ghid

Ghid is a Romanian noun with two main senses. In its most common use, ghid designates a person who leads or directs others, such as a tour guide, a guide at an event, or a mentor who shows the way. In another sense, ghid refers to a written resource that provides instructions, explanations, or information about a subject, including user guides, instruction manuals, handbooks, or reference books.

As a word, ghid is masculine. When referring to a person, the plural form is ghizi. When referring to a document or manual, the plural form is ghiduri. The term is used across various domains, producing common compounds such as ghid turistic (tour guide), ghid de oraș (city guide), ghid de utilizare (user guide or manual), and ghid de studiu (study guide).

Etymology is typically treated as a Romanian word that developed within the language and is cognate with similar terms found in other Romance languages, such as French guide or Italian guida, though the exact historical path is not always specified in concise references. The dual sense of the word—from a person who leads to a document that explains how to do something—reflects a natural linguistic extension from guiding in person to guiding through information.

Usage notes: ghid appears in both everyday and specialized language. In travel writing, museums, or hospitality contexts, ghid commonly means a person. In technical, educational, or consumer contexts, ghid more often refers to a manual or handbook. Translations include guide, manual, handbook, or guidebook depending on the sense.