bellus
[ˈbɛl.lʊs]
The Latin word for "cute" is bellus.
bellus is used to describe someone or something that is attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way. While it can mean pretty, it is often used to describe a handsome boy or a charming person.
Meaning: attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way (adj)
Which one should you use?
bellus can mean cute or handsome, but it differs from pulcher, which is more commonly used to describe physical beauty or being "beautiful".
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is bellus, the feminine form is bella and the neuter form is bellum. To say "of the cute" in the masculine or feminine genitive singular, use belli. Additionally, adding the suffix -ulus to the end of a Latin word can be used to express smallness or endearment.
Did you know?
- The word bellus is a homonym for the Latin word for 'war', which is also bellum. However, the 'cute' version is an adjective, while the 'war' version is a neuter noun.
- The word bellus is thought to be an old diminutive of bonus , 'good'.
- Latin speakers could make bellus even cuter by adding the suffix -ulus. This created a double-diminutive effect to emphasize smallness or intense endearment.
Examples in context
- Hic catellus est carusThis puppy is dear/cute
- Puellae pulchellae suntThe girls are cute/pretty
- Caniculae pulchrae suntThe little female dogs are cute
- Hic puer est bellus.This boy is cute.
Example conversation
Gaius and Julia are looking at a small toy.
- GaiusVide hoc ludicrum!Look at this toy!
- JuliaEstne bellus?Is it cute?
- GaiusIta, est valde bellus.Yes, it is very cute.
- JuliaMihi placet.I like it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bellus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bellus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
