rolul

Rolul is the Romanian word for "the role" and designates the set of expectations, behaviors, and obligations attached to a social position within a given context. The definite form rolul is used when referring to a specific role, while the plural roluri refers to multiple roles. The word derives from the root rol with the definite article suffix -ul, borrowed from the French rôle, itself from Latin rotulus.

In sociology and psychology, rolul refers to the expected patterns of behavior associated with a status, such as rolul de părinte (the parental role) or rolul elevului (the student role). The concept encompasses role expectations, role performance, and role strain, which occurs when different expectations clash. It is often distinguished from funcție (function), where function emphasizes purpose rather than social expectation. In theatre and media, rolul denotes a character performed by an actor; in role-playing contexts, joc de rol describes simulated scenarios.

Usage notes: Romanian speakers commonly use a juca un rol to mean taking on or performing a role. The term appears in phrases like rol social, rol profesional, and rol de cuplu, illustrating how roles organize behavior across personal and institutional contexts.

See also: rol, roluri, rol social, joc de rol, a juca un rol.