VechI

Vechi is a Romanian adjective meaning "old," used to describe the age or antiquity of a noun. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. In everyday Romanian, vechi appears in phrases such as o clădire veche (an old building), un obiect vechi (an old object), and obicei vechi (an old custom). It can also refer to time in expressions like vreme veche, signaling the past or traditional times.

Etymology and relationships: vechi derives from the Latin vetus, meaning "old." This connection places Romanian in a broader Romance language family, sharing cognates with languages such as Italian vecchio and French vieux. The sound changes from vetus to vechi reflect typical developments in the evolution from Latin to Romanian.

Usage and nuances: as a general term, vechi conveys antiquity, durability, or long-standing presence. It is common in literature, history, culture, and journalism to denote something that belongs to the past or has longstanding significance. The word is often found in fixed collocations and informal speech, and it can function in comparative or descriptive contexts alongside other age-related terms such as nou (new) or tânăr (young).

Toponymy and names: vechi can appear as part of place names or surnames in Romanian-speaking areas, though it is not primarily used as a standalone place name. Its presence in toponyms typically reflects historical association with ancient or long-standing features.

See also: Romanian language, Latin etymology, cognates in Romance languages.