What is the Latin word for 'like'?

Answer 1

A previous answer which alludes to the paradigm of the Latin verb "amare" (to love) as a substitute for "like" is incorrect because, in Latin there is no equivalent to our use and meaning of the word "like." as in: attracted to, although that interchange does occur. There are verbs for male and female friendship, etc, but to write, for example, amat tu (I like you,) would be wrong and would be read: I love you and seen by a Latinist as sloppy and incorrect unless you meant "Love." If one wrote "amicus" (friend / my friend) the level of affection is implied and not needed to be overtly stated.

Its important to remember that the culture of ancient Rome viewed relationships differently (with people and things) than we do in 21st century America. And words weren't as one-size-fits-all, as they are in English, and that the context of the written piece or statement provided the meaning.

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While the sentiment expressed above is a valuable one to consider when thinking of past cultures, the verb "amo" can be used to mean "to love a thing, to like, to be fond of, to find pleasure in, delight in" (Oxford Latin Dictionary).

Some examples:

~Cicero's letter to Atticus 7.2: Amabat litteras: he liked letters

~Vergil's 5th Ecologue: Non omnes eadem mirantur amantque: not everyone likes and admires the same things.

~and from Tacitus: Qui amant vinum et pinguia: those who like wine and riches

That being said, amo usually did have somewhat of a more negative connotation, and could also be replaced with the words: diligo, delectio, charitas. In addition, you could say that "Aliquid est deliciae mihi", "[anything] is a delight to me"