pulchritūdō
feminine
The English phrase "beauty" is translated into Latin as pulchritūdō. If unsure, use pulchritūdō. Wiktionary also lists formōsitās.
Meaning: quality of pleasing appearance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| pulchritūdō | feminine |
| formōsitās | feminine |
Both pulchritūdō and formōsitās are nouns used to describe the quality of a pleasing appearance.
What does it mean word for word?
The word formōsitās is derived from the adjective formōsus, which means 'shapely' or 'well-formed'.
Which one should you use?
While pulchritūdō refers to the general quality of being beautiful, formōsitās emphasizes the beauty of shape, form or proportion.
How does it change in a sentence?
pulchritūdō is a feminine noun. The genitive singular form, used to say "of beauty," is pulchritūdinis, and the plural form for "beauties" is pulchritūdīnēs.
Did you know?
- The English word 'pulchritude' is a direct descendant of pulchritūdō, but it is now used almost exclusively in formal or ironic contexts rather than daily speech.
- The root of pulchritūdō is linked to the idea of being 'bright' or 'shining', suggesting that to the Romans, true beauty had a visual radiance.
- The adjective formōsus can be used to describe a person's physical build, but it can also be used to describe a well-constructed argument or a beautiful piece of writing.
Examples in context
- Naturae pulchritūdō omnia delectat.The beauty of nature delights all.
Example conversation
Claudia and Quintus are looking at a statue in a garden.
- ClaudiaVide hanc statuam, Quinte!Look at this statue, Quintus!
- QuintusIta, pulchritūdō eius est incredibilis.Yes, its beauty is incredible.
- ClaudiaArtifex multum laboravit.The artist worked very hard.
- QuintusVerum est, opus optimum est.It is true, it is a great work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beauty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
