Candidatul

Candidatul is a Romanian noun meaning “the candidate.” It refers to a person who has been nominated for a position or who is seeking election or appointment. The term is masculine singular; the feminine form is candidată, and both gender forms have corresponding definite forms in Romanian (for example, the masculine definite form is candidatul). In everyday use, candidatul appears in political discourse, media coverage, and official documents to denote a specific candidate—often in headlines or reports about elections or appointments.

Etymology and usage: Candidatul derives from the Romanian noun candidat, which itself comes from the Latin candidatus, historically associated with wearing white as a sign of honesty and openness. The word entered Romanian through Romance-language contact with Latin roots, including influence from French and other sources. In modern Romanian, candidatul is used primarily in political, administrative, and organizational contexts, and it can be used in both formal and informal registers.

Title usage and related terms: The word can appear as a title or part of a title when referring to a specific candidate in a documentary, report, or publication. It may also occur in phrases such as candidatură (candidacy) or a candidatul desemnat (the designated candidate). While not a proper noun in ordinary use, capitalized forms like Candidatul can serve as a book, film, or article title when employed as a proper name.

See also: candidat, candidatură, candidată.