Suferii

Suferii is a Romanian noun used to refer to people who experience suffering. It is derived from the verb a suferi (to suffer) and functions as a plural form meaning “the sufferers.” The term appears in medical, social science, and literary contexts, with emphasis on the lived experience of pain, hardship, or illness rather than only on the condition itself.

In medical discourse, suferii can denote patients or study participants whose reported symptoms, quality of life, and personal perspective are considered alongside clinical indicators. In social sciences, the word frames analysis around individuals affected by events such as conflict, displacement, poverty, disability, or chronic disease, highlighting issues of vulnerability, agency, and rights. In journalism and literature, it is often used to evoke empathy, moral reflection, or to explore resilience, community responses, and the social determinants of suffering.

Etymology: the term originates from the verb a suferi and is formed through Romanian nominalization patterns that yield a plural definite construction, comparable to “the sufferers” in English. The word can be combined with adjectives and relative clauses to specify context, for example, “suferii cronici” (chronic sufferers) or “suferii vulnerabili” (vulnerable sufferers).

See also: suferință, suferire, a suferi.