Latest update: 2023-02-15.
Send corrections and suggestions to: Dave Novemila (dave9000@gmx.com).
This small dictionary provides a quick reference to help translating software applications from english to latin.
Whenever an exact match for the english word cannot be found, an equivalent latin word or phrase is choosen according to the following preference criteria:
GUI. Most sentences in menus and dialogs should use the imperative voice: "Save" is better translated as "Serva" rather then "Servare".
The english present particle or gerund, expressing an action being performed, may be translated with a verb in the passive voice: "loading file ..." becomes "plica legitur ..." .
Proper names. Proper names may considered indeclinable; anyway an inflected form is to be preferred, in particular if:
Acronyms. The gender of an acronym is that of its main noun (GUI >> Graphica Utentis Interfacies >> feminine) even when implicit (DDR4 >> a kind of memory >> memoria >> feminine); neuter is acceptable in dubious cases. If proper declension is really required to make the latin phrase understandable, the proper ending may be postponed to the acronym (e.g. MBR of SSDs >> SSD-orum MBR).
nouns are not explicitely marked | |
[] | the words in square bracket are optional, can be skipped if clear from context |
!= | separates a couple of words with opposite meaning |
adj. | adjective |
ind. | indeclinable (and a neologism, unless differently specified) |
m., f., n. | masculine, feminine, neuter |
nom., gen., dat., acc., abl., voc. | nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, vocative |
neo. | neologism |
pl. | plural |
vt., vi. | transitive verb, intransitive verb |
CA | Catalan |
EN | English |
ES | Spanish |
FR | French |
IT | Italian |
LA | Latin |
english | latin | context | notes |
Cinnamon | Cinnamon, onis n. | proper name | a desktop environment |
Citrix | Citrix, Citricis m. | proper name | |
Linux | Linux, Linucis m. | proper name | |
GNOME | GNOME, GNOMIS m. | proper name | a desktop environment; used to be an acronym |
Nemo | Nemo, Neminis m. | proper name | a file manager |
Ubuntu | Ubuntu, us n. | proper name | the -u ending fits well with n. 4th declension |
Windows | Windows m. ind. | proper name | do NOT translate |
accept != reject | recipe != repelle | GUI | standard dialog box |
accessibility | aditus [universalis], us m.; pervietas, atis f. (neo.?) | GUI | |
accessory | additamentum, i n. | ||
account | inscriptio, onis f. | also: login | |
active != inactive | adj. actuosus != exstinctus | GUI | |
[AC] adapter | [AC] altor, oris m. | hardware | IT: alimentatore |
address | web: inscriptio, onis f. [interretialis] real life: domicilium, ii n. | net, web | |
animation | animatio, onis f. | ||
aperture | amplitudo orificii, inis f. | hardware | camera |
append | vt. appono, is, apposui, appositum, ere | filesystem | |
applet | miniapplicatio, onis f. neo. | CA: miniaplicació | |
application | applicatio, onis f. | ||
archive | tabularium, ii, n. | tar, gz, zip, ... | |
argument | parametrum, i n. | command line or function parameter | |
authentication | comprobatio, onis f. | ||
auto/automatic | automaticus, a, um | ||
background | fundus, i m. | GUI | of desktop |
backport | vt. retroferre neo. | development | FR: rétroportage |
backup | tutum, i n.; vt. in tutum reponere | see FR: sauvegarde | |
band | spectrum, i n. | hardware | frequency |
battery | pilae [electricae] f. | hardware | |
binding | consociatio, onis f. | e.g. keybinding | |
bit | bit m. ind. | bitrate: bit ratio | |
bitrate | bit ratio, onis f. | ES :tasa de bits | |
bookmark | signaculum, i n. | ||
boot | initiatio, onis f. | hardware | |
bootable | adj. initialis, ehardware | or verbal circumlocution | |
