Patru

Patru is the Romanian cardinal number that denotes the value four. It is used in counting, in expressing quantities, dates, measurements, and other numerical references. Like other Romanian numerals, patru serves as a basic unit in arithmetic and everyday language, appearing before nouns without changing form.

Etymology and origins are part of linguistic discussion. Patru is a native Romanian word whose development is linked to the broader Latin-Romance heritage of the language. While many sources connect Romanian numerals to Latin roots such as quattuor, the exact historical pathway for patru is a matter of scholarly debate and reconstruction.

Grammar and usage. Patru is invariable with respect to gender: it remains patru before masculine nouns (patru oameni) and feminine nouns (patru zile). It also combines with other numerals in compound numbers (patru sute, patru zeci). In ordinal form, Romanian uses al patrulea for the fourth, with feminine and other forms adjusting as needed by gender and case (e.g., al patrulea, a patra, etc.).

In culture and mathematics, patru appears as in any numeral system: it denotes the fourth position in sequences, the multiplier in expressions like patru unități, and the basis for date notation and numerical classification. It is a common component of lists, measurements, and statistical statements.

See also: Romanian numerals; ordinal numbers in Romanian; Romanian language.