Dictionarele

Dictionarele is the Romanian term for dictionaries and serves as the definite plural of dictionar. In linguistic and bibliographic contexts, the word refers to reference works that compile a language’s words and their meanings, pronunciations, grammatical information, etymology, and usage examples. Dictionaries can be monolingual, bilingual, or specialized, and they vary in scope from general language resources to field-specific lexicons.

Functionally, dictionarele aid language learning, writing, translation, and scholarly research by providing authoritative information about word forms, senses, and usage. They may be prescriptive, outlining preferred forms and norms, or descriptive, documenting how language is actually used in real contexts. The content often includes example quotations, sense distinctions, and notes on syntax, morphology, or regional variation.

Historically, Romanian lexicography dates to the early modern period. One of the earliest surviving works is Neacșu’s Lexicon from the 16th century. Over time, Romanian dictionaries expanded in scope and rigor, culminating in comprehensive monolingual dictionaries such as the Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române (DEX), published by the Romanian Academy, and numerous bilingual and specialized dictionaries. In the modern era, dictionarele increasingly exist in digital formats and online platforms, enabling faster updates and broader access.

Dictionarele play a central role in language standardization, education, and culture. They are essential resources for students, teachers, editors, translators, writers, and researchers, helping to clarify meaning, pronunciation, and proper usage while reflecting the evolution of the Romanian language.