dolor
[ˈdɔ.ɫɔr]masculine
The English word pain is translated into Latin as dolor.
dolor refers to an ache or bodily suffering. For a more formal context involving intense emotions, passion or suffering, the word passio may be used.
Meaning: ache or bodily suffering (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
dolor is the nominative case, used when the pain is the subject of the sentence. Use the accusative form dolorem when the pain is the direct object of a verb. To indicate possession or a relationship, such as 'the cause of the pain', use the genitive form doloris. If you are referring to multiple instances or types of pain, use the plural form dolores.
Did you know?
- The Latin word dolor is the direct ancestor of the English word 'doleful', which describes someone who is full of grief or melancholy.
- While dolor means pain, the related verb doleō means 'to be pained' or 'to grieve', showing that in Latin, pain is often expressed as a state of being.
Examples in context
- Hunc dolorem non fero.I cannot bear this pain.Tatoeba #934411 by rado, translation #5067597 by CarpeLanam
- Amor non solum dolor est.Love isn't just pain.This sentence shows how to use the form dolor as a predicate noun.Tatoeba #12657014 by rul, translation #11532538 by shekitten
- Non sentio aliquem dolorem.I don't feel any pain.Tatoeba #10976335 by carlosalberto, translation #5792059 by CK
- Hodie mihi caput dolet.Today, I have a headache.
- Vita huius modi mihi aegritudinem causat.Life of this kind causes me pain.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Quintus is complaining to Julia about a sore leg.
- QuintusIn crure magnus dolor est.There is a great pain in my leg.
- JuliaCur hic dolor venit, Quinte?Why did this pain come, Quintus?
- QuintusDolor post casum initium habet.The pain started after the fall.
- JuliaMedicamentum hunc dolorem tollet.Medicine will take away this pain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pain” translations and entries dolor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dolor, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
