condīmentum
neuter
The English word "spice" can be translated into Latin as condīmentum or arōma.
Meaning: plant matter used to season or flavour food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| condīmentum | neuter |
| arōma | feminine |
The term refers to plant matter used to season or flavour food.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun condīmentum is derived from the verb condī, which means "to prepare" or "to season", making the word literally mean "seasoning" or "condiment".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun condīmentum becomes condīmenta when referring to "spices" or "seasonings". The feminine noun arōma becomes arōmata in its plural form, which can mean "spices" or "scents". Related to these nouns is the verb condiō, which means "to add spice or spices to".
Did you know?
- The word condīmentum was used by Roman writers not just for food but also to describe the 'spice' or 'flavour' of a piece of literature or a speech.
- The verb condī also meant 'to preserve', because adding 'spices' like salt was the primary way to keep food from spoiling.
- The Greek origin of arōma was so well-established in Latin that the word often signaled something exotic or imported from the East, such as cinnamon or frankincense.
Examples in context
- In mensā condīmentum multum est.There is a lot of spice on the table.
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are cooking in a kitchen.
- LuciusAurelia, ubi est condīmentum?Aurelia, where is the spice?
- AureliaIn mensā est, Lūci.It is on the table, Lucius.
- LuciusGrātiās, hoc condīmentum optimum est.Thanks, this spice is the best.
- AureliaIta est, cibum mīrē mūtābit.It is, it will change the food wonderfully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spice” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
