What is a Latin word for black?

A Latin word for black is niger, which meant black, dark, or shiny black and is one of the most common classical Latin terms for the color. Another Latin word is ater, which meant dull black, dark, or gloomy, often used for dark or dismal black rather than glossy black. The distinction was that niger described glossy, lustrous black, while ater described matte or sooty black. For example, Romans might use niger for black hair that shines, and ater for dark gloom. Other related forms include nigra for feminine black and nigrum for neuter. The word niger gave rise to many modern words like negro in Spanish and Portuguese, noir in French, and nero in Italian, all meaning black, and is also the root of English words like denigrate. In botanical and scientific names, niger is still used, such as in Aspergillus niger, a black mold. So if you want to say black in Latin, niger is most common, while ater is alternative for dull or gloomy black.