panis

Panis is a Latin noun meaning bread. It is a common term in classical and ecclesiastical Latin and appears in a wide range of texts, from everyday provisioning to religious discourse.

Etymology and linguistic descendants: Panis is the classic Latin word for bread and has influenced the names for bread in many Romance languages. Modern equivalents include pan in Spanish and Portuguese, pain in French, pane in Italian, and pâine in Romanian. These terms descend from Latin panis through evolving Romance phonology and spelling, preserving the core sense of bread.

Usage in Latin literature and liturgy: In classical Latin, panis refers to bread as a staple food and as an offering. In Christian Latin, the word frequently appears in discussions of the Eucharist and daily sustenance. The phrase panis angelicus, meaning “bread of angels,” is a well-known linguistic and musical motif, epitomized by the hymn Panis angelicus by Thomas Aquinas and later musical settings such as César Franck’s composition. The concept of bread as life-giving is also conveyed by phrases like panis vitae, used in theological and exegetical writing to signify the spiritual sustenance provided by Christ.

Cultural significance: The Latin term panis has shaped modern terms for bread across many languages and remains a reference point in religious poetry, hymns, and liturgical texts. While the ordinary Latin term for bread is rarely used in everyday discourse today, panis persists in historical, linguistic, and religious contexts as a doorway to understanding Roman and medieval views of food, ritual, and symbolism.