Sportivii

Sportivii is the definite plural form of the Romanian noun sportiv, meaning “the athletes.” The term refers to individuals who participate in sports, whether professionally or as amateurs, and who compete in organized events. It can be used to describe a group of athletes, a national team, or athletes within a particular sport.

Etymology and grammar. The noun sportiv comes from the base sport, with Romanian adjectival morphology and the definite plural ending -ii attached to masculine plural nouns. In Romanian, the indefinite plural is sportivi, while sportivii signals a specific, identified group: “the athletes.” The word is commonly used in sports journalism, education, and general discourse about athletic activity.

Usage and context. In Romanian media and discourse, sportivii are central to discussions of national and international competitions, training programs, and sports policy. The term can apply to athletes across disciplines, including team sports, individual sports, and youth or amateur athletes who participate in organized events. It is typically used when the speaker means a defined group rather than any athletes in general.

Gender and related terms. The language differentiates gender through form: sportiv (masculine singular), sportiva (feminine singular), sportivi (masculine indefinite plural), sportive (feminine indefinite plural), and sportivii (masculine definite plural). For female athletes, analogous forms such as sportive or sportivele may be used depending on the grammatical context.

See also: Romanian language, athletics, sports journalism.