phoca
[ˈpʰoː.ka]feminine
The English word seal (referring to the animal) is translated into Latin as phoca.
The term phoca is used specifically to denote the pinniped animal. If you are instead referring to a seal as an object used for stamping wax, making an impression or securing documents, different terms are used depending on the historical period.
Meaning: pinniped (noun)
Which one should you use?
While phoca refers to the animal, the term sigillum is used for a physical seal used for documents. In the Medieval Latin period, the terminology expanded to include matrix and the phrase sigillum matrix to refer to a seal.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use phoca when you mean a seal used for stamping documents. Use sigillum or its Medieval derivatives instead.
Did you know?
- The word sigillum is a diminutive of signum, 'sign', so a seal was literally a 'little sign'.
- The Latin word phoca was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word φώκη, which is why the biological family for seals is still called 'Phocidae'.
- While phoca is used for the animal, the word sigillum for a stamping seal is the root of the English word 'sigil'.
Examples in context
- Matrix in chartam infixit.He impressed the seal upon the document.
- Phoca in aqua natat.A seal swims in the water.
- Phoca in saxo sedet.A seal sits on a rock.
Example conversation
Marcus and Lucia are looking at a book about marine animals.
- MarcusEcce, phoca in picturā est.Look, there is a seal in the picture.
- LuciaIlla phoca est pulchra.That seal is beautiful.
- MarcusEstne phoca magna?Is the seal large?
- LuciaIta, phoca est valde magna.Yes, the seal is very large.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seal” translations and entries phoca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries phoca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
