Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| coma | [ˈkɔ.ma] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈkɔː.ma] (narrow) |
feminine |
| crīnis | feminine, masculine |
Both words refer to a mass of filaments on the human head. Coma is often used to emphasize the thickness, volume or the sheer mass of the hair, while crīnis is more commonly used to refer to the hair on a person's head as a single unit or a specific hair style. If you wish to describe someone as being hairy or covered with hair, the related term pilosus is used.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean hair, crīnis typically refers to the hair on a person's head as a single unit or style. In contrast, coma often emphasizes the thickness, volume or a mass of hair. Additionally, capillus is another term that specifically refers to the hair on the head.
How does it change in a sentence?
coma is a first-declension feminine noun. Its plural form is comae, which translates to hairs.
Did you know?
- The Latin word coma is the direct ancestor of the English word 'coma', which refers to the fuzzy, cloud-like structure around a comet's nucleus.
- The word capillus is the ancestor of the English word 'capillary'. This refers to the tiny blood vessels that were thought to be as thin as a single hair.
- Latin has different words for hair based on location. While capillus and coma are for the head, pilus is used for body hair, which is why we have the English word 'depilatory'.
Examples in context
- Eius comae arrectae sunt.His hair was standing on end.This sentence shows the use of the plural form comae to describe hair standing on end.Tatoeba #5748871 by Hans07, translation #6330452 by RudeGuyGames
- Thomas comam tersit suam.Tom brushed his hair.This sentence demonstrates the use of the singular form comam in the context of brushing hair.Tatoeba #6363658 by RudeGuyGames, translation #1141227 by CK
- Arrectae erant horore meae comae.My hair stands on end from fear.This sentence illustrates the use of the plural form comae to describe hair standing on end due to fear.Tatoeba #5748875 by Hans07, translation #6330450 by RudeGuyGames
- Isaiah est pilosusIsaiah is hairy
- Eva habet capillum longumEva has long hair
- Publius habet crinem nigrumPublius has black hair
- Maria habet pulchras comasMaria has beautiful hair
- Paulus caput pilosum habetPaulus has a head full of hair
- Vir capillum flavum habet.The man has blonde hair.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Gaius are discussing her new hairstyle.
- JuliaVide, Gai, coma mea nova est!Look, Gaius, my hair is new!
- GaiusIta, coma tua pulchra est.Yes, your hair is beautiful.
- JuliaGratias tibi ago, amice.Thank you, friend.
- GaiusNihil est, Julia.It is nothing, Julia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hair” translations and entries coma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries coma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
