wondering if you could tell me what the latin word for 'love' is? Everyone i look its different so i was hoping you could clarify it for me?..

Many thanks...

Answer

Hello,

in Latin there are eight words that can mean “love”, according to the  sense this word has in the context of a discourse or phrase.

These eight  nouns are “amor”, “caritas”, “affectio", “studium”, “cupido”, “ardor”, “libido”  and “voluptas”.

So, this is how and when each term is used in Latin:

1-AMOR  
This masculine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension can mean  “love” either as a sexual love or as  affection to friends and  parents, as well as  “love” in the sense of “a strong, passionate longing for something”, “desire”, “lust”.  
For example: “Fraternus amor” (love for a brother);“Ardet amore illius mulieris” (He is burning with love for that woman);“Gloriae amor” (“love of glory” );“Auri amore” ( desire of wealth).

2-CARITAS
This feminine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension means “love” as “esteem”, “regard”, “dearness”, “affection”.
For example:“Caritas patriae et suorum” ( “affection for native country and family”/ “love of one's country and family”); “Caritas Dei “(The Love of God).


3-AFFECTIO
This feminine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension means “love” as  “a favorable disposition toward anyone”, “affection”.
For example:“Affectio vera” (a true affection/love/feeling)

4-STUDIUM
This neuter  noun belonging to the 2nd.declension can mean  “love” as “devotion”,”fondness”,”zeal”, “inclination”, “desire”.
For example: “Studium in rem publicam” (love/ zeal for the republic)

5-CUPIDO
This feminine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension means “love” as “passion”, “desire”, “ wish”, “longing”, “eagerness”, in a good and in a bad sense.
For example:“Muliebris cupido” (“female's mad love for the male”)

6-ARDOR
This masculine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension can mean  “love” as an “ardent desire /passion“.
For example “Ardor virginis” (love/passion for a girl)

7-LIBIDO
This feminine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension means “love” as “Unlawful or inordinate desire”, “passion”, “sensual desire”, “lust”.
For example:” Vicit pudorem libido” (Sensual desire overcame decency)

8-VOLUPTAS
This feminine noun belonging to the 3rd.declension means “love” as “a  desire”, “passion”, “inclination”,” sensual pleasure”, “sensual delight” .
For example: “Suam voluptatem explere”(to satisfy one's passion/love)


Finally I have to tell you that all the above Latin nouns(amor”, “caritas”, “affectio, “studium”, “cupido”, “ardor”, “libido”  and “voluptas”) are in the nominative case which is only used to indicate the  subject of a sentence.

There are other cases, like the genitive, the dative, the accusative, the vocative and the ablative, that are used according to its role in a context.

Best regards,
Maria