border | margo, inis m. | GUI | |
branch | brachium, ii n. | development | |
brand | signum, i n. | hardware | producer of commercial products |
browse | v. navigare | web | |
bug | mendum, i n. | development | bug tracker: secutor mendorum (ES: seguimiento de errores) |
bullet | punctum, i n. | GUI | |
button | bulla, ae f.; boto, onis m. | GUI | |
byte | octetus, i m.; byte n. ind. | FR: octet | |
cable | ancorale, is n.; filus, i m. | hardware | |
cache | cache, cashis f. neo. | ||
caps lock | maiusculus modo | hardware | |
calculator | calculatrum, i n. | hardware | |
card | charta, ae f. | hardware | |
charge != discharge | repletio, onis f. != depletio, onis f. vt. repleo, es, plevi, pletum, ere != vt. deplere | hardware | battery |
chat | confabulatio, onis f. | web | |
checksum | summa probationis, ae f. | ||
checklist | index probationis, icis m. | ES: lista de comprobación | |
click | vt./vi. clic[c]are neo.; clic facere | GUI, hardware | IT: cliccare, ES: hacer clic, clicar, cliquear right/middle/left click: dextra/media/laeva [clave] clica |
client | cliens, entis m. | ||
clipboard | latibulum, i n. | GUI | |
codec | codecum, i n. neo. | ||
colorspace | spatium colorum | ||
column | columna, ae f. | GUI | |
command line | linea iussi | also: prompt | |
command | iussum, i n. | ||
compress | vt. comprimere | ||
compression | compressio, onis f. | ||
computer | computator, oris m.; computatrum, i n. | hardware | |
configure | vt. ordinare | GUI | |
connect != disconnect | vt. conectere != disiungere; separare | ||
connection | conexus, us m. | ||
console | consol, is f. neo. | GUI | computer terminal |
content | sarcina, ae f. or a phrase using: capio, contineo ... | GUI | of URL, archive |
contextual | adj. contextualis, eGUI | ||
continue | v. continuare | GUI | to proceed |
contrast | vivacitas, atis f. | graphics | |
copy | vt. duplicare | filesystem | |
countdown | numeratio inversa, onis f. | ||
crash | casus, us m. vi. corrŭo, is, rŭi, ĕre | program | |
crypt/decrypt | vt. cryptare/decryptare neo. | "per notas scribere" in Svetonio, Jul. Caes. 56 | |
cursor | cursor, oris m. | GUI | also: mouse pointer |
cut/copy/paste | vt. secare/duplicare/includere | GUI | |
data | data, orum n. | ||
debug | emendatio, onis f.; debug n. ind. vt. emendare | development | |
default | adj. praedesignatus; usitatus | ||
definition | resolutio, onis f. | graphics | |
delete | vt. delĕo, es, levi, letum, ēre | ||
desktop | scriptorium, i n. | GUI | |
detail | singulae res f. pl.; singula, orum, n. pl. | ||
develop | vt. delineare | development | i.e. design (see software design) development: delineatio, onis f. developer: delineator, oris m. neo. |
device manager | administrator apparatuum | ||
device | apparatus, us m. | hardware | |
dialog | dialogus, i m. | GUI | |
directory/folder | directorium, i n. neo.; theca [scriptoria], ae f. | filesystem | IT: cartella, ES: directorio |
disk | discus, i .m | hardware | |
display | ostenditor, oris m. neo.; vt. ostendo | ES: visualizador | |
document | documentum, i n. | ||
domain | dominium, ii n. | net | |
downgrade | vi. degredi; vt. gradu inferiore demittere | FR: mise à niveau inférieur | |
download | download ind.; [ex rete] deducta, orum n. vt. [ex rete] deduco, is, duxi, ductum, ere; vt. [ex rete] extrahere | web | IT: scaricare |
drag/drop | vt. trahere/demittere | ||
draw | vt. delineo, as, avi, atum, are | GUI, graphics | |
driver | gubernator, oris m. | system | |
edit | vt. mutare | ||
editor | programma editorium; editorium, i n. | ||
effect | effectum, i n. | graphics | |
cursus electronicus m.; litterae electronicae f. | web | ||
emoji / emoticon | emoticum, i n; emoticon, onis n. neo. | ||
