pulcher
[ˈpʊɫ.kʰɛr]
The English word 'pretty' can be translated into Latin using pulcher or scitulus.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| pulcher | [ˈpʊɫ.kʰɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈpul.ker] (narrow) |
| scitulus | [ˈskiː.tʊ.ɫʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈʃiː.tu.lus] (narrow) |
In Latin, the choice of word for 'pretty' depends on the specific type of attractiveness you wish to describe. pulcher is used to describe physical beauty and pleasantness, especially when referring to women and children. scitulus is used when you want to convey that someone is 'cute' or possesses a spirited, clever quality.
Which one should you use?
pulcher focuses primarily on physical beauty. In contrast, scitulus carries a connotation of being 'clever' or 'cute' in a more spirited way.
How does it change in a sentence?
pulcher changes with gender: use pulchra for a feminine noun and pulchrum for a neuter one. The superlative, meaning "very pretty", is pulcherrimus (pulcherrima for a woman).
Did you know?
- The Latin root for scitulus is shared with the word scio, meaning 'I know'.
- The Latin sense of pulcher is the ancestor of the English word 'pulchritude', though that word is now very rare.
Examples in context
- Filia tua pulcherrima est.Your daughter is very pretty.This sentence demonstrates the use of the superlative form of pulcher to describe a daughter.Tatoeba #5031983 by alexmarcelo, translation #2182043 by Hybrid
- Filia eius pulcherrima est.Her daughter is very pretty.This sentence demonstrates the use of the superlative form of pulcher to describe her daughter.Tatoeba #5031963 by alexmarcelo, translation #1572107 by fanty
- Maria puella pulcherrima est.Mary is a very pretty girl.This sentence demonstrates how to use the superlative form of pulcher when describing a girl.Tatoeba #2599563 by alexmarcelo, translation #31973 by CK
- Marcus est vir pulcher.Marcus is a handsome man.
- Villa nostra est formosa.Our villa is beautiful.
- Uxor mea est puella formosa.My wife is a beautiful girl.
- Canis meus est bellus.My dog is pretty.
- Hoc est bellum donum.This is a lovely gift.
- Campus est decens.The campus is pretty.
- Vestis illa decens est.That dress is nice.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking through a garden.
- MarcusPulchra est haec rosa.This rose is pretty.
- ClaudiaIta vero, est pulcherrima.Indeed, it is very pretty.
- MarcusVidemusne puellam pulchram ibi?Do we see a pretty girl there?
- ClaudiaIlla puella est pulchra.That girl is pretty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations and entries pulcher, scitulus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
