alvus
[ˈaɫ.wʊs]masculine
The English phrase 'stomach' can be translated into Latin as alvus or venter.
Meaning: belly (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alvus | [ˈaɫ.wʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈal.vus] (narrow) |
masculine |
| venter | [ˈwɛn.tɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈvɛn.ter] (narrow) |
masculine |
Both terms refer to the stomach or belly, but they emphasize different aspects of the anatomy.
Which one should you use?
venter is the more common term used to describe the stomach as a functional organ or the belly in a general sense. In contrast, alvus often refers more specifically to a physical cavity, a hollow or the lower abdomen.
How does it change in a sentence?
Latin nouns change based on their role in a sentence. If you want to use the stomach as the direct object of a verb, use the form ventrem. To say 'of the stomach', use the form ventri. If you are using the word for belly or cavity and want to say 'of the belly', use the form alvi.
Did you know?
- While venter refers to the stomach, the related Latin term ventriculus means 'little belly' and is the root of the English word 'ventricle'.
- In Latin literature, venter is often used metaphorically to describe greed or appetite, rather than just the physical organ.
- The Latin word alvus might share a common ancestor with the Greek word aulós, which means a 'tube' or 'channel'.
Examples in context
- Omnem escam manducabit venter, et est cibus cibo melior.The stomach accepts all kinds of food, but some foods are better than others.This sentence shows how the stomach accepts different types of food using venter.Tatoeba #11086700 by carlosalberto, translation #11086745 by carlosalberto
- Venter mihi crepitat.My stomach is rumbling.This sentence uses venter to describe a stomach rumbling.Tatoeba #7038966 by alexmarcelo, translation #28163 by zvzuibqx
- Eius ventriculus diutius doluit.His/her stomach has been hurting for a while.
- Ventrem meum cibo compleo.I fill my stomach with food.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stomach” translations and entries alvus, venter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alvus, venter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
