Every Latin student should have at least one solid Latin dictionary. If you’re wondering what kind of Latin dictionary to get, maybe I can help you!

Cassel’s Latin Dictionary by D.P. Simpson is a good dictionary for intermediate Latin learners. What’s good about this dictionary is that the pronunciation and origin of the word is provided for those who want to do more than just look up the meaning of Latin words. An added bonus is that this dictionary gives several examples of possible meanings for each word and even gives references to the word used in actual Latin texts. The only bad thing that I can say about this dictionary is that it’s not sufficient for graduate level Latin words or phrases.

Collins Latin Concise Dictionary by Harpercollins Publishers is extremely affordable, especially considering that dictionaries tend to be expensive. This dictionary is best suited for beginner Latin learners. There are additional pages on grammar, declensions, Latin phrases, Latin measurements and so on. In many ways, this dictionary acts beyond just an ordinary dictionary. The only negative thing I have to say about this dictionary is that in an effort to keep this dictionary compact, the publishers have used a tiny font and sometimes it makes the words hard to read.

Oxford Latin Dictionary by P.G. W. Glare is very expensive. It’s about $300, but it’s one of the best dictionaries out there. There’s a reason why this dictionary costs $300 dollars. The font is easy to read and the binding is made of quality material. To add to that, there is an abundance of sample sentences for each possible meaning of the Latin word. The only bad critique that I can give about this dictionary is that it is very large. It’s not one of those dictionaries you can carry around and look words up when you feel like it.

The last time I checked online, The Bantam New College Latin and English Dictionary, Revised Edition by John Traupman was listed at $5 on Amazon for a new copy. Considering its price, I’d say this is a decent dictionary. It’s not as thorough as the Oxford dictionary, but it’ll do for those who are casual Latin learners. Not only does it have words used in classical Latin prose, it also contains some “street” language and vulgarities. It’s a small and concise dictionary and you can certainly carry it around with you wherever you go. The only negative comment about this book is that it won’t be enough for advanced Latin students.