enable != disable | vt. iubeo, es, iussi, iussum, ere; permittere != vt. vetare | ||
entry | in log, dictionary: res, rei f.; versus, us m. GUI: area scriptilis | ||
environment | ambiens, ambientis m. | system | |
erase | vt. eradere | filesystem | |
event | eventum, i n. | system, GUI | |
executable | exsequibilis, e (neo.?) | ||
execute | vt. exsequor, eris, exsecutus sum, exsequi; vt. pello, is, pepuli, pulsum, ere vi. operari | a program; also: run | |
extension | appendix, appendicis f.; additamentum, i n. | ||
favorites | praeposita, orum n. | GUI | |
file | plica, ae f. | filesystem |
file system: plicarum systema, atis n. file sharing: [plicarum] communio, onis f. size: mensura, ae f. hidden: occultus, a, um creation date/time: dies/hora ortus modification date/time: dies/hora modificationis access date/time: dies/hora aditus group/owner: circulus, i m./possessor, oris m. |
fingerprint | impressio digiti | ||
firewall | murus incendiarius | net | |
flag | vexillum, i n. | ||
font | typus, i m. | GUI |
ES: tipo bold: adj. negritus, a, um neo. (ES: negrita) italic: adj. italicus, a, um underlined: adj. sublineatus, a, um striked-through: adj. barratus, a, um neo. (IT: barrato) |
format | structura, ae f.; vt. formare | filesystem | |
field (e.g. input) | locus, i m. | GUI | |
gateway | bivium portae, ii n. | net | |
graphic | agg. graphicus, a, um | hardware | card |
grid | craticula, ae f. | GUI, graphics | |
group | collectio, onis f.; collatio, onis f. | NOT in filesystem context, see file istead | |
hardware | hardware, is n. neo. (also ind.); apparatus [computatralia], us m. | hardware | |
header | praescriptio, onis f. | ||
hexadecimal | adj. sedecimalis, e | ||
hibernate | vi. hibernare | hardware | intransitive |
host | hospes, itis m. | net | CA: amfitrió |
icon | icon, onis f. | GUI | |
identification | agnitio, onis f. | ||
ignore | vt. neglego, is, lexi, lectum, ere | ||
increase != decrease | vt. amplificare != vt. minuere | hardware, GUI | e.g. audio volume, brightness |
info | informatio, onis f. | ||
init | initiatio, onis f. | ||
input | ingressus, us m. | ||
install | vt. institure; instruere | ||
installation | instructio, onis f. | ||
installer | [programma] instituens | ||
interface | interfacies, ei f. neo. | ||
internet | Interrete, is n.; Internexus, us m. | web | |
interrupt | interruptio, onis f. | hardware | |
valid != invalid | validus, a, um != mendosus, a, um | e.g. password | |
kernel | nucleus, i m. | ||
key (USB disk) | clavicula, ae f.; clavis memorialis | hardware | IT: chiavetta USB |
key (of keyboard) | clavis, is f. | hardware | |
key (authentication) | clavis, is f. | net | |
keyboard | claviatura, ae f. | hardware | |
landscape | ad libram | horizontal (image) | |
laptop | laptop n. ind. | hardware | |
launcher | iaculator, oris m. | GUI | |
layout | structura, ae f. | GUI | |
library | librarium, i n. | development | |
link/hyperlink | ligamen, inis n. | web, filesystem | |
load | vt. legere | filesystem | |
locale | configuratio regionalis | system | FR, ES |
lock != unlock | vt. occludere; figere (fix) != recludere | GUI | computer, screen |
log [file] | libellus, i m. | ES: registro | |
login | aditus, us m.; vi. inire [in computatorem/rete] | system | |
logout | vi. exire [a computatore/rete] | system | |
look & feel | sensus faciesque | GUI | |
memory | memoria, ae f. | hardware | |
menu | index, indicis m. | GUI | |
metadata | metadata, orum n. neo. | ||
microcode | microcodex, icis m. neo. | hardware | |
microphone | microphonum, i n. | hardware | |
model | specimen, inis n. | hardware | product model |
modem | modem, modemis n.; transmodulatrum, i n. | hardware | |
monitor | to control: inspectio, onis f.; vt. inspicere display:monitorium, ii n. | software | |
