argentāria
feminine
The Latin word for bank is argentāria.
argentāria is used to refer to a financial institution.
Meaning: institution (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a silver-related institution, derived from argentum, meaning silver, which implies an institution that deals with money or precious metals.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine noun argentāria has the genitive singular form argentāriae, which is used to express the phrase 'of the bank'.
Did you know?
- The Latin term for a bank's counter, mensa, is the root of the English word 'mesa' used for flat-topped mountains.
- While argentāria refers to the institution, the actual place of business was often a open-air stall in the Forum Romanum.
- In Rome, the argentārius was not just a banker but also acted as an auctioneer and legal witness for financial contracts.
Examples in context
- Aestimatio pecuniarum apud aurarium meum.The valuation of money at my bank.
- Nummularii in foro denarios accipiunt et argentariis dant.Money dealers at the marketplace receive denarii and give them to bankers.
- Argentāria est prope forum.The bank is near the forum.
- Quaestor ad argentāriam iter facit.The quaestor is going to the bank.
Example conversation
Julia and Marcus are walking through the city.
- JuliaUbi est argentāria, Marce?Where is the bank, Marcus?
- MarcusArgentāria est post illud templum.The bank is behind that temple.
- JuliaGrātiās tibi ago.Thank you.
- MarcusLibenter, Iūlia.You are welcome, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bank” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
