levis
[ˈɫɛ.wɪs]
The Latin word for insignificant is levis.
The word levis is used to describe something that is not significant or important. It is a metaphorical extension of its primary meaning, where something that lacks physical weight is also seen as lacking importance or being trivial.
Meaning: not significant, not important (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word levis literally means light in terms of weight.
Which one should you use?
While levis is used to describe something insignificant or light, its antonym is gravis, which means heavy, serious or important. Additionally, if you want to describe an action being done in a light or insignificant manner, you should use the adverbial form leviter.
How does it change in a sentence?
levis is a third-declension adjective. It can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects. The nominative singular form for both masculine and feminine subjects is levis, and the genitive singular form is also levis.
Did you know?
- The word levis meaning 'smooth' may be a distant relative of the English word 'slime'.
- The Latin root lev- in levis also appears in the English word 'levitate', which means to rise into the air.
- English speakers can see the influence of levis in the word 'levity'. This term describes a lack of seriousness, mirroring the Latin use of levis to mean insignificant.
Examples in context
- Res tua parva estYour matter is small
- Res levis est.It is an insignificant matter.
Example conversation
Claudia and Lucius are discussing a small mistake in a document.
- ClaudiaVide hanc mutationem in pagina.Look at this change on the page.
- LuciusSed haec mutatio levis est.But this change is insignificant.
- ClaudiaFortasse, sed corrigere debemus.Perhaps, but we must correct it.
- LuciusFaciam id nunc, Claudia.I will do it now, Claudia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry levis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries levis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
