specto
[ˈspɛk.toː]
Look in Latin, meaning to try to see, is specto. If unsure, use specto. Wiktionary also lists video and tueor.
Meaning: to try to see (verb)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| specto | [ˈspɛk.toː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈspɛk.to] (narrow) |
| video | [ˈwɪ.de.oː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈviː.de.o] (narrow) |
| tueor | [ˈtu.e.ɔr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈtuː.e.or] (narrow) |
| obtueor | [ɔpˈtu.e.ɔr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [obˈtuː.e.or] (narrow) |
specto means to look at or watch something on purpose. To catch someone's attention, as in look here, Latin uses age or agite when speaking to more than one person.
Which one should you use?
specto is the active act of looking at or watching. tueor carries a sense of watching over, guarding or observing closely. video is closer to see, and its passive is used for look in the sense of seem. intueri is a more formal word for focused, deliberate gazing or contemplating.
Related words
Did you know?
- The word intueri describes a gaze so deliberate and focused that it is the direct ancestor of the English word 'intuition', meaning a direct internal 'seeing'.
- The verb tueor may have its origins in a word meaning 'to be strong', suggesting that for the Romans, looking or watching was an act of strength or stability.
- Because video can mean 'I know', a Roman might use a word for looking to indicate they have mentally grasped a fact or a secret.
Examples in context
- tueri transversaTo look sideways, to squinttueri with transversa means looking sideways, that is, to squint.
- Somnulentusne videor?Do I look tired?videor is the passive of video and means I seem, so this asks whether I look tired.Tatoeba #8825392 by RudeGuyGames, translation #4401094 by CK
- Puer canem in horto videt.The boy sees the dog in the garden.
- Caelum specto.I look at the sky.
Example conversation
Quintus and Julia are standing in a garden.
- QuintusEcce, ad rosas specto.Look, I am looking at the roses.
- JuliaSunt pulchrae, Quinte.They are beautiful, Quintus.
- QuintusVide ne quid aliud sit.See if there is anything else.
- JuliaNihil video, Julia dicit.I see nothing, Julia says.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look” translations and entries specto, video, tueor, obtueor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries obtueor, specto, tueor, video, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
