hortus
[ˈhɔr.tʊs]masculine
The English word "garden" is translated into Latin as hortus. Wiktionary also lists pōmārium and viridārium.
Meaning: piece of land outside with flowers and plants (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hortus | [ˈhɔr.tʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈɔr.tus] (narrow) |
masculine |
| pōmārium | neuter | |
| viridārium | neuter |
In Latin, the term used depends on the specific purpose and nature of the land. It generally refers to a piece of land outside containing flowers or plants.
What does it mean word for word?
The term viridārium is derived from viriditas, meaning "greenness" or "freshness" and literally translates to "a place of greenery."
Which one should you use?
hortus is the most common and general term, often implying a place for vegetables or herbs. In contrast, pōmārium specifically refers to an orchard or a garden dedicated to fruit trees. If you are describing a garden intended for pleasure or decoration, characterized by lush greenery or ornamental plants, use viridārium.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word hortus is a masculine noun. Its plural form is horti.
Did you know?
- The English word 'court', as in a 'courtyard', shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Latin hortus through the concept of an enclosed area.
- In Roman culture, the hortus was not just for food but was often a sacred space where the Lares, or household gods, were honored.
- Romans often used the viridārium as a site for sophisticated sculpture and fountains, treating it more like an outdoor art gallery than a place for planting.
Examples in context
- Hortus pone domum est.The garden is behind the house.This sentence shows how to describe the location of the hortus relative to a house.Tatoeba #1172312 by alexmarcelo, translation #752123 by Zifre
- Hortus ante domum est.The garden is in front of the house.Tatoeba #1172314 by alexmarcelo, translation #278502 by CK
- Hic hortus pulcher est.This garden is beautiful.This sentence is useful for describing the beauty of a specific hortus.Tatoeba #7850886 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #7850482 by Hybrid
- Amo ambulare in horto.I love walking in the garden.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aurelia and Quintus are walking through a villa.
- AureliaUbi est hortus?Where is the garden?
- QuintusHortus est extra villam.The garden is outside the villa.
- AureliaVisne in hortum ire?Do you want to go into the garden?
- QuintusIta, ibimus nunc.Yes, we will go now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garden” translations and entries hortus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hortus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
