pericol

Pericol is a Romanian noun meaning danger. It derives from Latin periculum and is cognate with French péril and Italian pericolo. The word is masculine; the plural is pericole, and the definite form is pericolul. It is used to denote potential harm in a wide range of contexts, from everyday speech to formal safety guidelines.

In safety signage and warnings, pericol is commonly displayed alone as a heading, or in phrases such as pericol de incendiu (fire hazard), pericol electric (electrical hazard) or pericol de electrocutare (danger of electrocution), pericol de explozie (explosion hazard). It also appears in regulations and manuals to indicate risk levels or required precautions. The term thus functions as a general label for hazards in both public and professional settings.

In grammar, pericol is used as a masculine noun; adjectives agreeing with it are typically periculos (dangerous). The related adjective periculos is used to describe dangerous objects or situations; the feminine periculoasă is used for risk-related hazards. The word remains productive in contemporary Romanian, forming compounds that specify the type of hazard and guiding safety behavior in workplaces, schools, media, and civil life.

Beyond safety use, pericol appears in historical and literary texts to convey risk, threat, or caution, reflecting its long-standing role in risk discourse. See also danger, safety signs, hazard.