prieteni

Prieteni is the Romanian plural noun meaning "friends." It is the plural form of prieten, used to refer to more than one person who shares a friendship or is regarded as a friend. The term appears widely in everyday language, literature, and media.

The word prieten is borrowed from Slavic languages, with roots in the Proto-Slavic word for “friend” (related to terms like Russian priyatel). The Romanian form prieten emerged in the medieval period, and the plural prieteni follows regular Romanian plural formation rules.

In Romanian grammar, prieten is masculine and animate. The indefinite plural is prieteni (the friends). The definite plural is prietenii (the friends, with the definite article suffix -ii). Examples: "Am mulți prieteni." (I have many friends.) "Prietenii mei sunt loiali." (My friends are loyal.) "Acești prieteni sunt importanți." (These friends are important.) The possessive form follows standard patterns, as in "prieteni mei" (my friends) and "prietenele mele" for feminine equivalents if applicable.

Culturally, prietenie (friendship) is valued in Romanian life, often highlighted in proverbs, literature, and media as a core social bond. The term prieteni also appears in various expressions and names in Romanian-speaking communities, reflecting the importance of interpersonal ties. See also prietenie for the broader concept of friendship and related vocabulary.