romântica

Romântica is the feminine form of the adjective romântico in Portuguese, used to describe things related to romance, affection, or the Romantic style. It functions as an adjective for feminine nouns and can also be used as a noun to refer to a woman who is inclined toward romance or sentimentality, as in uma romântica incurável. In everyday language, it appears in expressions such as visão romântica, postura romântica, or viagem romântica.

Historically, the term is linked to Romanticism (Romantismo), a broad cultural and artistic movement that emerged in late 18th-century Europe and influenced Portuguese-speaking countries. Romantic works emphasize emotion, individual experience, imagination, nature, the sublime, and an interest in history, folklore, and nationalism. In Portuguese, genres include poesia romântica and romance romântico, and in music, the label música romântica can refer to 19th-century Romantic-era music as well as modern love songs.

Regional context: In Portugal, Romanticism produced writers such as Almeida Garrett and Camilo Castelo Branco; in Brazil, notable figures include José de Alencar, Gonçalves Dias, and Castro Alves.

Contemporary use remains common in media and everyday speech: filmes românticos, literatura romântica, and música romântica describe works focused on love, sentiment, or idealized emotion.