mount != umount | vt. colligo, as, avi, atum, are != vt. solvo, is, solvi, solutum, ere | filesystem | |
mouse | mus, muris m. | hardware | |
movie, film | pellicula, ae f. | IT: pellicola | |
multimedia | multimedia,orum n. neo. | ||
mute | vi. mūtesco, is, ĕre; vt. silentium [fieri] iubere | ||
net/network | rete, is n. | net | |
netmask | masca retis, ae. f | net | |
num lock | claves numerorum | hardware | |
office | officina, ae f. | CA: oficina | |
ok - cancel | ok/bene - interrumpe | GUI | standard dialog box |
offline | extra lineam | web | |
online | in linea; adv. conexo neo. | web | |
option/settings | optio, onis f. | GUI | |
output | egressus, us m. | ||
overwrite | vt. supra scribere | filesystem | |
package | fasciculus, i m. | ||
panel | tabula, ae f. | GUI | |
partition | partitio, onis f.; vt. partire | hardware | of disk |
passphrase | scriptum comprobationis | ||
password | tessera, ae f. | ||
path | iter, itineris n. | filesystem | |
phone | telephon[i]um, i n. cell phone: cellulare, is n. neo. | hardware | |
pin != unpin | vt. figere != vt. abscindere | GUI | |
pipe | tubus, i m. | system | FR: tube |
pixel | pixel, elis n. neo. | GUI | |
play - pause - stop | play: vt. reproducere neo. pause: vr. interquiesco stop: vt. supprimere | play: IT: riprodurre | |
playback | reproductio, onis f. | IT: riproduzione | |
player | reproductor, oris m. | ||
plugin | insertum, i n. | ||
pointer | GUI | ||
port | portus, us m. | net, hardware | |
portrait | ad perepndiculum | vertical (image) | |
power | alimonia, ae f. | hardware | IT: alimentazione |
preference | praepositio, onis f. | GUI | |
preview | praevisum, i n. (from praevidere, neo.?) | GUI | |
impressio, onis f.; vt. imprimere | hardware | ||
printer | typographum, i n; impressorium, i n. | hardware | |
privacy | privata, orum n. pl. | ||
program | programma, atis n.; vt. programmare | ||
programming | programmatura, ae f. | development | |
provider | praebitor, oris m. | ||
proxy | proxy, proxis n. neo. | net | CA: servidor intermediari |
queue | series (no gen. or dat.), em, e, f. | ||
quit | vt. linquere; relinquere; vi. abire | ||
radio | radiophonia, ae f. | hardware | |
raise != lower | vt. levare; tollo, is, sustuli, sublatum, ere != vt. demittere | GUI | window |
random | adj. fortuitus | ||
redo | vt. reficere | ||
referer | adj. anterior, oris | web | |
refresh | vt. renovare | GUI | |
regular expression | expressio regularis, onis f. (neo.?) | ||
release | editio, onis f. | ||
remote login | conexus remotus | net | |
removable | mobilis, e | hardware | device |
remove | vt. removĕo, es, movi, motum, ēre | ||
rendering | renditio, onis f. neo. | graphics | ES: renderización, FR: rendu photoréaliste |
report | relatio, onis f. | ||
repository | thesaurus, i m. | ||
reset | vt. [ad zerum] remittere | FR: remise à zéro | |
resize | vt. reformare | ||
restart/reboot | v. [computatorem] iterum accende | hardware | |
restore | vt. restituere | ||
retry | vt. retentare | GUI | |
revert | vi. reverti | ||
root | radix, icis f. | filesystem | |
row | linea, ae f. | GUI | |
sample | specimen, inis n. | sample rate: ratio speciminum | |
sampling | quantificatio, onis f. neo. | analog to digital conversion | |
save | vt. servare | filesystem | |
scanner | scansorium, i n. | hardware | |
scanning | scansio, onis f. | hardware | |
screen | scrinium, i m. | hardware | |
screensaver | scrinii servator, oris m. | GUI | |
screenshot | scrinium captum | GUI | ES: captura de pantalla |
script | scriptum, i n. | extension language | |
scroll | vt. volvere | GUI | ES: voluta |
selected - unselected | adj. designatus - indesignatus | GUI | |
server | moderatrum, i n.; serviens, entis n. | hardware, net | ES: servidor |
