fūmus
masculine
The Latin word for smoke is fūmus.
fūmus is the standard and most common noun used to describe the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material.
Meaning: visible particles and vapour given off by burning material (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
fūmus is a masculine noun. Related to this noun is the verb fūmō, which means to give off smoke.
Did you know?
- The Latin word fūmus is the root of the English word 'perfume', which literally means 'through smoke' (per and fūmus).
- In Roman law, the 'smoke' produced by a neighbor's fire could be a legal cause for action if it encroached on another's property.
- The word fūmus is an ancestor of the French word 'fumée' and the Spanish word 'humo', showing how the 'f' sound often shifted to 'h' in certain Romance languages.
Examples in context
- Fumus ascendit in caelumThe smoke rises into the sky
- Fūmus ex igne ascendit.Smoke rises from the fire.
- In caelo fūmus nigricans est.There is black smoke in the sky.
Example conversation
Quintus and Lucia are walking near a kitchen.
- QuintusLucia, vīdisne hunc fūmum?Lucia, do you see this smoke?
- LuciaIta, Quintē. Quid accidit?Yes, Quintus. What is happening?
- QuintusFūmus ex culinā venit.The smoke is coming from the kitchen.
- LuciaCurrāmus ad auxilium!Let us run to help!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smoke” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
