folos

Folos is a Romanian noun that denotes the concept of use, utility, or benefit. It is masculine and typically used in the singular, with the plural form folosuri to refer to multiple uses or advantages. In everyday language, folos appears in phrases that express practicality or value.

Common usages include the idiom a fi de folos, meaning to be of use or to be helpful. For example, un sfat poate fi de folos or acest instrument este de folos. The phrase în folosul (a forma genul legal sau formal) indicates something done for the benefit of someone or a group, as in în folosul copiilor or fonduri în folosul comunității. Fără folos is a fixed expression meaning pointless or of no use.

Derived forms include folositor, an adjective meaning useful or beneficial, and folosire or utilizare, which refer to the act or process of using something. Folos can thus function in both abstract senses (the usefulness of an idea) and concrete senses (the usefulness of a tool).

In synonymy, folos is closely related to utilitate and beneficiu; util is a related adjective describing usefulness, while folos emphasizes the usefulness itself. The term appears across registers, from everyday speech to formal or legal language, reflecting its role in evaluating usefulness and impact.

Notes on usage: folos often marks the value or advantage of actions, objects, or policies. It tends to appear in evaluative statements and standard expressions, making it a foundational term in discussions of efficiency, practicality, and welfare.