service | general: officium, ii n. background process:daemon, onis m. | system | |
share | opes communicatae (net share) vt. communicare | net | FR: partage de ressource |
Shift [key] | Maius[culi modi clavis] | hardware | |
shortcut | general use: via compendiaria, ae f.; hot key: clavis ardens | ||
show != hide | vt. ostendere != celare | GUI | |
shutdown | v. [computatorem] claudere/extinguere | hardware | |
signal | signum, i n. | system | |
skip | vt. neglegere | ||
snapshot | photographia systematis | ||
socket | socket, socketis n. neo. | net | |
software | software, is n. neo. (also ind.) | ||
sort | vt. digero, is, gessi, gestum, ere | alphabetically: in litteram digerere | |
source code | codex originis, icis m. | development | |
spreadsheet | tabula calculatoria | ||
stack | strues, is f. | development | |
string | stringa, ae f. neo. | ||
support | tolerantia, ae f. vt. tolerare | ||
suspend | vt. [computatorem] suspendere | hardware | |
status | status, us m. | ||
stream | fluxus, us m. | media, filesystem | IT: flusso |
surround [sound] | [sonus] circumfundes | hardware | |
symbol | symbolum, i n. | ||
syntax | syntaxis, is, f. | ||
system | systema, atis n. | system | |
tablet | tabella, ae f. | hardware | ES: tableta, FR: tablette |
tab | lingula, ae f. | GUI | ES: lengüeta |
tag | pittacium, ii n. | ||
task | actio, onis f. | also: process taskbar: septum actionum | |
terminal | terminale, is n. | GUI | also: shell |
text mode | litteris tantum | GUI | |
thumbnails | miniatura, ae f. | GUI | |
theme | thema, atis n. | GUI | |
third-party | tertia pars, partis f. | 3rd-party source warning: tertia pars = 1/3 also | |
temporary | adj. caducus, a, um | file, account | |
timer, timeout | timer [out]: clepsydra [elapsa] vi. senesco, is, senŭi, ĕre | connection, timer | |
timestamp | sigillum horae, i n. | IT: marca temporale | |
timezone | zone horae | system | neo.? |
toggle | vt. alternare | GUI | |
toolbar | septum instrumentorum, i m. | GUI | |
tooltip | suggestus, us m. | GUI | |
touchpad | tabula tactilis, f. | hardware | FR: pavé tactile |
trace | vestigium, ii n. | development | |
track | tractus, us m. | hardware | CD/album track |
transparency | perspicuitas, atis f. | graphics | |
trash | purgamenta, orum n. | GUI | |
tray | [systematis] lanx, lancis f. | GUI | system tray |
tutorial | tutoralis, is m. neo. | ||
type | file type: genus, eris n. on keyboard: vt. digitare neo. | filesystem, hardware | IT: digitare |
uncompress | vt. expandere | ||
undo | vi. regredi | ||
uninstall | vt. destituere; destruere | ||
unreachable | invius, a, um | net | e.g. server |
update/upgrade | vt. novare; novatio, onis f. | ||
upload | upload ind. vt. [ad rete] mittere | web | |
user | utens, entis m.; usor, oris m. neo. | IT: utente, FR: utilisateur | |
username | nomen utentis | ||
utilities | utilia | useful things | |
version | versio, onis f. | ||
video | visio, onis f. multimedia: videus, i m. neo. | e.g. video driver = gubernator visionis | |
view | sight: expositio, onis f. | GUI | e.g. icon view (file manager)= iconibus expositio |
viewer | ostenditor, oris m. | GUI | |
virtual | adj. virtualis, e neo. | ||
volume | disk: volumen, inis n. sound: magnitudo [soni], inis f. | hardware | |
wheel | rota, ae f. | hardware | of mouse |
website | situs [interretialis], us m. | web | |
window manager | administrator fenestrarum, oris m. | GUI | |
window | fenestra, ae f. | GUI |
minimize: [ad iconem] reduce maximize: amplifica unmaximize: restitue |
wireless | sine filis | hardware | |
word | verbum, i n. | development | (16-32 bit) |
workspace | laboris area, ae f. | GUI | |
workstation | statio laboris, onis f. | hardware | ES: estación de trabajo |
yes - no | sic - non | GUI | standard dialog box |